This MS-102 practice question tests your understanding of implement and manage identity and access in microsoft entra id. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.
A company uses hybrid identity with Azure AD Connect and password hash synchronization. They want to enable Self-Service Password Reset (SSPR) with password writeback so that users can reset their on-premises Active Directory passwords. Which Azure AD license is required?
Azure AD Free
Why wrong: Azure AD Free does not include password writeback functionality.
Azure AD Premium P1
Premium P1 includes password writeback and SSPR with on-premises integration.
Azure AD Premium P2
Why wrong: Premium P2 also includes writeback, but it is not the minimum required.
Microsoft 365 E3
Why wrong: Microsoft 365 E3 includes Azure AD P1, but the license name is Azure AD Premium P1.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Azure AD Premium P1
Azure AD Premium P1 is required for Self-Service Password Reset (SSPR) with password writeback. Password writeback is a premium feature that enables password changes in Azure AD to be written back to on-premises Active Directory via Azure AD Connect. Azure AD Free does not include SSPR with writeback, and Azure AD Premium P2 includes additional features like Identity Protection but is not necessary for this scenario.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Azure AD Free
Why it's wrong here
Azure AD Free does not include password writeback functionality.
Azure AD Premium P1
Why this is correct
Premium P1 includes password writeback and SSPR with on-premises integration.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Azure AD Premium P2
Why it's wrong here
Premium P2 also includes writeback, but it is not the minimum required.
Microsoft 365 E3
Why it's wrong here
Microsoft 365 E3 includes Azure AD P1, but the license name is Azure AD Premium P1.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often assume Microsoft 365 E3 includes Azure AD Premium P1 features, but it only includes Azure AD Free; password writeback specifically requires a Premium P1 or higher license.
Detailed technical explanation
Password writeback relies on the Azure AD Connect service and the on-premises AD DS connector. When a user resets their password via SSPR, Azure AD sends the new password hash through a secure channel to Azure AD Connect, which then updates the on-premises user object using the LDAP Modify operation. This requires the Azure AD Connect server to have the password writeback feature enabled and the service account to have appropriate permissions (e.g., reset password rights) on the on-premises domain.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
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FAQ
Implement and manage identity and access in Microsoft Entra ID — This question tests Implement and manage identity and access in Microsoft Entra ID — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Azure AD Premium P1 — Azure AD Premium P1 is required for Self-Service Password Reset (SSPR) with password writeback. Password writeback is a premium feature that enables password changes in Azure AD to be written back to on-premises Active Directory via Azure AD Connect. Azure AD Free does not include SSPR with writeback, and Azure AD Premium P2 includes additional features like Identity Protection but is not necessary for this scenario.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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