MD-102 Prepare infrastructure for devices Practice Question
Your organization is planning to deploy Microsoft Entra hybrid joined devices. What is a prerequisite for this configuration?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse licensing requirements (Premium P1) or optional management tools (Intune, Defender) with the core prerequisite of identity synchronization, which is the foundational step for hybrid join.
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
✓
Microsoft Entra Connect must be installed and configured.
Microsoft Entra hybrid joined devices require synchronization of on-premises Active Directory identities to Microsoft Entra ID. Microsoft Entra Connect (or Microsoft Entra Connect Sync) is the tool that performs this identity synchronization, making it a mandatory prerequisite. Without it, the on-premises AD objects cannot be linked to Entra ID for hybrid join.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Microsoft Entra ID P1 license is required.
Why it's wrong here
Microsoft Entra hybrid join itself needs no premium licence; it is available with the free tier, so P1 is not a prerequisite. P1 is tempting because it does unlock Conditional Access and self-service password reset for hybrid-joined devices, which many deployments adopt alongside the join.
- ✗
Microsoft Intune must be enabled for auto-enrollment.
Why it's wrong here
Intune auto-enrollment is required for Microsoft Entra joined devices, not hybrid joined ones. Hybrid join relies on computer objects synchronised from Active Directory to Microsoft Entra ID via Microsoft Entra Connect, plus a service connection point. Intune enrolment would be the prerequisite when planning a cloud-only join.
- ✗
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint must be deployed.
Why it's wrong here
Defender for Endpoint provides threat detection and response, unrelated to device identity registration. Hybrid join requires Microsoft Entra Connect synchronisation of computer objects and a configured service connection point. Defender deployment would be relevant when planning endpoint security baselines, not join prerequisites.
- ✓
Microsoft Entra Connect must be installed and configured.
Why this is correct
Microsoft Entra hybrid join requires the device's computer account to exist in both on-premises Active Directory and Microsoft Entra ID. Microsoft Entra Connect synchronises those objects, so it must be installed and configured before hybrid join can succeed.
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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.