The answer is a misconfigured system partition, as BitLocker requires a dedicated system partition that is active, formatted as NTFS, and has at least 100 MB of free space to store boot files and the TPM validation data. When this partition is missing, corrupted, or lacks sufficient space, the BitLocker policy cannot apply, resulting in a 'Not applicable' status even when TPM 2.0 and the correct Windows edition are present. On the MD-102 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of BitLocker prerequisites beyond just TPM and edition—it’s a common trap where candidates assume TPM presence alone guarantees compliance. Remember that Intune reports 'Not applicable' for missing prerequisites, not for policy conflicts. A quick memory tip: "No system partition, no BitLocker action."
MD-102 Protect devices Practice Question
This MD-102 practice question tests your understanding of protect devices. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Your organization has 5,000 Windows 10 devices managed by Microsoft Intune. You are implementing a new security policy that requires all devices to have BitLocker enabled with TPM validation. You create a device configuration profile for BitLocker and assign it to all devices. After two days, you notice that only 3,200 devices are compliant with the BitLocker policy. The remaining devices show 'Not applicable' for the setting. You verify that all devices are Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise and have TPM 2.0. What is the most likely cause of the 'Not applicable' status?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The system partition is not configured correctly
Option D is correct because BitLocker requires a system partition that is active and has sufficient space. Option A is incorrect because all devices have TPM 2.0. Option B is incorrect because Secure Boot is not required for BitLocker policy to apply. Option C is incorrect because the devices are already enrolled, and enrollment restrictions are not the issue.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Some devices have TPM 1.2 instead of TPM 2.0
Why it's wrong here
The stem states all devices have TPM 2.0.
✓
The system partition is not configured correctly
Why this is correct
BitLocker requires a properly configured system partition; otherwise, the policy shows 'Not applicable'.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Secure Boot is disabled on some devices
Why it's wrong here
Secure Boot is not a prerequisite for BitLocker policy to apply.
✗
The devices are not enrolled in Intune
Why it's wrong here
The devices are enrolled as they are managed.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this MD-102 question in full detail.
Identify which MD-102 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Protect devices — This question tests Protect devices — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The system partition is not configured correctly — Option D is correct because BitLocker requires a system partition that is active and has sufficient space. Option A is incorrect because all devices have TPM 2.0. Option B is incorrect because Secure Boot is not required for BitLocker policy to apply. Option C is incorrect because the devices are already enrolled, and enrollment restrictions are not the issue.
What should I do if I get this MD-102 question wrong?
Identify which MD-102 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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