The answer is enabling security defaults for all tenants and requiring multifactor authentication via Conditional Access. These two practices are foundational for securing Microsoft Entra ID because security defaults provide a baseline level of protection by automatically enforcing MFA for all users, blocking legacy authentication, and requiring administrator consent, while Conditional Access policies offer granular, risk-based enforcement that adapts to user location, device health, and sign-in behavior. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this question tests your understanding of balancing simplicity with flexibility—security defaults are ideal for small or new tenants, but Conditional Access is the enterprise-grade solution for customizing MFA requirements. A common trap is assuming security defaults are always superior; in reality, they are a starting point, not a replacement for Conditional Access. Remember the memory tip: “Defaults for defense, Conditional for control.”
SC-100 Practice Question: Design solutions that align with security best practices and priorities
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.
Which TWO are best practices for securing Microsoft Entra ID?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use a Conditional Access policy to require MFA for all users
Option A is correct because requiring MFA via Conditional Access is a foundational security control that mitigates the risk of credential theft. Conditional Access policies allow granular enforcement based on user, location, device, and risk signals, making them more flexible than security defaults while still ensuring MFA is applied to all users.
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.
✓
Use a Conditional Access policy to require MFA for all users
Why this is correct
This is a strong security baseline.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Disable sign-in logs to reduce storage costs
Why it's wrong here
Sign-in logs are critical for auditing.
✓
Enable security defaults for all tenants
Why this is correct
Security defaults enforce MFA and block legacy auth.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Allow users to create Microsoft 365 groups without approval
Why it's wrong here
Uncontrolled group creation can lead to security issues.
✗
Assign Global Administrator to all users for simplicity
Why it's wrong here
Over-privileged accounts increase risk.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Microsoft often tests the misconception that security defaults are always the best choice for all tenants, but the exam expects you to recognize that Conditional Access policies offer more granular control and are the recommended approach for production environments, while security defaults are a simplified baseline for smaller or less complex tenants.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Conditional Access policies evaluate signals such as user risk (from Identity Protection), device compliance (via Intune), and location (named locations with IPv4/IPv6 ranges) before granting access. Under the hood, these policies are enforced by the Entra ID authentication stack, which intercepts token issuance and can require MFA, block access, or force password change. In a real-world scenario, a Conditional Access policy requiring MFA for all users can be combined with a session control to reauthenticate after a specific time window, reducing the window of compromise.
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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this SC-100 question in full detail.
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..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use a Conditional Access policy to require MFA for all users — Option A is correct because requiring MFA via Conditional Access is a foundational security control that mitigates the risk of credential theft. Conditional Access policies allow granular enforcement based on user, location, device, and risk signals, making them more flexible than security defaults while still ensuring MFA is applied to all users.
What should I do if I get this SC-100 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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