The answer is to configure compliance policies. This is correct because compliance policies in Microsoft Intune define the specific security requirements—such as minimum OS version, device encryption, or health attestation—that a device must meet to be considered secure. When a device is marked as non-compliant, Intune integrates directly with Conditional Access in Microsoft Entra ID to block that device from accessing corporate resources like Exchange Online or SharePoint, effectively enforcing the “block non-compliant devices” rule. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how device compliance and Conditional Access work together as a layered defense; a common trap is confusing compliance policies with device configuration profiles, which only set settings but do not enforce access blocks. Remember the mnemonic “Compliance blocks, Config just talks”—compliance policies are the gatekeeper that actively denies access, while configuration profiles merely apply settings without enforcement.
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. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 uses Microsoft Intune to manage devices. You need to ensure that devices that are not compliant with your organization's security policies are blocked from accessing corporate resources. Which Intune feature should you configure?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Compliance policies
Compliance policies in Microsoft Intune define the rules and settings that devices must meet to be considered compliant (e.g., requiring a minimum OS version, encryption, or a healthy device health attestation). When a device is marked as non-compliant, Intune can automatically block access to corporate resources such as Exchange Online, SharePoint, or VPN by integrating with Conditional Access in Microsoft Entra ID. This is the correct feature because it directly evaluates device compliance and enforces access control.
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.
✗
App protection policies
Why it's wrong here
These protect app data but do not block device access.
✗
Device configuration profiles
Why it's wrong here
These configure settings but do not define compliance state for access blocking.
✓
Compliance policies
Why this is correct
Compliance policies define conditions for device compliance; combined with Conditional Access, non-compliant devices are blocked.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Enrollment restrictions
Why it's wrong here
These control which devices can enroll, not access after enrollment.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse device configuration profiles (which apply settings) with compliance policies (which evaluate settings and enforce access), leading them to select Option B when the question specifically asks about blocking access based on non-compliance.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Intune compliance policies generate a compliance status (compliant, non-compliant, or grace period) that is stored in Microsoft Entra ID as a device attribute. Conditional Access policies then use this attribute to grant or block access tokens; for example, a non-compliant device will receive an HTTP 403 or be redirected to a compliance remediation page. A real-world scenario is requiring BitLocker encryption on Windows devices: if a device's BitLocker status changes (e.g., due to a hardware change), the compliance policy re-evaluates and can revoke access within minutes.
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.
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: Compliance policies — Compliance policies in Microsoft Intune define the rules and settings that devices must meet to be considered compliant (e.g., requiring a minimum OS version, encryption, or a healthy device health attestation). When a device is marked as non-compliant, Intune can automatically block access to corporate resources such as Exchange Online, SharePoint, or VPN by integrating with Conditional Access in Microsoft Entra ID. This is the correct feature because it directly evaluates device compliance and enforces access control.
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.
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