The answer is Microsoft Intune, Microsoft Entra ID, and Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps. This combination delivers secure remote access with device compliance and SSO by having Intune enforce device health policies before any connection is allowed, Entra ID manage single sign-on and conditional access policies, and Defender for Cloud Apps apply risk-based access controls by analyzing user and session behavior in real time. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this scenario tests your ability to layer identity, device management, and cloud app security rather than relying on a single product—a common trap is choosing Entra ID alone, forgetting that device compliance requires Intune. Remember the mnemonic “I-D-C” for Intune-Device, Defender-Cloud, and Entra-Identity, which maps directly to the three pillars of a zero-trust access architecture.
SC-100 Design security solutions for infrastructure Practice Question
This SC-100 practice question tests your understanding of design security solutions for infrastructure. 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 multinational corporation is designing a secure access solution for remote employees using company-managed devices. The solution must enforce device compliance before granting access to corporate resources, support single sign-on (SSO) for SaaS applications, and provide conditional access policies based on risk. Which combination of Microsoft security products should you recommend?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Microsoft Intune + Microsoft Entra ID + Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps
Microsoft Intune provides device compliance, Microsoft Entra ID provides SSO and conditional access, and Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps provides risk-based access control. The other combinations miss key components.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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 Intune + Microsoft Entra ID + Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps
Why this is correct
Intune manages device compliance, Entra ID handles SSO and conditional access, Defender for Cloud Apps enforces risk-based policies.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
Microsoft Intune + Microsoft Defender for Endpoint + Microsoft Sentinel
Why it's wrong here
Defender for Endpoint is for endpoint protection, not SSO; Sentinel is a SIEM, not access control.
✗
Microsoft Entra ID + Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps + Microsoft Purview
Why it's wrong here
Purview is for data governance, not device compliance.
✗
Microsoft Configuration Manager + Microsoft Entra ID + Microsoft Defender for Identity
Why it's wrong here
Configuration Manager is for on-premises management, not cloud-centric; Defender for Identity focuses on on-premises AD.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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 SC-100 question in full detail.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SC-100 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Design security solutions for infrastructure — This question tests Design security solutions for infrastructure — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Microsoft Intune + Microsoft Entra ID + Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps — Microsoft Intune provides device compliance, Microsoft Entra ID provides SSO and conditional access, and Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps provides risk-based access control. The other combinations miss key components.
What should I do if I get this SC-100 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SC-100 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
About these practice questions
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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. You are designing a secure remote access solution for employees using Windows 10/11 devices that are managed by Microsoft Intune. The solution must enforce device compliance before allowing access to corporate resources and must support single sign-on (SSO). Which technology should you use?
easy
A.Deploy a traditional VPN with certificate-based authentication.
B.Set up Azure AD Application Proxy for remote access.
C.Implement Microsoft Defender for Endpoint to block non-compliant devices.
✓ D.Use Microsoft Entra ID with Conditional Access policies that require compliant devices.
Why D: Option B is correct because Microsoft Entra ID with Conditional Access can evaluate device compliance from Intune and provide SSO. Option A is incorrect because VPN alone does not enforce device compliance. Option C is incorrect because Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is an endpoint protection solution, not an access control mechanism. Option D is incorrect because Azure AD Application Proxy is for on-prem apps, but it does not natively enforce device compliance without Conditional Access.
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Question Discussion
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