- A
Self-Service Password Reset (SSPR) and password protection policies (password history enforcement)
SSPR handles the self-service reset with identity verification, while password protection policies (part of Entra ID authentication methods) enforce the history rule to prevent reuse.
- B
Self-Service Password Reset (SSPR) and Conditional Access policies
Why wrong: Conditional Access controls access based on conditions such as location or device state. It does not enforce password history or reuse rules.
- C
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and password protection policies
Why wrong: MFA adds a second factor during sign-in but does not enable self-service password reset. Password protection policies alone do not allow users to reset passwords on their own.
- D
Identity Protection and Authentication Strengths
Why wrong: Identity Protection identifies risky sign-ins and users. Authentication Strengths define required authentication methods. Neither provides self-service password reset or password reuse enforcement.
SC-900 Describe the capabilities of Microsoft Entra Practice Question
This SC-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe the capabilities of microsoft entra. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 reduce help desk calls by allowing users to reset their own passwords. The security team requires that users verify their identity using a registered mobile phone or alternative email before resetting. Additionally, the company policy states that passwords cannot be reused until at least five new passwords have been used. Which Microsoft Entra ID features should they configure to meet these requirements?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"least"Why it matters: You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
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
Self-Service Password Reset (SSPR) and password protection policies (password history enforcement)
Self-Service Password Reset (SSPR) allows users to reset their own passwords, reducing help desk calls. The security requirement for identity verification via registered mobile phone or alternative email is met by SSPR's authentication methods. The password history enforcement (preventing reuse until at least five new passwords have been used) is configured through password protection policies, specifically the 'password history' setting that enforces a minimum of 5 unique passwords before reuse.
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.
- ✓
Self-Service Password Reset (SSPR) and password protection policies (password history enforcement)
Why this is correct
SSPR handles the self-service reset with identity verification, while password protection policies (part of Entra ID authentication methods) enforce the history rule to prevent reuse.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Self-Service Password Reset (SSPR) and Conditional Access policies
Why it's wrong here
Conditional Access controls access based on conditions such as location or device state. It does not enforce password history or reuse rules.
- ✗
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and password protection policies
Why it's wrong here
MFA adds a second factor during sign-in but does not enable self-service password reset. Password protection policies alone do not allow users to reset passwords on their own.
- ✗
Identity Protection and Authentication Strengths
Why it's wrong here
Identity Protection identifies risky sign-ins and users. Authentication Strengths define required authentication methods. Neither provides self-service password reset or password reuse enforcement.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Conditional Access with password policies, thinking that Conditional Access can enforce password history, when in fact password history is a separate setting under password protection policies, not a Conditional Access control.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SSPR in Microsoft Entra ID uses a two-gate verification process where users must register authentication methods (e.g., mobile phone, alternative email) before resetting. The password history enforcement is part of the 'Password protection' blade under 'Password policies', where the 'Number of passwords remembered' setting (default 24) prevents reuse of old passwords; setting it to 5 meets the requirement. Under the hood, Entra ID stores a salted hash of recent passwords and compares new passwords against this history, rejecting any match.
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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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: Self-Service Password Reset (SSPR) and password protection policies (password history enforcement) — Self-Service Password Reset (SSPR) allows users to reset their own passwords, reducing help desk calls. The security requirement for identity verification via registered mobile phone or alternative email is met by SSPR's authentication methods. The password history enforcement (preventing reuse until at least five new passwords have been used) is configured through password protection policies, specifically the 'password history' setting that enforces a minimum of 5 unique passwords before reuse.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "least". You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
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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