The answer is to create a Conditional Access policy in Microsoft Entra ID that requires a compliant device. This is correct because Conditional Access acts as the enforcement engine that evaluates device compliance status before granting access to corporate email, while compliance policies in Intune merely define what "compliant" means—such as requiring encryption or a minimum OS version—but do not block access themselves. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the separation between policy definition (Intune compliance policies) and policy enforcement (Entra ID Conditional Access), a common trap where candidates confuse setting the rule with applying it. Remember the memory tip: "Define in Intune, enforce in Entra"—compliance policies set the standard, but Conditional Access is the gatekeeper that checks the badge.
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. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 Intune for mobile device management. You need to ensure that only compliant devices can access corporate email. What should you configure?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create a Conditional Access policy in Microsoft Entra ID that requires compliant device.
Option C is correct because Conditional Access in Microsoft Entra ID can enforce device compliance for access. Option A is incorrect because configuration policies set settings but don't control access. Option B is incorrect because compliance policies define compliance, but Conditional Access enforces it. Option D is incorrect because app protection policies protect data within apps, not device access.
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.
✗
Configure an app protection policy in Intune.
Why it's wrong here
App protection policies manage data loss prevention, not device-level access.
✗
Create a device configuration policy in Intune.
Why it's wrong here
Configuration policies set settings, not access control.
✓
Create a Conditional Access policy in Microsoft Entra ID that requires compliant device.
Why this is correct
Conditional Access evaluates compliance and blocks non-compliant devices.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Create a device compliance policy in Intune.
Why it's wrong here
Compliance policy defines compliance, but does not block access by itself.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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.
Identify which SC-100 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Design security operations, identity, and compliance capabilities — This question tests Design security operations, identity, and compliance capabilities — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a Conditional Access policy in Microsoft Entra ID that requires compliant device. — Option C is correct because Conditional Access in Microsoft Entra ID can enforce device compliance for access. Option A is incorrect because configuration policies set settings but don't control access. Option B is incorrect because compliance policies define compliance, but Conditional Access enforces it. Option D is incorrect because app protection policies protect data within apps, not device access.
What should I do if I get this SC-100 question wrong?
Identify which SC-100 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Your organization uses Microsoft Intune for mobile device management. Employees report they cannot access corporate email on their personal iOS devices. The helpdesk confirms devices are enrolled and compliant. What should you check first?
easy
A.Confirm the device configuration profile includes email settings.
✓ B.Verify the conditional access policy for Exchange Online includes iOS devices.
C.Review the app protection policy for Outlook.
D.Ensure the compliance policy allows iOS devices.
Why B: Option A is correct because conditional access policies in Entra ID enforce access rules for cloud apps like Exchange Online. Option B is wrong because compliance policies define device requirements, not access. Option C is wrong because app protection policies manage data within apps. Option D is wrong because device configuration profiles set device settings but not access.
Variation 2. An organization uses Microsoft Intune to manage devices. They need to ensure that only devices compliant with security baselines can access corporate email via Microsoft Outlook. The solution should use existing Microsoft 365 security features. What should they implement?
medium
A.Configure an app protection policy in Microsoft Intune.
✓ B.Create a Conditional Access policy in Microsoft Entra ID that requires compliant device.
C.Create a device compliance policy in Microsoft Intune.
D.Configure a device configuration profile in Microsoft Intune.
Why B: Option B is correct because Conditional Access policies in Microsoft Entra ID evaluate device compliance status before granting access to cloud apps like Exchange Online. By requiring a compliant device, the policy enforces that only devices meeting security baselines can access corporate email via Outlook, leveraging existing Microsoft 365 identity and access management capabilities.
Variation 3. Your organization uses Microsoft Intune to manage devices. You need to ensure that only compliant devices can access corporate email. What should you configure?
easy
✓ A.Create a Conditional Access policy that requires compliant device
B.Set up enrollment restrictions in Intune
C.Create a device configuration policy that blocks non-compliant devices
D.Configure an app protection policy for email apps
Why A: Option A is correct because a Conditional Access policy in Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) can enforce the requirement that only devices marked as compliant by Intune can access corporate email. This policy evaluates the device compliance status at authentication time and blocks or grants access based on that signal, ensuring that only managed and compliant devices can connect to services like Exchange Online.
Variation 4. Your organization uses Microsoft Intune to manage Windows 10 devices. You need to ensure that only compliant devices can access Exchange Online. Which Microsoft Entra ID feature should you use?
easy
A.Azure AD device registration
✓ B.Conditional Access with the 'Require device to be marked as compliant' grant
C.Multi-factor authentication
D.Intune device compliance policy
Why B: Conditional Access policies in Entra ID can require that devices be marked as compliant with Intune compliance policies before granting access to cloud apps like Exchange Online. The other options are not correct: Device Compliance is a policy in Intune, not an Entra feature; MFA is authentication; and Azure AD Join is for device identity.
Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
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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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