SC-100 Practice Question: Design security operations, identity, and compliance capabilities
This SC-100 practice question tests your understanding of design security operations, identity, and compliance capabilities. 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 THREE are valid methods to secure privileged access in Microsoft Entra ID? (Choose three.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use privileged access groups to manage elevated access to resources.
Option A is correct because PIM enables just-in-time access. Option B is correct because conditional access can enforce MFA for admins. Option D is correct because privileged access groups manage group membership elevation. Option C is wrong because self-service password reset is for end users. Option E is wrong because device enrollment is for device management, not privileged access.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
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 privileged access groups to manage elevated access to resources.
Why this is correct
Privileged access groups allow time-based group membership.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
✗
Require device enrollment via Microsoft Intune.
Why it's wrong here
Device enrollment is for device compliance, not privileged identity access.
✓
Use Privileged Identity Management (PIM) for just-in-time access.
Why this is correct
PIM provides time-limited privileged roles.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
✓
Configure conditional access policies to require MFA for admins.
Why this is correct
Conditional access can enforce MFA for privileged roles.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
✗
Enable self-service password reset for all users.
Why it's wrong here
SSPR is for end-user password management, not privileged access.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Authentication checks who the user is.
Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
→Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
→Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
→Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
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.
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related SC-100 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
Design security operations, identity, and compliance capabilities — This question tests Design security operations, identity, and compliance capabilities — Authentication checks who the user is..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use privileged access groups to manage elevated access to resources. — Option A is correct because PIM enables just-in-time access. Option B is correct because conditional access can enforce MFA for admins. Option D is correct because privileged access groups manage group membership elevation. Option C is wrong because self-service password reset is for end users. Option E is wrong because device enrollment is for device management, not privileged access.
What should I do if I get this SC-100 question wrong?
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related SC-100 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Authentication checks who the user is.
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