The correct answer is External ID. Microsoft Entra External ID is the feature specifically designed to enable social sign-in by allowing you to configure Google and Facebook as external identity providers, so users can authenticate with their existing social media accounts instead of creating new credentials. On the SC-900 exam, this question tests your understanding of how Entra ID extends identity management beyond internal users to external identities, and a common trap is confusing External ID with Conditional Access or Identity Protection, which handle policy enforcement and risk detection rather than identity source configuration. Remember the key distinction: External ID is about *who* can sign in (social identities), while other features manage *how* they sign in or what happens after. A helpful memory tip is to think of "External" as "extra" identity sources—like adding Google and Facebook as guest passes to your Entra ID tenant.
SC-900 Practice Question: Describe the concepts of security, compliance, and identity
This SC-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe the concepts of security, compliance, and identity. 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.
Your organization uses Microsoft Entra ID for identity management. You need to ensure that users can sign in using their social media accounts, such as Google or Facebook. Which feature should you configure?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
External ID
Option B is correct because Microsoft Entra External ID allows you to configure identity providers for social identities like Google and Facebook. Option A is incorrect because Conditional Access is about enforcing access policies, not enabling social sign-in. Option C is incorrect because Identity Protection detects identity-based risks. Option D is incorrect because Privileged Identity Management manages role assignments.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Privileged Identity Management
Why it's wrong here
Privileged Identity Management manages Azure AD roles and access.
✗
Identity Protection
Why it's wrong here
Identity Protection detects and mitigates identity-based risks.
✓
External ID
Why this is correct
External ID allows configuration of social identity providers for customer-facing apps.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
✗
Conditional Access
Why it's wrong here
Conditional Access is used for enforcing policies based on conditions, not for enabling social identity providers.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Authentication checks who the user is.
Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
→Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
→Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
→Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this SC-900 question in full detail.
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related SC-900 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
Describe the concepts of security, compliance, and identity — This question tests Describe the concepts of security, compliance, and identity — Authentication checks who the user is..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: External ID — Option B is correct because Microsoft Entra External ID allows you to configure identity providers for social identities like Google and Facebook. Option A is incorrect because Conditional Access is about enforcing access policies, not enabling social sign-in. Option C is incorrect because Identity Protection detects identity-based risks. Option D is incorrect because Privileged Identity Management manages role assignments.
What should I do if I get this SC-900 question wrong?
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related SC-900 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Authentication checks who the user is.
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