MS-102 Practice Question: Implement and manage identity and access in Microsoft Entra ID
This MS-102 practice question tests your understanding of implement and manage identity and access in microsoft entra id. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
An organization wants to enable users to reset their own passwords using the Microsoft Authenticator app and to prevent reuse of the last five passwords. Which Microsoft Entra ID features should be configured?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Self-Service Password Reset (SSPR) and Password Protection
The requirement to enable users to reset their own passwords via the Microsoft Authenticator app is fulfilled by Self-Service Password Reset (SSPR), which supports the Authenticator app as an authentication method. The requirement to prevent reuse of the last five passwords is fulfilled by Password Protection, specifically the password reuse policy within the custom banned password list or the enforcement of password history via on-premises integration. Option B correctly pairs these two features.
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.
✗
Microsoft Entra ID Protection and SSPR
Why it's wrong here
ID Protection detects risky behavior but does not enforce password history policies.
✓
Self-Service Password Reset (SSPR) and Password Protection
Why this is correct
SSPR enables self-service resets; Password Protection enforces password reuse restrictions and custom ban lists.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Conditional Access and SSPR
Why it's wrong here
Conditional Access controls access but does not manage password policies.
✗
Identity Governance and SSPR
Why it's wrong here
Identity Governance handles access reviews and entitlements, not password history enforcement.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse Password Protection (which handles password complexity, banned lists, and history) with Entra ID Protection (which handles risk-based policies), leading them to select Option A instead of the correct pairing of SSPR and Password Protection.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SSPR in Microsoft Entra ID uses the Authentication Methods policy to allow registration and usage of the Microsoft Authenticator app for password reset via OAuth 2.0 device authorization grant flows. Password Protection enforces password reuse by comparing new passwords against a history of the last N passwords stored as a salted hash in the directory, with the default maximum being 24; the 'Enforce password history' setting in the custom banned password list or via on-premises integration with Windows Server Active Directory controls the exact count (e.g., 5). In hybrid environments, the on-premises Password Protection agent must be deployed to enforce the policy for cloud-synced users.
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.
TExam Day Tips
→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 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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this MS-102 question in full detail.
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..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Self-Service Password Reset (SSPR) and Password Protection — The requirement to enable users to reset their own passwords via the Microsoft Authenticator app is fulfilled by Self-Service Password Reset (SSPR), which supports the Authenticator app as an authentication method. The requirement to prevent reuse of the last five passwords is fulfilled by Password Protection, specifically the password reuse policy within the custom banned password list or the enforcement of password history via on-premises integration. Option B correctly pairs these two features.
What should I do if I get this MS-102 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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