Does Azure AD Identity Protection Force Password Change for Anonymous IPs?
Note: The question is included in a number of questions that depicts the identical set-up. However, every question has a distinctive result. Establish if the solution satisfies the requirements. Your company has an Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) environment. Users occasionally connect to Azure AD via the Internet. You have been tasked with making sure that users who connect to Azure AD via the internet from an unidentified IP address, are automatically encouraged to change passwords. Solution: You configure the use of Azure AD Identity Protection. Does the solution meet the goal?
Community Insight
This question tests whether Identity Protection's risk-based password-change policies cover anonymous IP sign-ins; the trap is assuming Conditional Access alone is the required tool, when Identity Protection supplies the risk detection and hosts Conditional Access as part of its policy engine.
Azure AD Identity Protection detects risky sign-ins, including anonymous IP address use, and can apply risk-based policies that require users to change their password. The configured solution therefore satisfies the requirement that users connecting from an unidentified IP address are prompted to change passwords.
Selecting B (No), because learners look only for a Conditional Access policy and overlook that Identity Protection natively detects anonymous IP address use and enforces password change through its user risk policy.
Community Discussion (45 comments)
Comments & Corrections
No comments yet — spotted an error or have a note? Share it below.
Expert Analysis
Why the Answer Is Correct
Azure AD Identity Protection classifies sign-in from an anonymous or unidentified IP address as a detected risk, alongside atypical travel, leaked credentials, and password spray. Its user risk policy can be configured to require a password change when risk is detected, so the described solution does satisfy the requirement. As Dinesh_W listed, "Anonymous IP address use" is explicitly one of the risk types Identity Protection identifies. AntonioTech likewise concluded "A. Yes", noting a risk-based policy triggers a password change prompt in this case.Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option B is wrong because it assumes Identity Protection cannot influence password behavior, yet requiring a password change is exactly the remediation its user risk policy applies. Learners who answer No tend to believe only a standalone Conditional Access policy could meet the goal; however, as RDIO explained, "Conditional Access is part of Azure AD Identity Protection," so the risk detection and enforcement both exist in the configured solution. Since the question asks only whether the solution meets the goal, not which single tool is the most narrow, Identity Protection configuration is sufficient.Community Comment Notes
mrgilbe1 pointed out the Microsoft learning path emphasizes Conditional Access and that it is "a subset of, or a sister tool to Identity Protection," which explains the confusion. MGegruis similarly observed that "Conditional access is under ID protection," while Turak64 asked "Why would it be ID protection and not conditional access policy?" — the answer being that Identity Protection supplies the anonymous-IP risk signal that a plain policy would lack. okayhey also noted the naming change that "Azure AD is now Entra ID," which matters for matching current documentation.Official Reference
Exam Strategy
When a scenario names a specific Azure service, verify whether that service natively detects the condition described rather than hunting for a different tool; Identity Protection risk detections map directly to remediation actions like forced password change. On Yes/No items, ask only whether the stated configuration can satisfy the stated requirement, not whether it is the only possible approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Identity Protection apply here instead of a Conditional Access policy?
Identity Protection supplies the anonymous IP risk detection and its user risk policy, while Conditional Access is part of Identity Protection's policy enforcement layer.
Which risk types does Azure AD Identity Protection detect?
It detects anonymous IP address use, atypical travel, malware-linked IP, unfamiliar sign-in properties, leaked credentials, and password spray attacks.
Related Analysis
Practice All AZ-900 Questions
Access 90 questions with complete answers and detailed explanations.
View Full AZ-900 Practice Test →