MD-102 Manage and maintain devices Practice Question
You need to retire a device in Microsoft Intune. What is the effect of retiring a device?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse 'retire' with 'wipe' (factory reset), assuming both remove all data, but Intune's selective wipe is designed specifically to preserve personal data while removing corporate resources.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The device is unenrolled, and corporate data and apps are removed. Personal data is preserved.
Retiring a device in Microsoft Intune performs a selective wipe that removes only corporate-managed data and apps while preserving the user's personal data. The device is also unenrolled from Intune management, meaning it no longer receives policy or compliance enforcement. This is distinct from a full wipe, which resets the entire device to factory settings.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
The device is unenrolled, and corporate data and apps are removed. Personal data is preserved.
Why this is correct
Retire sends an unenrolment command that removes the management profile and corporate data such as managed apps, email profiles and policies, while leaving personal files and settings intact. This matches the stem's requirement to remove only organisational content.
- ✗
The device is factory reset to its original settings.
Why it's wrong here
Retire removes corporate data and management while leaving personal files intact; it does not wipe the device. It is tempting because retirement sounds terminal, but factory reset is the separate Wipe action, used when the device is lost, stolen, or reassigned.
- ✗
The device remains enrolled but can no longer access corporate resources.
Why it's wrong here
Retiring removes the device from Intune management entirely, so it no longer remains enrolled; the device record is deleted and only the Entra ID object persists for identity. It is tempting because selective wipe removes corporate data while leaving enrolment intact, which is the correct choice when the device stays managed.
- ✗
The device is deleted from Microsoft Entra ID and Intune.
Why it's wrong here
Retiring removes the Intune management record but leaves the Microsoft Entra ID device object in place, so the device is not deleted from Entra ID. It is tempting because full deletion does remove both records, which is the correct choice when the device is being repurposed or permanently removed.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Managing Microsoft 365 Apps and Office Updates
Key term
Intune
Microsoft Intune is a cloud-based service that helps organizations manage their users' devices and applications, ensuring security and compliance without needing to own or control the physical hardware.
Key term
General Data Protection Regulation
A European Union law that gives individuals control over their personal data and sets strict rules for how organizations collect, store, and process that data.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This MD-102 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the MD-102 exam.