This SC-100 practice question tests your understanding of design solutions that align with security best practices and priorities. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 is designing a Zero Trust architecture for their hybrid identity environment. They plan to require multifactor authentication (MFA) for all users accessing sensitive applications. Which Microsoft Entra ID capability should they use to enforce MFA based on risk level?
Self-service password reset
Why wrong: SSPR is for password resets, not MFA.
Microsoft Entra Privileged Identity Management
Why wrong: PIM manages privileged roles, not general MFA enforcement.
Conditional Access
Conditional Access policies enforce MFA based on risk signals.
Microsoft Entra ID Protection
Why wrong: Identity Protection detects risk but does not enforce access policies.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Conditional Access
Option D is correct because Conditional Access policies can enforce MFA based on sign-in risk and user risk. Option A is wrong because Identity Protection detects risks but doesn't enforce access controls by itself. Option B is wrong because PIM manages roles, not access conditions. Option C is wrong because SSPR is unrelated to MFA enforcement.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Self-service password reset
Why it's wrong here
SSPR is for password resets, not MFA.
Microsoft Entra Privileged Identity Management
Why it's wrong here
PIM manages privileged roles, not general MFA enforcement.
Conditional Access
Why this is correct
Conditional Access policies enforce MFA based on risk signals.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
Microsoft Entra ID Protection
Why it's wrong here
Identity Protection detects risk but does not enforce access policies.
Common exam traps
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Detailed technical explanation
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
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
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related SC-100 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
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FAQ
Design solutions that align with security best practices and priorities — This question tests Design solutions that align with security best practices and priorities — Authentication checks who the user is..
The correct answer is: Conditional Access — Option D is correct because Conditional Access policies can enforce MFA based on sign-in risk and user risk. Option A is wrong because Identity Protection detects risks but doesn't enforce access controls by itself. Option B is wrong because PIM manages roles, not access conditions. Option C is wrong because SSPR is unrelated to MFA enforcement.
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related SC-100 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
Authentication checks who the user is.
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Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
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