The answer is requiring multifactor authentication for all users and implementing conditional access policies that evaluate real-time signals. These two actions directly align with the Zero Trust principle of 'verify explicitly' because they force continuous validation of every access request based on dynamic factors like user identity, device compliance, location, and risk level, rather than assuming trust from a network perimeter. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this concept tests your ability to distinguish between implicit trust models and explicit verification, often appearing in scenario-based questions where a legacy VPN or IP-based rule is a tempting but incorrect trap. A common memory tip is to think of "verify explicitly" as always asking "prove it" at every step—never assume a user or device is safe just because they were authenticated once. Remember the mnemonic "MFA + CA = Explicit Verify" to link multifactor authentication and conditional access as the core pair for this principle.
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. 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 TWO actions align with the Zero Trust principle of 'verify explicitly'? (Select two.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use conditional access policies to evaluate user and device risk before granting access
Option B is correct because conditional access policies evaluate real-time signals such as user identity, device compliance, location, and risk level before granting access to resources. This aligns with the Zero Trust principle of 'verify explicitly' by requiring continuous validation of every access request rather than trusting based on network location alone.
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.
✗
Deploy a VPN for remote access
Why it's wrong here
VPNs are perimeter-based; Zero Trust uses explicit verification instead.
✓
Use conditional access policies to evaluate user and device risk before granting access
Why this is correct
Conditional Access verifies explicitly by evaluating multiple signals.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Encrypt all data at rest
Why it's wrong here
Encryption protects data but does not verify identity or access.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Implement network segmentation to limit lateral movement
Why it's wrong here
This aligns with 'assume breach', not 'verify explicitly'.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Microsoft often tests the misconception that encryption or network segmentation are forms of verification, but they are actually data protection and containment controls, respectively, and do not satisfy the 'verify explicitly' requirement of Zero Trust.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Conditional access policies in Azure AD (now Microsoft Entra ID) use the Identity Protection risk engine to evaluate sign-in risk and user risk in real time, combining signals like impossible travel, leaked credentials, and anonymous IP addresses. The 'verify explicitly' principle requires that every access attempt be authenticated and authorized based on all available data points, not just a single factor like a password. In practice, this means even if a user has valid credentials, access can be blocked or challenged if the device is non-compliant or the sign-in appears risky.
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: Use conditional access policies to evaluate user and device risk before granting access — Option B is correct because conditional access policies evaluate real-time signals such as user identity, device compliance, location, and risk level before granting access to resources. This aligns with the Zero Trust principle of 'verify explicitly' by requiring continuous validation of every access request rather than trusting based on network location alone.
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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