The answer is Microsoft Entra Conditional Access with a sign-in risk policy and authentication context for sensitive data. This combination is correct because it leverages Identity Protection’s sign-in risk detection to trigger step-up authentication only when a session is deemed risky, while the authentication context tag applied to high-value SharePoint data ensures the policy activates precisely for that content, not all resources. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how Zero Trust risk-based policies integrate with Entra ID P2 features to minimize user friction—a common trap is choosing a static MFA policy that forces authentication on every access, which violates the “minimize friction” requirement. Remember the memory tip: “Risk triggers the step, context targets the data,” meaning sign-in risk decides when to step up, and authentication context defines where to apply it.
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.
A company uses Microsoft Entra ID with P2 licenses. They want to implement a Zero Trust approach that requires step-up authentication for accessing high-value data in SharePoint. The solution must use risk-based policies and minimize user friction. Which combination should you recommend?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "minimum / minimize"
Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Microsoft Entra Conditional Access with sign-in risk policy and authentication context for sensitive data
Option B is correct because it combines Conditional Access with a sign-in risk policy (from Identity Protection) and an authentication context that is applied to sensitive SharePoint data. This enforces step-up authentication only when risk is detected and the user accesses high-value data, minimizing friction for low-risk sessions while meeting Zero Trust requirements.
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 Entra Conditional Access with trusted locations policy
Why it's wrong here
Location-based, not risk-based.
✓
Microsoft Entra Conditional Access with sign-in risk policy and authentication context for sensitive data
Why this is correct
Risk-based step-up with granular context.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Azure AD Conditional Access with MFA for all SharePoint access
Why it's wrong here
Too broad and not risk-based.
✗
Microsoft Entra Identity Protection user risk policy with MFA
Why it's wrong here
User risk, not sign-in risk, and lacks context for data sensitivity.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse user risk policies (which are based on historical user behavior) with sign-in risk policies (which evaluate the current session in real time), and they overlook the role of authentication context in scoping enforcement to specific data rather than all SharePoint access.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Authentication context in Conditional Access allows you to tag specific SharePoint sites or documents with a sensitivity label (via Microsoft Purview Information Protection) and then require step-up authentication (e.g., MFA) only when that context is requested. The sign-in risk policy from Identity Protection evaluates real-time risk signals (e.g., anonymous IP, atypical travel) to trigger the step-up, ensuring that low-risk sign-ins to non-sensitive data proceed without interruption. This approach aligns with Zero Trust's 'never trust, always verify' by verifying only when necessary.
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: Microsoft Entra Conditional Access with sign-in risk policy and authentication context for sensitive data — Option B is correct because it combines Conditional Access with a sign-in risk policy (from Identity Protection) and an authentication context that is applied to sensitive SharePoint data. This enforces step-up authentication only when risk is detected and the user accesses high-value data, minimizing friction for low-risk sessions while meeting Zero Trust requirements.
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: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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