Quick Answer
The answer is a compliance policy. This is correct because Intune compliance policies are specifically designed to enforce rules on managed devices, including requiring a specific operating system version, and when a device fails to meet these rules, it is marked non-compliant; Conditional Access then blocks that device from accessing corporate resources, creating a direct enforcement chain for operating system version access control. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this concept tests your understanding of how compliance policies and Conditional Access work together as a layered security model, and a common trap is confusing compliance policies with device configuration profiles—remember, configuration profiles *set* settings, but compliance policies *require* and *enforce* them. A useful memory tip is to think of compliance policies as the "bouncer" checking ID (OS version) at the door, while Conditional Access is the locked gate that only opens for approved guests.
This SC-100 practice question tests your understanding of design solutions that align with security best practices and priorities. 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 is using Microsoft Intune to manage devices. They need to ensure that only devices with a specific operating system version can access corporate resources. Which Intune policy should they use?
App protection policy
Why wrong: App protection policies apply to apps, not device OS version.
Enrollment restriction
Why wrong: Enrollment restrictions block devices during enrollment, but do not continuously enforce OS version.
Compliance policy
Compliance policies enforce OS version requirements to grant access.
Device configuration policy
Why wrong: Configuration policies set settings but do not enforce compliance.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Compliance policy
Compliance policies in Microsoft Intune define the rules that devices must meet to be considered compliant, such as requiring a specific operating system version. When a device is marked non-compliant, Conditional Access policies can block access to corporate resources. This directly enforces the requirement that only devices with the correct OS version can access company data.
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.
App protection policy
Why it's wrong here
App protection policies apply to apps, not device OS version.
Enrollment restriction
Why it's wrong here
Enrollment restrictions block devices during enrollment, but do not continuously enforce OS version.
Compliance policy
Why this is correct
Compliance policies enforce OS version requirements to grant access.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Device configuration policy
Why it's wrong here
Configuration policies set settings but do not enforce compliance.
Common exam traps
The trap here is confusing the purpose of Compliance policies (which enforce ongoing access rules based on device health) with Enrollment restrictions (which only gate initial enrollment) or Device configuration policies (which apply settings but do not evaluate compliance).
Detailed technical explanation
Compliance policies evaluate device attributes like OS version, jailbreak status, and encryption state against defined rules. The result is stored in Azure AD as a compliance state, which is then consumed by Conditional Access policies to grant or deny access. A subtle behavior: if a device is non-compliant due to OS version, Intune can trigger a grace period and allow the user to update before blocking access, but the policy itself does not force the update—only reports and blocks.
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
Design solutions that align with security best practices and priorities — This question tests Design solutions that align with security best practices and priorities — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Compliance policy — Compliance policies in Microsoft Intune define the rules that devices must meet to be considered compliant, such as requiring a specific operating system version. When a device is marked non-compliant, Conditional Access policies can block access to corporate resources. This directly enforces the requirement that only devices with the correct OS version can access company data.
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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Same concept, more angles
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company uses Microsoft Intune to manage devices. They want to ensure that only devices that have passed health attestation can access corporate email. Which method should they use?
mediumWhy B: Option B is correct because it combines a device compliance policy that evaluates health attestation (e.g., BitLocker status, Secure Boot, code integrity) with a Conditional Access policy that grants access to corporate email only when the device is marked as compliant. This is the standard Microsoft approach for enforcing health attestation before granting access to cloud resources like Exchange Online.
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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