What the Global Reader Role Can and Cannot Do in Microsoft Entra ID
This MS-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe security, compliance, privacy, and trust in microsoft 365. 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.
Exhibit
{
"role": "Global Reader",
"scope": "/providers/Microsoft.Management/managementGroups/Contoso",
"condition": "(!(ActionMatches('Microsoft.Authorization/roleAssignments/write')))",
"description": "Read-only access to all resources in the management group"
}
Refer to the exhibit. A Microsoft Entra ID role assignment is shown. An administrator is assigned the Global Reader role with a condition. What is the effect of the condition?
Exhibit
{
"role": "Global Reader",
"scope": "/providers/Microsoft.Management/managementGroups/Contoso",
"condition": "(!(ActionMatches('Microsoft.Authorization/roleAssignments/write')))",
"description": "Read-only access to all resources in the management group"
}
A
The administrator can create new users.
Why wrong: Global Reader does not have create user permissions.
B
The condition has no practical effect because Global Reader already cannot write role assignments.
The condition is redundant for Global Reader.
C
The administrator can only read security recommendations.
Why wrong: The condition does not restrict reading.
D
The administrator cannot assign roles to other users.
Why wrong: Global Reader already cannot assign roles.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The condition has no practical effect because Global Reader already cannot write role assignments.
Option B is correct because the condition restricts the Global Reader from writing role assignments, but since the Global Reader role inherently cannot write role assignments, the condition is redundant and has no practical effect. Option A is incorrect because Global Reader cannot create users. Option C is incorrect because the condition does not restrict reading security recommendations. Option D is incorrect because the condition blocks all role assignment writes, but Global Reader already cannot write any role assignments, so the condition does not add any new restriction.
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.
✗
The administrator can create new users.
Why it's wrong here
Global Reader does not have create user permissions.
✓
The condition has no practical effect because Global Reader already cannot write role assignments.
Why this is correct
The condition is redundant for Global Reader.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The administrator can only read security recommendations.
Why it's wrong here
The condition does not restrict reading.
✗
The administrator cannot assign roles to other users.
Why it's wrong here
Global Reader already cannot assign roles.
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 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-900 question in full detail.
Identify which MS-900 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.
Describe security, compliance, privacy, and trust in Microsoft 365 — This question tests Describe security, compliance, privacy, and trust in Microsoft 365 — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The condition has no practical effect because Global Reader already cannot write role assignments. — Option B is correct because the condition restricts the Global Reader from writing role assignments, but since the Global Reader role inherently cannot write role assignments, the condition is redundant and has no practical effect. Option A is incorrect because Global Reader cannot create users. Option C is incorrect because the condition does not restrict reading security recommendations. Option D is incorrect because the condition blocks all role assignment writes, but Global Reader already cannot write any role assignments, so the condition does not add any new restriction.
What should I do if I get this MS-900 question wrong?
Identify which MS-900 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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Variation 1. An administrator is assigned the Global Reader role in Microsoft Entra ID as shown in the exhibit. What can this administrator do?
hard
✓ A.View all user and group properties in the directory
B.Reset user passwords
C.Assign administrative roles to other users
D.Create new users in the directory
Why A: The Global Reader role in Microsoft Entra ID is a read-only role that allows viewing all directory settings, including user and group properties, but does not grant any write permissions. This enables the administrator to view but not modify user or group attributes, making option A correct.
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Question Discussion
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