Quick Answer
The answer is Microsoft Authenticator passwordless phone sign-in. This is the correct primary authentication method because it is the only option that both utilizes the Microsoft Authenticator app and delivers a fully passwordless primary authentication experience, leveraging FIDO2-based key attestation within the app to allow users to sign in with a biometric or PIN gesture without ever entering a password. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between authentication methods that merely support the app as a secondary factor versus those that make the app the primary, passwordless credential—a common trap is confusing phone sign-in with the app-based verification code option, which still requires a password. Remember the key distinction: passwordless phone sign-in replaces the password entirely, while other Authenticator methods only supplement it. A useful memory tip is “PIN replaces password” for passwordless phone sign-in.
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 wants to enforce that all users authenticate using Microsoft Authenticator app for Microsoft Entra ID. Which authentication method should you configure as the primary?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
FIDO2 security keys
Why wrong: Not the Authenticator app.
Email one-time passcode
Why wrong: Less secure and not primary.
Microsoft Authenticator passwordless phone sign-in
Authenticator app provides passwordless sign-in.
SMS-based verification
Why wrong: Not passwordless.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Microsoft Authenticator passwordless phone sign-in
The question requires that all users authenticate using the Microsoft Authenticator app. The Microsoft Authenticator passwordless phone sign-in (option C) is the only method that both uses the Microsoft Authenticator app and provides a passwordless primary authentication experience. This method leverages FIDO2-based key attestation within the app, allowing users to sign in with a biometric or PIN gesture without entering a password.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
FIDO2 security keys
Why it's wrong here
Not the Authenticator app.
Email one-time passcode
Why it's wrong here
Less secure and not primary.
Microsoft Authenticator passwordless phone sign-in
Why this is correct
Authenticator app provides passwordless sign-in.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
SMS-based verification
Why it's wrong here
Not passwordless.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the Microsoft Authenticator app's TOTP mode (which requires a password) with its passwordless phone sign-in mode, leading them to incorrectly select SMS or email OTP as primary methods when the question explicitly mandates the Authenticator app as the sole authentication method.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, Microsoft Authenticator passwordless phone sign-in uses the WebAuthn standard with a private key stored in the app's secure enclave, bound to the device's biometric or PIN. When a user signs in, the app generates a cryptographic signature that Microsoft Entra ID verifies against the public key stored during registration. This method eliminates the password from the authentication flow entirely, reducing phishing risk, and is distinct from the app's time-based one-time passcode (TOTP) mode, which still requires a password as the first factor.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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
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FAQ
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..
The correct answer is: Microsoft Authenticator passwordless phone sign-in — The question requires that all users authenticate using the Microsoft Authenticator app. The Microsoft Authenticator passwordless phone sign-in (option C) is the only method that both uses the Microsoft Authenticator app and provides a passwordless primary authentication experience. This method leverages FIDO2-based key attestation within the app, allowing users to sign in with a biometric or PIN gesture without entering a password.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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