Cloud adoption is growing at a rapid pace, and organizations need professionals who can manage and secure remote desktops, devices, and identities effectively. Microsoft offers powerful services like Azure Virtual Desktop, Intune, and Entra ID to meet these needs. If you are preparing for a Microsoft cloud services interview, you should expect scenario-based questions covering these tools.

In this blog, we’ll explore some commonly asked Azure Virtual Desktop interview questions, Intune interview questions, and Entra ID interview scenarios. The answers are written in a practical Q&A format so you can prepare confidently for your next opportunity.

Azure Virtual Desktop Interview Questions and Answers

Q1: What is Azure Virtual Desktop, and why do organizations use it?
Answer: Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) is a desktop and app virtualization service that runs on Azure. It allows organizations to provide secure remote access to applications and desktops from anywhere. Companies use it to reduce infrastructure costs, centralize management, and provide flexibility to remote workers.

Q2: How do you troubleshoot when users cannot connect to Azure Virtual Desktop?
Answer: I would first verify if the user is assigned the correct role in AVD. Then, I’d check network connectivity and confirm that the session host VM is running. Reviewing the diagnostics in Azure Monitor helps identify authentication or connectivity issues. Lastly, I’d check firewall and NSG rules to ensure they allow AVD traffic.

Q3: What are host pools in Azure Virtual Desktop?
Answer: A host pool is a collection of one or more session hosts (VMs) that users connect to. Host pools can be personal (one-to-one) or pooled (multiple users sharing). This helps organizations manage resources effectively depending on workload requirements.

Q4: How do you optimize costs in Azure Virtual Desktop?
Answer: Cost optimization can be done by enabling autoscaling to shut down unused session hosts, using pooled host pools for multiple users, and leveraging reserved instances for long-term workloads. Monitoring usage trends also helps fine-tune scaling policies.

Q5: What security measures are recommended for Azure Virtual Desktop?
Answer: Security measures include enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA), integrating with Microsoft Entra ID for identity management, applying conditional access policies, and using Intune to enforce device compliance.

Intune Interview Questions and Answers

Q1: What is Microsoft Intune, and how does it help organizations?

Answer: Microsoft Intune is a cloud-based service that helps organizations manage devices, apps, and security policies. It ensures only compliant and secure devices can access corporate resources. Intune supports Windows, iOS, Android, and macOS.

Q2: How do you enroll devices into Intune?
Answer: Devices can be enrolled manually by users through the Company Portal app, or automatically using Azure AD join and autopilot. For large deployments, bulk enrollment methods are often used.

Q3: How do you troubleshoot when a device is not showing as compliant in Intune?
Answer: I would check the compliance policies applied to the device and verify if the device meets the requirements (e.g., PIN, encryption, OS version). Next, I’d check synchronization logs in the Intune portal. If needed, re-enrolling the device often resolves compliance sync issues.

Q4: What is the difference between Mobile Device Management (MDM) and Mobile Application Management (MAM) in Intune?
Answer: MDM manages the entire device, including settings and security policies. MAM focuses only on apps, ensuring corporate data is protected without requiring full control of the device. MAM is commonly used in BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) scenarios.

Q5: How can you secure applications using Intune?
Answer: Applications can be secured using app protection policies, conditional access rules, and managed app configurations. For example, requiring encryption, preventing copy-paste outside managed apps, and enforcing MFA before app use.

Entra ID Interview Questions and Answers

Q1: What is Microsoft Entra ID, and how is it different from traditional Active Directory?
Answer: Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) is Microsoft’s cloud-based identity and access management solution. Unlike traditional on-prem Active Directory, Entra ID is built for the cloud, supporting SaaS apps, single sign-on (SSO), and secure access across multiple platforms.

Q2: How do you configure Conditional Access in Entra ID?
Answer: Conditional Access policies are configured in the Entra ID portal. They allow administrators to enforce access controls such as requiring MFA, restricting login based on location, or blocking risky sign-ins. These policies ensure only trusted users and devices can access corporate resources.

Q3: How do you troubleshoot sign-in failures in Entra ID?
Answer: I would review the sign-in logs in the Entra portal to check for failed attempts and their reasons (e.g., invalid credentials, conditional access restrictions, or MFA failures). If needed, I’d reset the MFA or password policies and confirm user assignments.

Q4: How is identity governance handled in Entra ID?
Answer: Identity governance is managed through features like entitlement management, access reviews, and privileged identity management (PIM). These tools ensure that the right people have the right access and that unused permissions are revoked.

Q5: How do you integrate Entra ID with third-party applications?
Answer: Integration is done through SAML, OAuth, or OpenID Connect protocols. Many third-party apps are pre-integrated in the Azure AD gallery, making setup easier. Admins configure SSO and provision users directly from Entra ID.

Conclusion

Preparing for an interview on Microsoft cloud services means focusing on practical, real-world scenarios rather than just theory. Azure Virtual Desktop, Intune, and Entra ID are core Azure admin tools, and mastering them will set you apart. By practicing these Azure admin tools Q&A sets, you’ll develop the ability to troubleshoot quickly, explain your thought process, and show your expertise during interviews.