- A
Install Azure Arc agents on the on-premises servers and use Azure Policy to enforce JIT access.
Why wrong: Azure Arc does not natively provide JIT access via PIM.
- B
Deploy Windows Admin Center and integrate with Microsoft Entra ID for authentication.
Why wrong: Windows Admin Center does not provide JIT or PIM integration.
- C
Configure Azure Bastion to connect to on-premises servers via a site-to-site VPN.
Why wrong: Azure Bastion is for Azure VMs, not on-premises servers.
- D
Use Microsoft Entra Privileged Identity Management (PIM) for Groups to manage membership of an on-premises Active Directory group that has administrative privileges on the servers.
PIM for Groups can be used to manage on-premises AD group membership, enabling JIT access to on-premises servers.
Quick Answer
The answer is to use Microsoft Entra Privileged Identity Management (PIM) for Groups to manage membership of an on-premises Active Directory group that has administrative privileges on the servers. This works because PIM for Groups can control just-in-time access to on-premises servers by leveraging group writeback via Microsoft Entra Connect; when a user activates their PIM role, the group membership change is written back to on-premises AD, granting temporary administrative rights without requiring the servers to be Azure Arc-enabled. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this scenario tests your understanding of extending PIM’s JIT capabilities beyond Azure resources, and a common trap is assuming Azure Arc is mandatory or that Azure AD roles alone can govern on-premises access. Remember the key concept: PIM for Groups acts as a bridge, using group writeback to enforce least-privilege principles on hybrid infrastructure. For a memory tip, think “PIM Groups + Writeback = JIT for On-Prem.”
SC-100 Design security for infrastructure Practice Question
This SC-100 practice question tests your understanding of design security for infrastructure. 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.
You are designing a security strategy for a hybrid identity infrastructure that uses Microsoft Entra ID. The company requires that all administrative access to on-premises servers be secured using least-privilege principles and just-in-time (JIT) access. You plan to implement Microsoft Entra Privileged Identity Management (PIM) for Azure resources, but on-premises servers are not Azure resources. Which solution should you use to provide JIT access to on-premises servers?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"least"Why it matters: You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
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
Use Microsoft Entra Privileged Identity Management (PIM) for Groups to manage membership of an on-premises Active Directory group that has administrative privileges on the servers.
Option D is correct because Microsoft Entra PIM for Groups allows you to manage just-in-time membership of an on-premises Active Directory group that is synced via Microsoft Entra Connect. When a user activates their membership in PIM, the group membership change is written back to on-premises AD via group writeback, granting temporary administrative privileges on the target servers. This extends PIM's JIT capabilities to non-Azure resources without requiring the servers to be Azure Arc-enabled.
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.
- ✗
Install Azure Arc agents on the on-premises servers and use Azure Policy to enforce JIT access.
Why it's wrong here
Azure Arc does not natively provide JIT access via PIM.
- ✗
Deploy Windows Admin Center and integrate with Microsoft Entra ID for authentication.
Why it's wrong here
Windows Admin Center does not provide JIT or PIM integration.
- ✗
Configure Azure Bastion to connect to on-premises servers via a site-to-site VPN.
Why it's wrong here
Azure Bastion is for Azure VMs, not on-premises servers.
- ✓
Use Microsoft Entra Privileged Identity Management (PIM) for Groups to manage membership of an on-premises Active Directory group that has administrative privileges on the servers.
Why this is correct
PIM for Groups can be used to manage on-premises AD group membership, enabling JIT access to on-premises servers.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume JIT access requires the target resource to be an Azure resource, overlooking that PIM for Groups with group writeback can extend JIT to on-premises Active Directory groups, which then control access to on-premises servers.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Group writeback in Microsoft Entra Connect synchronizes cloud-managed group memberships to on-premises Active Directory, enabling PIM for Groups to control membership of a security group that is a member of the local Administrators group via Group Policy or Restricted Groups. The JIT activation triggers a writeback within minutes, and the user's token includes a claim that can be audited. This approach avoids the need for Azure Arc or additional infrastructure while maintaining least-privilege principles for on-premises servers.
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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Design security for infrastructure — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SC-100 question test?
Design security for infrastructure — This question tests Design security for infrastructure — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use Microsoft Entra Privileged Identity Management (PIM) for Groups to manage membership of an on-premises Active Directory group that has administrative privileges on the servers. — Option D is correct because Microsoft Entra PIM for Groups allows you to manage just-in-time membership of an on-premises Active Directory group that is synced via Microsoft Entra Connect. When a user activates their membership in PIM, the group membership change is written back to on-premises AD via group writeback, granting temporary administrative privileges on the target servers. This extends PIM's JIT capabilities to non-Azure resources without requiring the servers to be Azure Arc-enabled.
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: "least". You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This SC-100 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SC-100 exam.
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