Conditional Access MFA for External Access
Your organization is implementing a new policy to ensure that only authorized users can access sensitive financial data stored in Microsoft SharePoint Online. The security team wants to enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all users accessing this data, but only when accessing from outside the corporate network. Which Microsoft Entra ID conditional access policy setting should you configure to meet this requirement?
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to configure the Grant access requiring multi-factor authentication when the location is not trusted setting. This is because Microsoft Entra ID Conditional Access policies evaluate conditions like location to enforce controls; by defining the corporate network as a trusted location, the policy dynamically requires MFA only when access originates from an untrusted location, such as a public Wi-Fi or a remote home office, while allowing seamless access from within the corporate perimeter. On the SC-900 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of location-based enforcement as a core Conditional Access condition, often appearing in questions that contrast Grant controls (which allow access with requirements) with Block controls (which deny access outright). A common trap is choosing a blanket block for external locations, which would prevent legitimate remote work, or confusing session controls with sign-in enforcement. Memory tip: think “Grant, don’t Block” for MFA—use Grant to add a requirement like MFA when the location is untrusted, rather than cutting off access entirely.
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
✓
Grant access requiring multi-factor authentication when the location is not trusted
A conditional access policy can be configured to require multi-factor authentication only when the location is not trusted, which meets the requirement of enforcing MFA for remote access while allowing trusted network access without MFA. Option A is incorrect because app-enforced restrictions are session controls that do not enforce MFA at sign-in. Option B is incorrect because requiring a compliant device does not directly enforce MFA. Option D is incorrect because blocking access from untrusted locations would prevent remote access entirely, which is not the requirement.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use app-enforced restrictions for SharePoint
Why it's wrong here
Session controls do not enforce MFA during authentication.
- ✗
Grant access requiring device to be marked as compliant when location is not trusted
Why it's wrong here
This requires a compliant device but does not enforce MFA.
- ✓
Grant access requiring multi-factor authentication when the location is not trusted
Why this is correct
This enforces MFA for external access while allowing internal access without MFA.
- ✗
Block access when the location is not trusted
Why it's wrong here
This would block all external access, not enforce MFA.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Core Security Concepts
Key term
Conditional Access policy
A Conditional Access policy is a set of rules in Microsoft Entra ID that automatically grants or blocks access to cloud apps based on signals like user identity, location, device health, and risk level.
Key term
Authentication
Authentication is the process of verifying that someone or something is who or what it claims to be before granting access to a system or resource.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way 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. Your organization wants to enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all users accessing cloud applications. Which Microsoft Entra ID feature should you configure?
easy- A.Configure Privileged Identity Management
- ✓ B.Create a Conditional Access policy
- C.Use Identity Protection
- D.Enable MFA per user
Why B: Conditional Access policies allow you to require MFA based on conditions like user, location, or device. Option A is incorrect because Privileged Identity Management (PIM) manages role activation and assignment, not MFA enforcement. Option C is incorrect because Identity Protection detects risks such as leaked credentials but does not directly enforce MFA. Option D is incorrect because enabling MFA per user is a legacy method that does not provide granular conditional access.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.