This SC-100 practice question tests your understanding of design security operations, identity, and compliance capabilities. 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.
Your organization uses Microsoft Entra ID for identity management and wants to implement a least-privilege access model for administrators. You need to reduce standing privileges and ensure that admin roles are activated only when needed with approval workflow. Requirements: (1) Require approval for activation of Global Administrator role, (2) Set activation duration to 4 hours maximum, (3) Require Azure MFA for activation, (4) Receive notifications when roles are activated, (5) Audit all activations for compliance. Which Microsoft Entra ID capability should you use?
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.
Access Reviews
Why wrong: Access Reviews are for periodic reviews, not activation workflows.
Privileged Identity Management (PIM)
PIM provides just-in-time activation with approval, MFA, and audit.
Identity Protection
Why wrong: Identity Protection detects risks, not role activation.
Conditional Access
Why wrong: Conditional Access controls access, not role activation.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Privileged Identity Management (PIM)
Option C is correct because Privileged Identity Management (PIM) in Microsoft Entra ID P2 provides just-in-time role activation with approval, MFA, time limits, notifications, and audit. Option A is wrong because Conditional Access does not manage role activation. Option B is wrong because Identity Protection is for risk detection. Option D is wrong because Access Reviews are for periodic reviews, not activation workflows.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Access Reviews
Why it's wrong here
Access Reviews are for periodic reviews, not activation workflows.
Privileged Identity Management (PIM)
Why this is correct
PIM provides just-in-time activation with approval, MFA, and audit.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
Identity Protection
Why it's wrong here
Identity Protection detects risks, not role activation.
Conditional Access
Why it's wrong here
Conditional Access controls access, not role activation.
Common exam traps
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
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.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Real-world example
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
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.
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FAQ
Design security operations, identity, and compliance capabilities — This question tests Design security operations, identity, and compliance capabilities — Authentication checks who the user is..
The correct answer is: Privileged Identity Management (PIM) — Option C is correct because Privileged Identity Management (PIM) in Microsoft Entra ID P2 provides just-in-time role activation with approval, MFA, time limits, notifications, and audit. Option A is wrong because Conditional Access does not manage role activation. Option B is wrong because Identity Protection is for risk detection. Option D is wrong because Access Reviews are for periodic reviews, not activation workflows.
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.
Yes — watch for: "least". You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
Authentication checks who the user is.
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Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
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