- A
Configure role settings to require multi-factor authentication on activation
Why wrong: Requiring MFA adds an authentication step but does not add an approval workflow. MFA and approval are separate settings in PIM.
- B
Configure role settings to require approval on activation
Correct. By requiring approval, PIM will route the activation request to designated approvers (often managers) who must approve before the role is activated. Justification is typically required regardless.
- C
Configure role settings to assign the user as permanently active
Why wrong: A permanent active assignment removes the need for activation entirely; no approval or justification is needed, which defeats the purpose of just-in-time access.
- D
Configure role settings to require an Microsoft Entra ID compliant device
Why wrong: Requiring a compliant device is a condition for activation but does not enforce a manager approval step. The user could activate automatically if the condition is met.
Privileged Identity Management (PIM) Approval Activation
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 Privileged Identity Management (PIM) to manage elevated access to Microsoft Entra ID roles. They want to ensure that a user who activates a privileged role must provide a justification and receive approval from their manager before activation is complete. Which PIM configuration should be used?
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
Configure role settings to require approval on activation
Option B is correct because Microsoft Entra ID Privileged Identity Management (PIM) allows administrators to configure role settings that require approval before a role is activated. By enabling the 'Require approval to activate' setting, a designated approver (such as the user's manager) must review and approve the activation request, ensuring that the justification is validated before access is granted.
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.
- ✗
Configure role settings to require multi-factor authentication on activation
Why it's wrong here
Requiring MFA adds an authentication step but does not add an approval workflow. MFA and approval are separate settings in PIM.
- ✓
Configure role settings to require approval on activation
Why this is correct
Correct. By requiring approval, PIM will route the activation request to designated approvers (often managers) who must approve before the role is activated. Justification is typically required regardless.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Configure role settings to assign the user as permanently active
Why it's wrong here
A permanent active assignment removes the need for activation entirely; no approval or justification is needed, which defeats the purpose of just-in-time access.
- ✗
Configure role settings to require an Microsoft Entra ID compliant device
Why it's wrong here
Requiring a compliant device is a condition for activation but does not enforce a manager approval step. The user could activate automatically if the condition is met.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'require approval' with 'require MFA' or 'require compliant device,' not realizing that only the approval setting introduces a separate review step by another person, which is explicitly needed for manager authorization.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
PIM role settings are configured per role and support multiple activation requirements, including MFA, justification, approval, and device compliance. The approval workflow uses Azure AD access reviews and can be scoped to specific users or groups (e.g., a manager) via the approvers list. When approval is required, the activation request enters a pending state until the designated approver reviews the justification and either approves or denies the request, with audit logs capturing the entire lifecycle.
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.
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Describe the capabilities of Microsoft Entra — study guide chapter
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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: Configure role settings to require approval on activation — Option B is correct because Microsoft Entra ID Privileged Identity Management (PIM) allows administrators to configure role settings that require approval before a role is activated. By enabling the 'Require approval to activate' setting, a designated approver (such as the user's manager) must review and approve the activation request, ensuring that the justification is validated before access is granted.
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
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Same concept, more angles
3 more ways this is tested on SC-900
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company uses Microsoft Entra ID. The security team needs to grant temporary elevated access to the Global Administrator role for a specific task, such as configuring a new security policy. They want the user to request activation, which is then approved by a manager, and the privileges automatically expire after 4 hours. Which Microsoft Entra feature should they use?
medium- A.Conditional Access
- B.Identity Protection
- ✓ C.Privileged Identity Management (PIM)
- D.Self-Service Password Reset (SSPR)
Why C: Privileged Identity Management (PIM) in Microsoft Entra ID provides just-in-time (JIT) privileged access, allowing users to request activation of roles like Global Administrator. The activation can require approval from a manager and is automatically deactivated after a configurable maximum duration (e.g., 4 hours), directly meeting the security team's requirements.
Variation 2. A company uses Microsoft Entra ID. The security team wants to grant temporary, time-bound administrative access to the Microsoft 365 user management role for IT support staff. The access should require an approval from a senior administrator, and all actions should be audited. Which Microsoft Entra ID feature should they configure?
medium- A.Conditional Access
- B.Identity Protection
- ✓ C.Privileged Identity Management (PIM)
- D.Identity Governance
Why C: Privileged Identity Management (PIM) in Microsoft Entra ID provides just-in-time (JIT) privileged access with time-bound role activation, approval workflows, and full auditing. This directly matches the requirement for temporary, approved administrative access to the Microsoft 365 user management role with audit trails.
Variation 3. A company uses Microsoft Entra ID. The security team wants to grant temporary, time-limited administrative access to Azure subscriptions only when needed, with an approval workflow. Which Microsoft Entra capability should they use?
medium- A.Conditional Access
- B.Identity Protection
- ✓ C.Privileged Identity Management (PIM)
- D.Entra ID Governance
Why C: Privileged Identity Management (PIM) is the correct choice because it provides just-in-time (JIT) privileged access to Azure AD and Azure resources, including Azure subscriptions. PIM supports time-bound role activation with an approval workflow, allowing the security team to grant temporary administrative access only when needed, which directly matches the requirement.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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