- A
Identity Protection risk policies
Why wrong: Identity Protection policies respond to user or sign-in risk levels (e.g., low, medium, high). They do not evaluate device compliance status.
- B
Conditional Access policies
Conditional Access evaluates conditions such as device compliance (reported by Intune) and can grant access with or without MFA based on the conditions. This is the correct tool.
- C
Privileged Identity Management (PIM)
Why wrong: PIM provides just-in-time privileged role activation and approval workflows. It does not control access based on device state or MFA requirements for regular users.
- D
Intune device compliance policies
Why wrong: Intune device compliance policies define what constitutes a compliant device (e.g., require encryption). However, they do not enforce MFA or access decisions—Conditional Access uses the compliance status.
Conditional Access — Device Compliance from Intune | Microsoft SC-900 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 uses Microsoft Entra ID and Intune for mobile device management. They want to enforce different access requirements for their finance application: when users access from an unmanaged personal device, they must perform multi-factor authentication (MFA). When they access from a corporate-managed device that is marked as compliant (e.g., joined to Azure AD, antivirus up-to-date, encryption enabled), MFA should not be required. Device compliance is reported by Intune. Which Microsoft Entra ID feature should they use to define these rules?
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
Conditional Access policies
Conditional Access policies in Microsoft Entra ID allow administrators to define granular access rules based on signals such as user, device, location, and application. In this scenario, the policy can be configured to require MFA when the device is not marked as compliant (e.g., unmanaged personal device) and to allow access without MFA when the device is reported as compliant by Intune. This is the correct feature because it directly evaluates device compliance status from Intune and enforces the specified access requirements.
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.
- ✗
Identity Protection risk policies
Why it's wrong here
Identity Protection policies respond to user or sign-in risk levels (e.g., low, medium, high). They do not evaluate device compliance status.
When this WOULD be correct
A company wants to block sign-ins from users whose credentials have been leaked or require MFA when sign-in risk is medium or high. Identity Protection risk policies would be the correct feature to define these risk-based access rules.
- ✓
Conditional Access policies
Why this is correct
Conditional Access evaluates conditions such as device compliance (reported by Intune) and can grant access with or without MFA based on the conditions. This is the correct tool.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Privileged Identity Management (PIM)
Why it's wrong here
PIM provides just-in-time privileged role activation and approval workflows. It does not control access based on device state or MFA requirements for regular users.
When this WOULD be correct
A question asks: 'A company wants to require approval for activating the Global Administrator role and limit its use to a specific time window. Which feature should they use?'
- ✗
Intune device compliance policies
Why it's wrong here
Intune device compliance policies define what constitutes a compliant device (e.g., require encryption). However, they do not enforce MFA or access decisions—Conditional Access uses the compliance status.
When this WOULD be correct
A company wants to define the specific security requirements (e.g., require encryption, minimum OS version, antivirus) that devices must meet to be considered compliant. The exam question would ask: 'Which feature should they use to set the rules for device compliance?'
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.
✓Conditional Access policiesCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
Conditional Access evaluates conditions such as device compliance (reported by Intune) and can grant access with or without MFA based on the conditions. This is the correct tool.
✗Identity Protection risk policiesWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Identity Protection risk policies focus on user and sign-in risk (e.g., leaked credentials, anonymous IP) to trigger MFA or block access, not on device compliance or management status. The question requires differentiating access based on device compliance (managed vs. unmanaged), which is a Conditional Access condition, not a risk policy.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A company wants to block sign-ins from users whose credentials have been leaked or require MFA when sign-in risk is medium or high. Identity Protection risk policies would be the correct feature to define these risk-based access rules.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse 'risk' with 'device compliance' because both can trigger MFA, but Identity Protection deals with user/sign-in risk, not device management status.
✗Privileged Identity Management (PIM)Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Privileged Identity Management (PIM) manages just-in-time privileged access and role activation, not access rules based on device compliance or MFA requirements for applications.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question asks: 'A company wants to require approval for activating the Global Administrator role and limit its use to a specific time window. Which feature should they use?'
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse PIM with Conditional Access because both involve access control, but PIM specifically deals with privileged roles, not general application access policies.
✗Intune device compliance policiesWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Intune device compliance policies define the compliance requirements (e.g., antivirus, encryption) but do not enforce access rules like requiring MFA based on device compliance status. Conditional Access policies are needed to combine compliance status with access controls.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A company wants to define the specific security requirements (e.g., require encryption, minimum OS version, antivirus) that devices must meet to be considered compliant. The exam question would ask: 'Which feature should they use to set the rules for device compliance?'
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse device compliance policies (which define compliance) with Conditional Access policies (which enforce access based on compliance). They see 'device compliance' in the scenario and incorrectly assume the policy that defines compliance also enforces the access rules.
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 Intune device compliance policies (which define the rules for compliance) with Conditional Access policies (which enforce access decisions based on that compliance status), leading them to select Option D instead of the correct feature that actually enforces the MFA requirement.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Conditional Access policies leverage the device compliance claim issued by Intune, which is embedded in the device token during authentication via the device registration (Azure AD join or hybrid join). The policy engine evaluates the 'Require compliant device' grant control against the device's compliance state, which is refreshed periodically (default every 90 minutes) and can be forced via a check-in. In a real-world scenario, an organization might combine this with session controls like 'App enforced restrictions' to block copy/paste on unmanaged devices, providing layered security.
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: Conditional Access policies — Conditional Access policies in Microsoft Entra ID allow administrators to define granular access rules based on signals such as user, device, location, and application. In this scenario, the policy can be configured to require MFA when the device is not marked as compliant (e.g., unmanaged personal device) and to allow access without MFA when the device is reported as compliant by Intune. This is the correct feature because it directly evaluates device compliance status from Intune and enforces the specified access requirements.
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.