- A
Locations
Why wrong: The Locations condition is used to control access based on the user's network location (such as an IP range), not the device's operating system.
- B
Device platforms
The Device platforms condition allows you to specify the operating system of the device. Setting it to 'Windows' will block access from macOS, Linux, and other platforms.
- C
Client apps
Why wrong: The Client apps condition is used to control access based on the application type (e.g., browser, mobile app, desktop client), not the device operating system.
- D
Sign-in risk
Why wrong: The Sign-in risk condition uses risk levels calculated by Microsoft Entra ID Protection (e.g., low, medium, high) to control access, not the device platform.
Question 163 of 1,411
Conditional Access Device Platforms Condition
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 uses Microsoft Entra ID. They have a financial application that should only be accessible from Windows devices. The security team wants to create a Conditional Access policy to block access from other operating systems such as macOS or Linux. Which assignment condition should they configure?
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
✓
Device platforms
The Device platforms condition in a Conditional Access policy allows administrators to target specific operating systems (e.g., Windows, iOS, Android, macOS) or block others. By configuring this condition to only include Windows devices, the policy will block access from macOS, Linux, or any other non-Windows platform. This directly addresses the security team's requirement to restrict the financial application to Windows devices only.
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.
- ✗
Locations
Why it's wrong here
The Locations condition is used to control access based on the user's network location (such as an IP range), not the device's operating system.
When this WOULD be correct
A Conditional Access policy should block access from untrusted countries or corporate network ranges. For example, 'Block access from all locations except the corporate office IP range' would use the Locations condition.
- ✓
Device platforms
Why this is correct
The Device platforms condition allows you to specify the operating system of the device. Setting it to 'Windows' will block access from macOS, Linux, and other platforms.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Client apps
Why it's wrong here
The Client apps condition is used to control access based on the application type (e.g., browser, mobile app, desktop client), not the device operating system.
When this WOULD be correct
A Conditional Access policy should block access from specific client apps, such as blocking legacy authentication protocols (e.g., POP, IMAP) to enforce modern authentication. For example, a policy that blocks all client apps except 'Exchange ActiveSync' to secure email access.
- ✗
Sign-in risk
Why it's wrong here
The Sign-in risk condition uses risk levels calculated by Microsoft Entra ID Protection (e.g., low, medium, high) to control access, not the device platform.
When this WOULD be correct
A Conditional Access policy should block access when the sign-in risk level is 'High' to prevent compromised accounts from accessing sensitive data, such as requiring MFA or blocking access entirely for high-risk sign-ins.
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.
✓Device platformsCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
The Device platforms condition allows you to specify the operating system of the device. Setting it to 'Windows' will block access from macOS, Linux, and other platforms.
✗LocationsWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Locations control access based on geographic or network locations (e.g., IP ranges), not the operating system of the device. The requirement is to block macOS and Linux, which is about device platform, not location.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A Conditional Access policy should block access from untrusted countries or corporate network ranges. For example, 'Block access from all locations except the corporate office IP range' would use the Locations condition.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse 'location' with 'device' or think that restricting by location can indirectly control device types, but Azure AD locations are IP-based, not OS-based.
✗Client appsWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The question specifies blocking access based on the operating system (Windows vs. macOS/Linux), which is a device platform condition, not a client app condition. Client apps refer to the type of application (e.g., browser, mobile app, legacy auth), not the OS.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A Conditional Access policy should block access from specific client apps, such as blocking legacy authentication protocols (e.g., POP, IMAP) to enforce modern authentication. For example, a policy that blocks all client apps except 'Exchange ActiveSync' to secure email access.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse 'client apps' with 'device platforms' because both involve the endpoint, but client apps focus on the application type (e.g., browser, mobile app) rather than the operating system.
✗Sign-in riskWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Sign-in risk is used to detect and respond to risky authentication attempts (e.g., leaked credentials, anonymous IP addresses), not to restrict access based on the device's operating system. The question specifically requires blocking macOS or Linux, which is a device platform condition.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A Conditional Access policy should block access when the sign-in risk level is 'High' to prevent compromised accounts from accessing sensitive data, such as requiring MFA or blocking access entirely for high-risk sign-ins.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse risk-based controls with device-based controls, thinking that blocking non-Windows devices is a security measure similar to blocking risky sign-ins, but they address different aspects of access control.
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 Device platforms with Client apps, thinking that blocking 'mobile apps' or 'browsers' would restrict the OS, but Client apps only controls the type of application client, not the underlying operating system.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The Device platforms condition evaluates the User-Agent header or device claim from the token to determine the OS (e.g., 'Windows NT 10.0' vs. 'Mac OS X'). Under the hood, Conditional Access policies are evaluated at the time of token issuance; if the device platform does not match the configured policy, the request is blocked before any application access is granted. A real-world nuance: Linux devices may not be explicitly listed in the policy's platform list, but they will be blocked if only Windows is selected, as the condition operates on an allow-list model.
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
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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: Device platforms — The Device platforms condition in a Conditional Access policy allows administrators to target specific operating systems (e.g., Windows, iOS, Android, macOS) or block others. By configuring this condition to only include Windows devices, the policy will block access from macOS, Linux, or any other non-Windows platform. This directly addresses the security team's requirement to restrict the financial application to Windows devices only.
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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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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