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Design a Zero Trust strategy and architecture →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The answer is that the Conditional Access policy is set to 'Report-only' mode. This is the most likely reason MFA is not being prompted because report-only mode evaluates the policy conditions and logs the results in the sign-in logs, but it never enforces any access controls—meaning it will not block access or require MFA, even if a user’s device is compliant. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the Conditional Access lifecycle, where report-only mode is used for safe testing before switching to enforcement. A common trap is assuming that a compliant device alone triggers MFA, but the policy mode overrides all grant controls. Memory tip: think of report-only as a “fire drill” that sounds the alarm but never locks the doors—it logs what would happen without actually stopping anyone.

SC-100 Design a Zero Trust strategy and architecture Practice Question

This SC-100 practice question tests your understanding of design a zero trust strategy and architecture. 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.

Exhibit

{
  "policy": {
    "tenantId": "contoso.onmicrosoft.com",
    "displayName": "Require MFA for all users",
    "state": "enabled",
    "conditions": {
      "applications": {
        "includeApplications": ["All"]
      },
      "users": {
        "includeUsers": ["All"]
      }
    },
    "grantControls": {
      "builtInControls": ["mfa", "compliantDevice"]
    }
  }
}

Refer to the exhibit. You are reviewing a Conditional Access policy in Azure AD. The policy requires MFA and a compliant device for all users and all cloud apps. Some users report that they are able to access apps without being prompted for MFA even though their devices are compliant. What is the most likely reason?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

  • Clue: "most likely"

    Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

Question 1hardmultiple choice
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Exhibit

{
  "policy": {
    "tenantId": "contoso.onmicrosoft.com",
    "displayName": "Require MFA for all users",
    "state": "enabled",
    "conditions": {
      "applications": {
        "includeApplications": ["All"]
      },
      "users": {
        "includeUsers": ["All"]
      }
    },
    "grantControls": {
      "builtInControls": ["mfa", "compliantDevice"]
    }
  }
}

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

✓

The policy is set to 'Report-only' mode

Option B is correct because a Conditional Access policy set to 'Report-only' mode evaluates the policy and logs results but does not enforce any controls, such as requiring MFA or a compliant device. Users can access apps without MFA prompts because the policy is not actively blocking or challenging them, even if their devices are compliant. This mode is used for testing before enabling enforcement.

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.

  • ✗

    The policy does not include all cloud apps

    Why it's wrong here

    The policy includes 'All' applications.

  • ✓

    The policy is set to 'Report-only' mode

    Why this is correct

    In report-only mode, policies are not enforced, so users are not prompted for MFA.

    Clue confirmation

    The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.

    Related concept

    Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

  • ✗

    The policy excludes specific locations

    Why it's wrong here

    No location exclusion is shown in the policy.

  • ✗

    The policy does not include session controls to enforce MFA re-prompt

    Why it's wrong here

    Session controls are not required for MFA; the grant control itself triggers MFA.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates may overlook the 'Report-only' mode setting and assume the policy is enforcing controls, focusing instead on app scope or location exclusions, which are common red herrings in Conditional Access troubleshooting questions.

Trap categories for this question

  • Command / output trap

    No location exclusion is shown in the policy.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

In Azure AD, Conditional Access policies in 'Report-only' mode generate logs in the Conditional Access Insights workbook but do not apply grant or session controls; the policy's conditions are evaluated, but the 'Grant' block (e.g., Require MFA) is not enforced. This is distinct from 'Enabled' mode, where the policy actively blocks or challenges users. A real-world scenario is testing a new MFA requirement before rolling it out to avoid disrupting users, but administrators must remember to switch the policy to 'Enabled' for enforcement.

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 a Zero Trust strategy and architecture — This question tests Design a Zero Trust strategy and architecture — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: The policy is set to 'Report-only' mode — Option B is correct because a Conditional Access policy set to 'Report-only' mode evaluates the policy and logs results but does not enforce any controls, such as requiring MFA or a compliant device. Users can access apps without MFA prompts because the policy is not actively blocking or challenging them, even if their devices are compliant. This mode is used for testing before enabling enforcement.

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: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

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 →

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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. A company, Fabrikam, has a hybrid identity environment with on-premises Active Directory synchronized to Azure AD using Azure AD Connect. They have implemented a Zero Trust strategy that includes requiring multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all users accessing cloud applications. They use Conditional Access policies to enforce MFA. Recently, they noticed that users who authenticate from the on-premises network are not being prompted for MFA when accessing cloud apps, even though the Conditional Access policy is configured to require MFA for all users. The network location is not excluded in the policy. The Conditional Access policy is enabled and in 'Enforce' mode. The users' devices are not domain-joined. What is the most likely reason for this behavior?

medium
  • A.Azure AD Connect is not configured for Pass-through Authentication
  • B.The Conditional Access policy does not include session controls
  • C.The Conditional Access policy is not targeting the correct user group
  • ✓ D.Users are using legacy authentication protocols that do not support MFA

Why D: The most likely reason is that users are using legacy authentication protocols (e.g., POP3, IMAP, SMTP, or older Office clients) that do not support modern authentication and thus cannot enforce MFA via Conditional Access. Even though the policy requires MFA, legacy protocols bypass the Conditional Access engine entirely, allowing authentication without MFA prompts.

Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026

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