- A
Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention policies to protect sensitive data
Why wrong: Data protection is important but not a core identity/access component of Zero Trust.
- B
Conditional Access policies that enforce access decisions based on user, device, location, and risk
Conditional Access is a key pillar of Zero Trust, enforcing explicit verification.
- C
Microsoft Entra ID as the centralized identity provider for authentication and authorization
Identity is the foundation of Zero Trust.
- D
Microsoft Intune for mobile device management and application management
Why wrong: Device management supports Zero Trust but is not a core component; the model focuses on identity, devices, networks, etc.
- E
Microsoft Defender for Cloud to assess the security posture of cloud workloads
Why wrong: Defender for Cloud is important but not a core Zero Trust component; it's more about workload protection.
Quick Answer
The answer is Microsoft Entra ID as the centralized identity provider and Conditional Access as the core policy engine. These two components form the backbone of the Microsoft Zero Trust model because Entra ID verifies every user’s identity and manages authentication, while Conditional Access dynamically enforces access decisions based on real-time signals like device health, location, and risk level—directly applying the “never trust, always verify” principle. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this tests your understanding that Zero Trust is not a single product but a framework of integrated services; a common trap is confusing multifactor authentication alone with the broader Conditional Access policy engine. Remember the mnemonic “ID + CA” (Identity plus Conditional Access) to recall that identity verification and policy-driven access control are the two core components of Microsoft’s Zero Trust model.
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. 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.
Your organization is implementing a Zero Trust architecture for access to cloud applications. Which TWO of the following are core components of the Microsoft Zero Trust model?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Conditional Access policies that enforce access decisions based on user, device, location, and risk
Option B is correct because Conditional Access policies are the core policy engine in Microsoft's Zero Trust model, enforcing access decisions dynamically based on signals such as user identity, device health, location, and real-time risk. This aligns with the Zero Trust principle of 'never trust, always verify' by continuously evaluating each access request.
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.
- ✗
Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention policies to protect sensitive data
Why it's wrong here
Data protection is important but not a core identity/access component of Zero Trust.
- ✓
Conditional Access policies that enforce access decisions based on user, device, location, and risk
Why this is correct
Conditional Access is a key pillar of Zero Trust, enforcing explicit verification.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Microsoft Entra ID as the centralized identity provider for authentication and authorization
Why this is correct
Identity is the foundation of Zero Trust.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Microsoft Intune for mobile device management and application management
Why it's wrong here
Device management supports Zero Trust but is not a core component; the model focuses on identity, devices, networks, etc.
- ✗
Microsoft Defender for Cloud to assess the security posture of cloud workloads
Why it's wrong here
Defender for Cloud is important but not a core Zero Trust component; it's more about workload protection.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse supporting security tools (like Purview, Intune, or Defender for Cloud) with the core Zero Trust components, which are specifically the identity provider (Entra ID) and the policy enforcement engine (Conditional Access).
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The Microsoft Zero Trust model is built on three foundational pillars: identity, devices, and network. Conditional Access policies act as the central decision point, integrating signals from Microsoft Entra ID (identity), Intune (device compliance), and Microsoft Defender for Identity (risk) to enforce granular access controls. For example, a Conditional Access policy can block access from an unmanaged device even if the user's credentials are valid, enforcing the 'verify explicitly' principle.
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 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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SC-100 question test?
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: Conditional Access policies that enforce access decisions based on user, device, location, and risk — Option B is correct because Conditional Access policies are the core policy engine in Microsoft's Zero Trust model, enforcing access decisions dynamically based on signals such as user identity, device health, location, and real-time risk. This aligns with the Zero Trust principle of 'never trust, always verify' by continuously evaluating each access request.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on SC-100
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. Which TWO of the following are key components of a Zero Trust architecture according to Microsoft? (Choose two.)
medium- A.Trust but verify
- B.Implicit trust for internal traffic
- ✓ C.Use least privilege access
- ✓ D.Verify explicitly
- E.Rely on a strong perimeter
Why C: In Microsoft's Zero Trust model, 'least privilege access' (Option C) is a core principle that ensures users and devices are granted only the minimum permissions necessary to perform their tasks, reducing the attack surface. This is enforced through technologies like Azure AD Conditional Access and Privileged Identity Management (PIM), which dynamically limit access based on risk and context.
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This SC-100 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SC-100 exam.
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