The answer is that a compliance policy with `IsAssigned = $false` has not been assigned to any user or device group. This property, visible when running PowerShell cmdlets like `Get-DeviceCompliancePolicy`, directly reflects whether the policy is linked to a group assignment; a `$false` value means the policy exists in the Intune tenant but is not enforced on any devices because it lacks a target group. On the SC-900 exam, this tests your understanding that a policy must be assigned to a group to take effect—a common trap is confusing policy creation with policy enforcement. Remember that a policy can be fully configured yet completely inactive until it is assigned. A simple memory tip: "No group, no enforcement—IsAssigned must be true to do its work."
SC-900 Practice Question: Describe the capabilities of Microsoft security solutions
This SC-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe the capabilities of microsoft security solutions. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
```powershell
# Microsoft Intune PowerShell script to retrieve device compliance policies
Get-DeviceCompliancePolicy | Select-Object -Property DisplayName, IsAssigned
```
A tenant administrator runs the PowerShell cmdlet shown in the exhibit. The output shows that some compliance policies have IsAssigned = $false. What does this indicate?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The compliance policy is not assigned to any user or device group
The `IsAssigned` property in the output of a compliance policy PowerShell cmdlet (such as `Get-DeviceCompliancePolicy`) directly indicates whether the policy has been assigned to any user or device group. When `IsAssigned = $false`, it means the policy exists in the tenant but has not been linked to any group via an assignment, so it is not being enforced on any devices. This is a core concept in Microsoft Intune and Microsoft 365 compliance: a policy must be assigned to a group to take effect.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
The compliance policy is scheduled to be assigned in the future
Why it's wrong here
IsAssigned does not indicate future scheduling.
✓
The compliance policy is not assigned to any user or device group
Why this is correct
IsAssigned indicates assignment status.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The compliance policy has been evaluated and found non-compliant
Why it's wrong here
Compliance evaluation is not shown by IsAssigned.
✗
The compliance policy is a built-in policy that cannot be assigned
Why it's wrong here
Built-in policies can be assigned unless they are system policies.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse `IsAssigned` with compliance evaluation status or policy type, mistakenly thinking it indicates future scheduling, non-compliance, or built-in restrictions, rather than understanding it simply reflects whether the policy has been assigned to a group.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Compliance evaluation is not shown by IsAssigned.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, the `IsAssigned` property is a Boolean that is set to `$true` when the policy is included in at least one assignment (via `New-DeviceCompliancePolicyAssignment` or the Intune portal). A policy with `IsAssigned = $false` will not be evaluated against any devices, meaning it has no effect on compliance reports or conditional access policies. In real-world scenarios, this often occurs when an admin creates a policy but forgets to assign it to a group, leading to a false sense of security because the policy is not actually enforced.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this SC-900 question in full detail.
Describe the capabilities of Microsoft security solutions — This question tests Describe the capabilities of Microsoft security solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The compliance policy is not assigned to any user or device group — The `IsAssigned` property in the output of a compliance policy PowerShell cmdlet (such as `Get-DeviceCompliancePolicy`) directly indicates whether the policy has been assigned to any user or device group. When `IsAssigned = $false`, it means the policy exists in the tenant but has not been linked to any group via an assignment, so it is not being enforced on any devices. This is a core concept in Microsoft Intune and Microsoft 365 compliance: a policy must be assigned to a group to take effect.
What should I do if I get this SC-900 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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Question Discussion
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