- A
Cloud apps or actions
Why wrong: This setting determines which applications or user actions the policy applies to, not the authentication protocol used by clients.
- B
Conditions (Client apps)
The Conditions section includes a Client apps filter that can block legacy authentication protocols, effectively enforcing the use of modern authenticating clients.
- C
Grant
Why wrong: Grant controls define what must be satisfied for access (e.g., require MFA), but they do not specifically block legacy authentication protocols.
- D
Session
Why wrong: Session controls manage token lifetime and sign-in frequency after successful authentication, not the initial authentication protocol.
Question 923 of 1,411
Blocking Legacy Authentication with Conditional Access — Client Apps Condition | Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals Explained
This SC-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe the capabilities of microsoft entra. 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.
A company wants to block all sign-ins using legacy authentication protocols because these protocols do not support multi-factor authentication (MFA). Which component of a Microsoft Entra ID Conditional Access policy should be configured to achieve this?
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
✓
Conditions (Client apps)
To block legacy authentication protocols, you configure the 'Client apps' condition in a Conditional Access policy. This setting allows you to target specific authentication clients, such as Exchange ActiveSync, POP3, IMAP, and SMTP, which do not support MFA. By selecting 'Exchange ActiveSync clients' and 'Other clients' under the Client apps condition, you can enforce a block on all sign-ins using these legacy protocols.
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.
- ✗
Cloud apps or actions
Why it's wrong here
This setting determines which applications or user actions the policy applies to, not the authentication protocol used by clients.
When this WOULD be correct
A question asks: 'A company wants to require MFA for all access to its financial reporting app in Microsoft Entra ID. Which component should be configured?' Here, 'Cloud apps or actions' would be correct to select the specific app.
- ✓
Conditions (Client apps)
Why this is correct
The Conditions section includes a Client apps filter that can block legacy authentication protocols, effectively enforcing the use of modern authenticating clients.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Grant
Why it's wrong here
Grant controls define what must be satisfied for access (e.g., require MFA), but they do not specifically block legacy authentication protocols.
When this WOULD be correct
In a scenario where the goal is to require MFA for all cloud app access, the Grant control would be configured to require MFA. For example: 'A company wants to enforce MFA for all users accessing Microsoft 365. Which component should be configured?'
- ✗
Session
Why it's wrong here
Session controls manage token lifetime and sign-in frequency after successful authentication, not the initial authentication protocol.
When this WOULD be correct
A company wants to enforce sign-in frequency for all cloud app sessions, requiring users to re-authenticate every hour. Configuring the Session control with sign-in frequency settings would be the correct approach.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The SC-900 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓Conditions (Client apps)Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
The Conditions section includes a Client apps filter that can block legacy authentication protocols, effectively enforcing the use of modern authenticating clients.
✗Cloud apps or actionsWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The 'Cloud apps or actions' component specifies which applications or user actions the policy applies to, not the authentication protocol. Blocking legacy authentication requires configuring the 'Client apps' condition under 'Conditions'.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question asks: 'A company wants to require MFA for all access to its financial reporting app in Microsoft Entra ID. Which component should be configured?' Here, 'Cloud apps or actions' would be correct to select the specific app.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse the target of the policy (the app) with the condition that controls the authentication method, thinking that specifying the app is sufficient to block legacy protocols.
✗GrantWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The Grant control in a Conditional Access policy is used to enforce requirements like MFA or device compliance after conditions are met, not to block specific authentication protocols. Blocking legacy authentication is done by configuring the Client apps condition under Conditions.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a scenario where the goal is to require MFA for all cloud app access, the Grant control would be configured to require MFA. For example: 'A company wants to enforce MFA for all users accessing Microsoft 365. Which component should be configured?'
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse the Grant control with the mechanism to block access, as it includes a 'Block access' option. However, blocking legacy authentication is a condition-based action, not a grant control.
✗SessionWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The Session control in a Conditional Access policy manages session-level behaviors like app-enforced restrictions or sign-in frequency, not the blocking of authentication protocols. Blocking legacy authentication is done by configuring the Client apps condition under Conditions.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A company wants to enforce sign-in frequency for all cloud app sessions, requiring users to re-authenticate every hour. Configuring the Session control with sign-in frequency settings would be the correct approach.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse Session controls with authentication protocol controls, thinking that session settings can block legacy protocols, or they may not clearly distinguish between Conditions and Session in Conditional Access policies.
Analysis generated from the official SC-900blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'Client apps' with 'Cloud apps or actions', thinking they need to select the specific legacy app (like Exchange Online) rather than the authentication client type, which is the correct way to block the protocol itself.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Legacy authentication protocols like POP3, IMAP, SMTP, and older versions of Exchange ActiveSync do not support modern authentication flows (OAuth 2.0) and thus cannot enforce MFA. The 'Client apps' condition in Conditional Access allows you to block these protocols by targeting 'Exchange ActiveSync clients' and 'Other clients' (which includes POP3, IMAP, SMTP). This is critical because attackers often exploit legacy protocols to bypass MFA, as seen in password spray attacks against SMTP or IMAP.
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.
- →
Describe the capabilities of Microsoft Entra — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Describe the capabilities of Microsoft Entra practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All SC-900 questions
1,411 questions across all exam domains
- →
Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals SC-900 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
SC-900 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related SC-900 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Describe the capabilities of Microsoft Entra practice questions
Practise SC-900 questions linked to Describe the capabilities of Microsoft Entra.
Describe the capabilities of Microsoft security solutions practice questions
Practise SC-900 questions linked to Describe the capabilities of Microsoft security solutions.
Describe the capabilities of Microsoft compliance solutions practice questions
Practise SC-900 questions linked to Describe the capabilities of Microsoft compliance solutions.
Describe the concepts of security, compliance, and identity practice questions
Practise SC-900 questions linked to Describe the concepts of security, compliance, and identity.
SC-900 fundamentals practice questions
Practise SC-900 questions linked to SC-900 fundamentals.
SC-900 scenario practice questions
Practise SC-900 questions linked to SC-900 scenario.
SC-900 troubleshooting practice questions
Practise SC-900 questions linked to SC-900 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free SC-900 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SC-900 question test?
Describe the capabilities of Microsoft Entra — This question tests Describe the capabilities of Microsoft Entra — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Conditions (Client apps) — To block legacy authentication protocols, you configure the 'Client apps' condition in a Conditional Access policy. This setting allows you to target specific authentication clients, such as Exchange ActiveSync, POP3, IMAP, and SMTP, which do not support MFA. By selecting 'Exchange ActiveSync clients' and 'Other clients' under the Client apps condition, you can enforce a block on all sign-ins using these legacy protocols.
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.
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 →
Keep practising
More SC-900 practice questions
- An organization uses Microsoft Purview Compliance Manager to track compliance with regulations. The compliance officer n…
- A company uses Microsoft Teams and wants to ensure that messages containing offensive language are flagged for review. W…
- A financial services firm uses Microsoft Purview Information Barriers to prevent traders from communicating with investm…
- A company uses a cloud-based SaaS (Software as a Service) application for customer relationship management. According to…
- A company has a document management system. The security policy requires that a user in the Sales department can only vi…
- A company implements a security measure to ensure that only authorized employees can view sensitive customer records. Wh…
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This SC-900 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-900 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.