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Question 196

A company wants to classify, label, and protect sensitive information such as financial records, personal data, and intellectual property across Microsoft 365. Which SC-900 service should they use?

A) Microsoft Purview Information Protection
B) Microsoft Entra Conditional Access
C) Microsoft Sentinel
D) Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

Correct Answer: A)

Explanation

Microsoft Purview Information Protection (MIP) is a comprehensive solution that enables organizations to classify, label, and protect sensitive data across Microsoft 365, on-premises systems, and cloud applications. The service is designed to help organizations enforce data protection policies consistently, reduce the risk of data leakage, and comply with regulatory requirements. This service is directly relevant to SC-900 learning objectives because it focuses on information protection, regulatory compliance, and the management of sensitive data, which are central to maintaining a secure cloud environment.

MIP allows organizations to create and apply sensitivity labels to content such as documents, emails, spreadsheets, and other types of files. Labels can be applied manually by users or automatically based on content analysis using predefined or custom policies. For example, financial records containing credit card numbers or personal data such as Social Security numbers can be automatically detected and labeled as “Confidential” or “Highly Confidential,” ensuring consistent handling and protection. These labels provide both visual markers for users and enforceable policies that control how the data can be used, shared, or accessed.

One of the key capabilities of MIP is encryption. When a document or email is labeled as sensitive, the service can apply encryption to protect the content from unauthorized access. For example, a document labeled as “Confidential” can be restricted so that only specific users or groups within the organization can open or edit it. Encryption policies can include restrictions on forwarding, printing, or copying content, providing granular control over sensitive information. This is essential for preventing accidental or intentional data breaches, a key concern addressed in SC-900 scenarios.

Option B, Microsoft Entra Conditional Access, focuses on identity-based access control and does not provide classification or labeling of sensitive content. Option C, Microsoft Sentinel, is a security monitoring and incident response platform but is not designed for protecting or classifying content. Option D, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, primarily focuses on threat protection for devices and endpoints but does not enforce sensitivity labels or content protection.

MIP also supports automatic labeling based on predefined rules that scan content for sensitive information types such as payment card data, personal identifiers, health records, and intellectual property. This automation reduces reliance on users to manually classify data, improving consistency and reducing human error. Organizations can customize policies to reflect their own regulatory requirements, business needs, or data handling standards, allowing them to enforce protection for both common and unique types of sensitive data.

Another important feature of MIP is its integration with Microsoft Cloud App Security and endpoint protection services. For example, labeled files stored in OneDrive, SharePoint, or Teams inherit protection policies, and access to these files can be controlled even when they leave the organization. This ensures that sensitive information remains protected across cloud services, endpoints, and third-party applications, extending the security perimeter beyond traditional boundaries.

Auditing and monitoring are critical aspects of MIP. Organizations can track who accessed, modified, or shared labeled content and generate reports to demonstrate compliance with internal policies and external regulations. This visibility allows security and compliance teams to detect potential violations, investigate incidents, and refine policies to enhance protection. For example, if an employee attempts to share a confidential document externally, MIP logs this activity, enabling the organization to respond promptly.

The service also supports integration with Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies, allowing administrators to enforce rules that prevent sensitive content from being inadvertently or intentionally shared outside authorized boundaries. For instance, DLP can block emails containing sensitive attachments from being sent to external domains or prevent copying of labeled content to unapproved cloud storage. This layered approach ensures comprehensive data protection, combining classification, labeling, encryption, and policy enforcement to secure sensitive information at rest, in motion, and in use.

By leveraging Microsoft Purview Information Protection, organizations can establish a robust information protection framework that enforces consistent handling of sensitive data, reduces the risk of leaks or breaches, and supports compliance with regulatory standards. It provides visibility, control, and automated enforcement across the organization, enabling secure collaboration and management of critical information assets. MIP’s classification and labeling capabilities are fundamental to SC-900 objectives, ensuring organizations implement effective data governance, secure sensitive content, and maintain compliance in complex cloud and hybrid environments.

Question 197

A company wants to protect its Microsoft 365 environment from phishing attacks, malware, and unsafe attachments or links in emails. Which SC-900 service should they use?

A) Microsoft Defender for Office 365
B) Microsoft Entra Conditional Access
C) Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention
D) Microsoft Sentinel

Correct Answer: A)

Explanation

Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is a security service designed to protect organizations from threats targeting Microsoft 365 applications, with a primary focus on email and collaboration platforms such as Exchange Online, Teams, and SharePoint. This service aligns with SC-900 learning objectives concerning threat protection, risk mitigation, and secure collaboration within cloud environments. Defender for Office 365 safeguards against phishing attacks, malicious attachments, unsafe links, and other advanced threats that exploit email and collaboration tools as vectors for compromise.

Defender for Office 365 uses a multi-layered protection approach. It combines real-time scanning, machine learning, heuristics, and threat intelligence to detect and block phishing attempts, malware, and spam before they reach users. For example, if an email contains a link to a malicious website, the service can analyze the URL in real time, determine its risk level, and either block access or provide a warning to the recipient. Similarly, suspicious attachments are sandboxed, and any malicious behavior triggers alerts and quarantine actions, preventing potential compromise.

Option B, Microsoft Entra Conditional Access, enforces access policies but does not provide protection against threats in emails or collaboration tools. Option C, Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention, focuses on preventing sensitive data from being shared inappropriately but does not protect against phishing or malware attacks. Option D, Microsoft Sentinel, monitors security events and automates response workflows but does not directly prevent malicious content from reaching users in Microsoft 365.

Defender for Office 365 also includes capabilities for safe links, safe attachments, anti-spam, and anti-phishing policies, which can be tailored based on user roles, groups, or organizational needs. Safe links dynamically rewrites URLs in emails and documents, checking them against a constantly updated threat intelligence database. Safe attachments ensure that potentially harmful files are opened in a secure environment, preventing execution of malicious code on user devices. Anti-phishing policies detect suspicious sender behavior, domain impersonation, and spoofing attempts, enhancing protection against social engineering attacks.

In addition to prevention, Defender for Office 365 provides investigation and response capabilities. Security teams can monitor threat activity, review incident reports, and analyze patterns to identify targeted campaigns. Automated playbooks can respond to detected threats by isolating affected accounts, removing malicious emails, or notifying administrators, reducing response time and limiting potential damage. This integration with Microsoft 365 security tools allows for seamless coordination between detection, prevention, and remediation efforts.

Reporting and analytics are crucial for understanding security posture and refining policies. Defender for Office 365 provides detailed dashboards showing threat trends, compromised accounts, phishing attempts, and user impact. Organizations can use these insights to adjust policy settings, provide targeted training for users, and improve overall resilience against attacks. Integration with Microsoft Sentinel further extends visibility and correlation across multiple systems, enabling holistic threat monitoring and advanced investigation capabilities.

Defender for Office 365 also supports advanced attack simulation and training programs. Security teams can run simulated phishing campaigns to test user awareness and readiness, providing educational feedback to improve recognition and reporting of suspicious emails. This proactive approach helps reduce the likelihood of successful attacks, strengthens the human element of security, and reinforces a culture of vigilance.

By implementing Microsoft Defender for Office 365, organizations gain robust protection against the most common and advanced threats targeting email and collaboration platforms. The service ensures safe communication, reduces exposure to malware and phishing campaigns, and integrates with broader Microsoft 365 security controls to provide a cohesive defense strategy. Its comprehensive protection capabilities are directly aligned with SC-900 objectives of safeguarding cloud environments, managing risks, and maintaining secure operations within Microsoft 365 ecosystems.

Question 198

A company wants to prevent users from sharing sensitive information externally while enabling secure collaboration internally. Which SC-900 service should they use?

A) Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention
B) Microsoft Entra Conditional Access
C) Microsoft Sentinel
D) Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Correct Answer: A)

Explanation

Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention (DLP) is a critical service that helps organizations prevent unintentional or unauthorized sharing of sensitive information. It supports SC-900 objectives by protecting data across Microsoft 365 services, on-premises environments, and third-party cloud applications, ensuring compliance, secure collaboration, and risk mitigation. DLP policies can detect sensitive content, enforce protection actions, and monitor user activity to prevent data leakage while allowing legitimate collaboration.

DLP policies can be configured to scan emails, documents, chat messages, and other types of content for sensitive information such as financial data, personal identifiers, health records, or intellectual property. When a potential violation is detected, DLP can trigger actions such as blocking sharing, notifying users, encrypting content, or generating alerts for administrators. These capabilities ensure that critical information is not accidentally exposed to unauthorized recipients while supporting controlled collaboration within the organization.

Option B, Microsoft Entra Conditional Access, controls access based on identity and device compliance but does not prevent data sharing or enforce content policies. Option C, Microsoft Sentinel, monitors and responds to security events but is not designed to prevent sensitive data from leaving the organization. Option D, Microsoft Defender for Office 365, protects against phishing and malware but does not specifically enforce policies related to data loss prevention.

DLP policies are highly customizable and can include exceptions, thresholds, and rules tailored to organizational needs. For example, organizations can allow sharing of certain types of data with external partners while blocking other types, ensuring that business processes are not disrupted. Policies can also include user education components, warning users when they attempt to share sensitive information inappropriately and providing guidance on safe handling.

Integration with Microsoft Information Protection enhances DLP by allowing automatic application of sensitivity labels in combination with DLP rules. This ensures that content is both classified and protected according to organizational policies. For example, a document labeled as “Confidential” can trigger DLP actions if someone attempts to share it externally, providing multiple layers of control over sensitive data.

DLP also provides monitoring and reporting capabilities. Security teams can track incidents, identify high-risk users or patterns, and assess policy effectiveness. Detailed logs and dashboards allow organizations to demonstrate compliance with regulatory requirements, identify areas for improvement, and adjust policies as needed to maintain optimal protection.

By leveraging Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention, organizations can secure sensitive information, prevent accidental or malicious sharing, and enable secure internal collaboration. Its policies, monitoring, and reporting capabilities ensure that data protection aligns with SC-900 objectives, reinforcing governance, compliance, and secure cloud operations across Microsoft 365 environments.

Question 199

A company wants to ensure that only compliant devices can access Microsoft 365 applications and data. Which SC-900 service should they use?

A) Microsoft Entra Conditional Access
B) Microsoft Purview Information Protection
C) Microsoft Sentinel
D) Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Correct Answer: A)

Explanation

Microsoft Entra Conditional Access is a cornerstone of Microsoft 365 security and identity management, providing organizations with the ability to enforce policies that govern access to applications and data based on conditions such as user identity, device compliance, location, and risk levels. This service aligns closely with SC-900 learning objectives, which emphasize securing cloud services, managing identities, and protecting organizational resources. Conditional Access allows organizations to control access dynamically and contextually, providing flexibility while maintaining security.

The fundamental purpose of Conditional Access is to evaluate access requests against defined conditions and enforce real-time access controls. These conditions include user identity, group membership, device compliance status, network location, sign-in risk, and application sensitivity. For example, an organization can require that only devices compliant with Intune management policies, such as having encryption enabled and antivirus software up to date, can access Microsoft 365 applications like Exchange Online, SharePoint, or Teams. Non-compliant devices may be blocked, granted limited access, or required to perform additional verification, such as multi-factor authentication, before access is permitted.

Option B, Microsoft Purview Information Protection, focuses on classifying, labeling, and protecting sensitive information but does not enforce device-based access policies. Option C, Microsoft Sentinel, is a security information and event management (SIEM) platform that monitors and analyzes security events but does not control access to applications based on device compliance. Option D, Microsoft Defender for Office 365, protects against email-based threats like phishing and malware but does not manage conditional access for devices.

Conditional Access policies can be applied to users, groups, or applications, allowing granular control over access. For example, an organization may define a policy that requires multi-factor authentication when accessing sensitive financial applications from outside the corporate network, while permitting seamless access internally. These policies can be layered to accommodate various scenarios, such as requiring compliant devices for general access, stricter authentication for high-risk users, or adaptive controls based on real-time risk assessment from Microsoft Entra Identity Protection.

Device compliance is a critical aspect of Conditional Access. Organizations integrate Microsoft Intune or other mobile device management solutions to enforce compliance policies, ensuring that only devices meeting security standards can connect. Compliance checks may include verifying operating system versions, applying security patches, confirming encryption, and checking for the presence of antivirus or endpoint protection software. Conditional Access evaluates these compliance signals during each access request, providing a continuous assessment of risk and dynamically enforcing access rules.

Conditional Access supports adaptive policies that respond to evolving risk conditions. For instance, if a user signs in from an unfamiliar location or an untrusted network, the system can require additional verification or block access entirely. Integration with Microsoft Defender for Identity allows Conditional Access to consider real-time threat intelligence and identity risk when making access decisions. This combination enables a proactive security posture, aligning with SC-900 objectives of mitigating cloud security risks through identity and access controls.

Auditing and reporting are also key components. Organizations can track policy enforcement, monitor blocked access attempts, and review risk-related incidents. This visibility ensures that access policies are effective, identifies potential gaps, and provides evidence for regulatory compliance. Administrators can refine policies based on trends and organizational requirements, optimizing security while maintaining user productivity.

Conditional Access can also integrate with session control capabilities, allowing organizations to limit access to applications in real time based on risk signals. For example, administrators can enforce session monitoring and restrictions within Microsoft 365 applications, preventing sensitive data from being copied, downloaded, or shared from unmanaged devices. This layered approach ensures that sensitive organizational resources remain protected even when accessed from potentially risky devices or locations.

By implementing Microsoft Entra Conditional Access, organizations achieve a balance between usability and security, ensuring that only compliant devices can access Microsoft 365 applications and data while adapting dynamically to real-time risk conditions. Its policy-driven, conditional, and adaptive approach to identity and device security is directly relevant to SC-900 learning objectives, which emphasize secure access, identity management, and cloud resource protection within a modern enterprise environment.

Question 200

A company wants to monitor, detect, and respond to security threats across Microsoft 365 and Azure environments. Which SC-900 service should they use?

A) Microsoft Sentinel
B) Microsoft Purview Information Protection
C) Microsoft Entra Conditional Access
D) Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Correct Answer: A)

Explanation

Microsoft Sentinel is a cloud-native Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) and Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) solution that enables organizations to collect, analyze, and respond to security data across Microsoft 365, Azure, and hybrid environments. Sentinel aligns closely with SC-900 objectives by providing visibility, threat detection, proactive response, and integration capabilities that enhance cloud security posture.

Sentinel collects security-related data from multiple sources, including user sign-ins, application logs, network activity, endpoint telemetry, and threat intelligence feeds. By centralizing these logs, Sentinel provides a comprehensive view of security events and potential risks. The platform uses advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to detect anomalies, suspicious behavior, and patterns indicative of security threats, such as compromised accounts, data exfiltration, malware propagation, or insider threats.

Option B, Microsoft Purview Information Protection, focuses on labeling and protecting sensitive information but does not provide threat monitoring or incident response capabilities. Option C, Microsoft Entra Conditional Access, enforces access control policies but does not provide holistic security monitoring or threat detection across environments. Option D, Microsoft Defender for Office 365, protects against threats targeting email and collaboration tools but lacks comprehensive SIEM capabilities across the enterprise.

Sentinel allows organizations to create custom alerts, dashboards, and reports for monitoring high-risk activity and security incidents. Security teams can visualize threat data, investigate alerts, and drill down into the root cause of issues. For instance, an alert may indicate unusual login activity from multiple geographic locations, prompting analysts to investigate potential account compromise or insider threat activity. Integration with Microsoft 365 Defender, Azure Defender, and other security solutions provides enriched context, enabling faster and more accurate threat detection.

Automated response is a key feature of Sentinel. SOAR capabilities allow organizations to create playbooks that automatically respond to detected threats, reducing response time and mitigating risk. For example, if Sentinel detects a compromised account attempting to access sensitive resources, it can automatically disable the account, revoke session tokens, notify administrators, and initiate remediation procedures. This automation reduces the burden on security teams, enhances operational efficiency, and limits potential damage from attacks.

Sentinel leverages AI and machine learning to reduce false positives and prioritize critical incidents. By analyzing historical data and behavioral patterns, the platform identifies deviations indicative of high-risk activity while filtering out routine or low-impact events. This ensures that security teams focus on meaningful alerts and can respond effectively to genuine threats. Sentinel also supports threat hunting, allowing analysts to proactively search for potential security issues across datasets, enhancing overall threat awareness.

Integration with external threat intelligence sources and Microsoft’s global threat signals strengthens Sentinel’s detection capabilities. Organizations benefit from insights derived from billions of anonymized signals and attack patterns, enabling proactive defense measures. Sentinel can ingest threat intelligence feeds, apply correlation rules, and generate actionable alerts, providing a holistic and proactive approach to security monitoring aligned with SC-900 objectives.

Auditing, reporting, and compliance support are also essential. Sentinel maintains detailed records of security events, automated responses, and analyst investigations. These logs are critical for demonstrating regulatory compliance, conducting forensic investigations, and refining security policies. Organizations can generate reports showing security posture, incident trends, and response effectiveness, supporting risk management and governance requirements.

By implementing Microsoft Sentinel, organizations gain a unified, cloud-native platform for monitoring, detecting, and responding to security threats across Microsoft 365 and Azure environments. Its integration with other Microsoft security services, advanced analytics, automated response capabilities, and centralized visibility provide comprehensive protection aligned with SC-900 objectives, helping organizations identify risks, respond to incidents efficiently, and maintain a strong security posture across cloud and hybrid ecosystems.

Question 201

A company wants to require multi-factor authentication and block access from untrusted locations for high-risk users. Which SC-900 service should they use?

A) Microsoft Entra Conditional Access
B) Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention
C) Microsoft Sentinel
D) Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Correct Answer: A)

Explanation

Microsoft Entra Conditional Access provides organizations with the ability to define policies that enforce authentication requirements and access controls based on contextual conditions. Requiring multi-factor authentication (MFA) for high-risk users and blocking access from untrusted locations is a classic example of Conditional Access policy enforcement, demonstrating the service’s central role in SC-900 objectives related to identity security, access control, and risk-based conditional access.

High-risk users are identified based on signals such as unusual sign-in activity, impossible travel events, repeated failed logins, or compromised credentials. Microsoft Entra Identity Protection integrates with Conditional Access to provide risk assessment in real time. Administrators can configure policies that require users identified as high-risk to complete MFA before granting access, mitigating potential compromise while allowing legitimate access in a controlled manner.

Option B, Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention, focuses on preventing the accidental or unauthorized sharing of sensitive information but does not enforce authentication or access policies. Option C, Microsoft Sentinel, monitors and responds to security events but does not directly enforce access requirements for high-risk users. Option D, Microsoft Defender for Office 365, protects against email threats but does not manage risk-based authentication.

Conditional Access policies can incorporate location-based controls, allowing organizations to block access from countries or regions deemed untrusted, or from networks not managed or compliant with organizational standards. For instance, an employee attempting to log in from a high-risk country may be automatically blocked or required to perform additional verification steps before access is granted. This ensures that organizational resources remain protected even in dynamic and potentially hostile environments.

MFA is enforced by requiring a second form of authentication, such as a verification code, mobile app notification, or biometric verification. By integrating MFA with Conditional Access, organizations strengthen security for high-risk users without disrupting normal access for low-risk scenarios. Policies can be fine-tuned to allow access from trusted devices, compliant endpoints, or managed networks, maintaining usability while enforcing security.

Conditional Access policies also provide granular reporting and monitoring. Administrators can review policy enforcement results, detect patterns of blocked access attempts, and analyze high-risk activity. This insight enables the organization to refine policies, identify potential threats, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements related to identity and access management.

By leveraging Microsoft Entra Conditional Access, organizations implement a risk-aware access strategy that enforces multi-factor authentication, blocks untrusted access, and dynamically protects sensitive resources. Its integration with Identity Protection, device compliance, and location-based controls ensures that high-risk users are secured effectively, supporting SC-900 learning objectives focused on identity security, access management, and proactive risk mitigation within cloud environments.

Question 202

A company needs to classify and protect sensitive data in Microsoft 365 while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. Which SC-900 service should they use?

A) Microsoft Purview Information Protection
B) Microsoft Entra Conditional Access
C) Microsoft Sentinel
D) Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

Correct Answer: A)

Explanation

Microsoft Purview Information Protection is a comprehensive data classification, labeling, and protection solution designed to help organizations identify, classify, and safeguard sensitive information within Microsoft 365 environments. It plays a critical role in compliance management, information governance, and data security, aligning directly with SC-900 objectives that focus on understanding Microsoft cloud security, compliance, and identity principles.

The core functionality of Purview Information Protection revolves around discovering sensitive data across Microsoft 365 services, including Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, OneDrive, and Teams. It uses built-in and customizable sensitivity labels to classify data based on content, context, and regulatory requirements. For example, an organization may define labels such as Confidential, Highly Confidential, and Public to categorize documents, emails, and other types of information. These labels can be applied manually by users or automatically through content inspection policies using keywords, patterns, and machine learning models that identify personally identifiable information (PII), financial records, health information, or other regulated data types.

Classification and labeling are not just cosmetic; they enforce protection actions on the data. Labels can trigger encryption, restrict access, control sharing permissions, or apply watermarks to ensure that sensitive information is handled appropriately. This capability ensures that regulatory requirements such as GDPR, HIPAA, or ISO standards are met by enforcing consistent protection policies across the organization’s digital assets. Labels can also integrate with rights management solutions to control actions like copy, print, download, and forwarding, providing end-to-end data protection.

Option B, Microsoft Entra Conditional Access, focuses on identity-based access control rather than directly classifying and protecting data. While Conditional Access ensures that only compliant and authenticated users can access resources, it does not perform content classification or enforce data protection policies. Option C, Microsoft Sentinel, provides security monitoring and threat detection but does not classify or protect data. Option D, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, protects endpoints from threats such as malware and exploits but is not designed to manage sensitive data classification or regulatory compliance.

Purview Information Protection also integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Compliance Manager, enabling organizations to monitor compliance posture, assess risks, and generate audit-ready reports. Compliance Manager evaluates control implementation, identifies gaps, and provides actionable recommendations to strengthen regulatory compliance. By linking classification and labeling with compliance workflows, organizations can demonstrate adherence to internal policies and external regulatory requirements.

Automated labeling is particularly powerful for large organizations with vast amounts of unstructured data. Organizations can define rules to automatically apply sensitivity labels to emails, documents, and content based on detected patterns or user roles. For instance, a policy could automatically label any document containing credit card numbers or social security numbers as Highly Confidential, enforcing encryption and restricting sharing with unauthorized users. This automated approach reduces human error, ensures consistent enforcement, and supports regulatory obligations for data protection.

The visibility and monitoring capabilities within Purview Information Protection allow administrators to track the usage and movement of sensitive information. Audit logs, activity reports, and dashboards provide insights into how data is accessed, shared, and handled across the organization. Administrators can identify potential misuse, track data leaks, and adjust policies to mitigate risk. Integration with other Microsoft 365 security and compliance solutions enhances situational awareness and enables a coordinated approach to data protection.

Data loss prevention (DLP) policies complement sensitivity labeling by preventing sensitive information from leaving the organization in unapproved ways. DLP rules can be configured to block, notify, or encrypt data when detected in emails, documents, or Teams messages. These policies work in conjunction with sensitivity labels to ensure that critical information is not exposed inadvertently or intentionally, maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements.

Purview Information Protection supports a wide range of deployment scenarios, including on-premises, hybrid, and cloud environments. This flexibility ensures that organizations can apply consistent protection policies across all their information assets, regardless of storage location. Integration with Microsoft Cloud App Security further extends data protection to third-party applications, providing visibility and control over sensitive data across the broader cloud ecosystem.

By implementing Microsoft Purview Information Protection, organizations gain a robust framework for identifying, classifying, labeling, and protecting sensitive information, meeting regulatory compliance needs while maintaining security and productivity. The solution’s integration with Microsoft 365 services, automation capabilities, and monitoring tools provides comprehensive protection aligned with SC-900 objectives, ensuring that organizational data remains secure, compliant, and appropriately managed across cloud and hybrid environments.

Question 203

A company wants to detect phishing attempts and malware in email and collaboration tools. Which SC-900 service should they use?

A) Microsoft Defender for Office 365
B) Microsoft Entra Conditional Access
C) Microsoft Purview Information Protection
D) Microsoft Sentinel

Correct Answer: A)

Explanation

Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is a security solution designed to protect Microsoft 365 environments from advanced threats such as phishing, malware, ransomware, and business email compromise. It provides protection for email, Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive by leveraging real-time threat intelligence, machine learning, and advanced detection algorithms. Its capabilities align directly with SC-900 learning objectives, particularly in the areas of threat protection, secure collaboration, and risk mitigation.

Defender for Office 365 integrates multiple layers of defense to prevent, detect, and respond to threats. Anti-phishing capabilities analyze email content, sender reputation, and user behavior to identify suspicious emails. The platform detects attempts to impersonate executives, external domains, or known contacts and can quarantine or block these emails before they reach users. Machine learning models continuously improve detection accuracy by analyzing threat patterns, enabling proactive protection against evolving attack techniques.

Malware detection and investigation are also central features. Defender for Office 365 scans attachments, URLs, and files shared through collaboration tools for malicious content. The solution provides safe links and safe attachments capabilities, which rewrite URLs in emails and documents to protect users from phishing and drive-by attacks. In real-time, malicious content can be sandboxed, blocked, or remediated, reducing the risk of infection or data compromise.

Option B, Microsoft Entra Conditional Access, controls access to resources based on identity and device conditions but does not provide threat detection for email or collaboration tools. Option C, Microsoft Purview Information Protection, classifies and protects sensitive data but is not designed to detect phishing or malware threats. Option D, Microsoft Sentinel provides centralized monitoring and alerting across the environment but is not specifically focused on protecting email or collaboration tools from phishing or malware in real time.

Integration with automated investigation and response (AIR) capabilities enables organizations to respond rapidly to incidents. Defender for Office 365 can automatically investigate alerts, remediate compromised accounts, remove malicious emails from mailboxes, and generate actionable reports for security teams. This reduces the time required to contain threats, mitigates the impact of attacks, and supports operational efficiency.

Threat intelligence integration is a significant advantage. Microsoft leverages global threat intelligence from billions of signals across its services to identify new attack vectors, emerging malware, and phishing campaigns. This intelligence informs Defender for Office 365 detection algorithms and policies, ensuring that organizations benefit from collective security insights. Alerts are enriched with contextual information, such as the targeted users, affected resources, and recommended remediation actions.

User education and simulation campaigns complement technical protections. Defender for Office 365 provides capabilities for training employees to recognize phishing attempts, malicious links, and suspicious attachments. Simulated phishing exercises help assess user awareness, reinforce training, and measure the effectiveness of security awareness programs. These educational measures, combined with automated protection, create a layered defense strategy aligned with SC-900 principles.

Monitoring and reporting are critical aspects of Defender for Office 365. Security teams can access dashboards that provide visibility into detected threats, phishing attempts, malware incidents, and user risk trends. Detailed logs support compliance reporting, forensic investigations, and continuous improvement of security policies. Insights derived from these analytics help administrators adjust configurations, refine filtering rules, and strengthen organizational defenses.

By deploying Microsoft Defender for Office 365, organizations implement a proactive, multi-layered security approach that protects users and organizational data from phishing, malware, and advanced threats. Its integration with Microsoft 365 collaboration tools, advanced threat intelligence, automated investigation, and remediation capabilities ensure that email and productivity environments remain secure, reliable, and aligned with SC-900 objectives.

Question 204

A company wants to monitor user and administrator activities to detect potential security incidents and insider threats. Which SC-900 service should they use?

A) Microsoft Sentinel
B) Microsoft Purview Information Protection
C) Microsoft Entra Conditional Access
D) Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Correct Answer: A)

Explanation

Microsoft Sentinel is a cloud-native SIEM and SOAR solution designed to provide organizations with the ability to collect, analyze, and respond to security-related events and incidents across Microsoft 365, Azure, and hybrid environments. One of its key uses is monitoring user and administrator activities to detect potential security incidents, insider threats, or abnormal behavior. This capability is directly aligned with SC-900 objectives regarding threat detection, monitoring, and incident response in cloud environments.

Sentinel collects logs and telemetry from multiple sources, including Microsoft 365 audit logs, Azure AD sign-ins, endpoint activity, and network telemetry. By centralizing this data, organizations can perform real-time analysis to detect suspicious activity, such as unusual access patterns, privilege escalation attempts, abnormal file modifications, or unauthorized data access. Machine learning and advanced analytics help identify deviations from baseline behavior, highlighting potential insider threats that might otherwise go undetected.

Option B, Microsoft Purview Information Protection, classifies and protects sensitive data but does not provide behavior monitoring or threat detection capabilities. Option C, Microsoft Entra Conditional Access, enforces access policies but does not monitor activities to detect incidents. Option D, Microsoft Defender for Office 365, protects against threats like phishing and malware but is not designed to provide comprehensive activity monitoring across users and administrators.

Sentinel enables threat hunting, allowing analysts to proactively search for anomalies or indicators of compromise. For example, analysts can investigate scenarios such as unusual administrative activity late at night, large data downloads, or attempts to bypass security policies. Correlation rules within Sentinel connect related events across multiple sources to identify complex attack chains, supporting early detection and rapid response.

Automation and orchestration capabilities allow organizations to respond to detected incidents efficiently. Playbooks can automatically trigger actions, such as disabling accounts, revoking privileges, notifying security teams, or quarantining suspicious files, minimizing the impact of potential threats. This automation reduces response times and allows organizations to act on threats consistently, ensuring proactive protection.

Auditing, reporting, and compliance are also integrated into Sentinel. Security teams can generate reports on user activity, administrator actions, and detected threats, providing evidence for regulatory compliance and internal governance. Dashboards visualize trends, anomalies, and incident resolution status, enabling organizations to assess security posture, identify risk areas, and optimize controls.

By implementing Microsoft Sentinel, organizations gain a comprehensive platform to monitor, detect, and respond to potential security incidents and insider threats. Its centralization of logs, integration with threat intelligence, advanced analytics, automation, and reporting capabilities provide a holistic view of user and administrator activity, helping organizations mitigate risks and strengthen security while aligning with SC-900 objectives focused on cloud security, identity protection, and risk management.

Question 205

A company wants to enforce conditional access policies to require multi-factor authentication for all users accessing sensitive resources from unmanaged devices. Which SC-900 service should they use?

A) Microsoft Entra Conditional Access
B) Microsoft Defender for Office 365
C) Microsoft Purview Information Protection
D) Microsoft Sentinel

Correct Answer: A)

Explanation

Microsoft Entra Conditional Access is a core identity and access management feature designed to help organizations implement granular access controls across Microsoft 365 and Azure environments. Conditional Access enforces policies based on user identity, device compliance, location, application sensitivity, and risk assessment. Its primary objective is to ensure that access to resources is secure and aligns with organizational security policies, making it an essential SC-900 topic for understanding cloud security, identity management, and compliance.

Conditional Access enables organizations to define rules that trigger specific actions when predefined conditions are met. For example, an organization can require multi-factor authentication (MFA) whenever a user attempts to access highly sensitive applications or data from an unmanaged or non-compliant device. These conditions may include device type, operating system, network location, or user role. By combining these conditions with adaptive responses like MFA prompts, access restrictions, or session controls, organizations can mitigate the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches.

Enforcing MFA through Conditional Access provides an additional security layer by requiring users to present a second form of verification, such as a one-time password, push notification, or biometric factor. This is particularly critical for unmanaged devices, which may lack corporate security controls and could be compromised more easily. By dynamically applying policies based on risk and device compliance, Conditional Access ensures that organizational data remains protected while maintaining user productivity.

Option B, Microsoft Defender for Office 365, focuses on threat protection for email and collaboration tools, not access management. Option C, Microsoft Purview Information Protection, classifies and protects sensitive information but does not control access conditions. Option D, Microsoft Sentinel, provides monitoring and incident response capabilities but does not enforce access policies at the identity level.

Conditional Access integrates closely with Microsoft Entra Identity Protection to evaluate risk signals, such as unusual sign-in behavior, sign-ins from unfamiliar locations, or compromised credentials. Based on the risk assessment, policies can automatically enforce appropriate controls, including MFA, blocking access, or requiring password resets. This integration enables organizations to proactively mitigate identity-based threats while maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements.

Administrators can also implement session controls with Conditional Access to enforce additional restrictions during active sessions. For instance, they can require users to reauthenticate for sensitive actions, restrict downloads of sensitive documents, or limit access to web applications based on session context. These capabilities provide dynamic, real-time protection aligned with SC-900 principles of adaptive security and identity governance.

Conditional Access policies are highly flexible and can be tailored to different groups, roles, and applications. Organizations can create policies specific to administrators, privileged users, or teams handling sensitive information, ensuring that security requirements match organizational risk profiles. Policies can also target specific applications such as SharePoint Online, Exchange Online, Teams, or third-party SaaS applications integrated with Microsoft Entra.

Question 206

A company wants to monitor and respond to security threats across Microsoft 365 and Azure environments, including identifying compromised accounts and detecting anomalous activity. Which SC-900 service should they use?

A) Microsoft Sentinel
B) Microsoft Purview Information Protection
C) Microsoft Entra Conditional Access
D) Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Correct Answer: A)

Explanation

Microsoft Sentinel is a cloud-native Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) and Security Orchestration Automated Response (SOAR) platform that provides centralized visibility, monitoring, and response capabilities across Microsoft 365, Azure, and hybrid environments. Its primary purpose is to identify, investigate, and respond to security threats such as compromised accounts, insider risks, phishing attacks, and anomalous user behavior, making it highly relevant to SC-900 topics on cloud security, threat detection, and identity protection.

Sentinel collects and correlates logs from multiple sources, including Microsoft 365 audit logs, Azure Active Directory sign-ins, endpoint telemetry, and network activity. By aggregating these diverse data streams, Sentinel enables advanced analytics and machine learning to detect suspicious behavior and anomalies that may indicate compromised accounts, privilege escalation, or other threats. Analysts can create custom queries and rules to monitor specific risk patterns, enabling proactive threat detection and timely response.

Option B, Microsoft Purview Information Protection, is focused on data classification and protection rather than threat detection. Option C, Microsoft Entra Conditional Access, enforces access policies but does not provide centralized threat monitoring or incident response. Option D, Microsoft Defender for Office 365, protects against email and collaboration threats but does not provide a holistic view across all enterprise resources.

Sentinel also supports automated investigation and remediation workflows through its SOAR capabilities. Organizations can define playbooks that trigger automated actions when specific alerts are detected, such as disabling compromised accounts, revoking access, or notifying security teams. This automation reduces the time to respond, mitigates potential damage, and ensures consistent handling of security incidents.

Threat hunting is a critical function within Sentinel, allowing security analysts to search for unusual patterns or suspicious activities that may not trigger predefined alerts. Analysts can investigate scenarios such as large-scale data exfiltration attempts, unusual administrative activity, or anomalous sign-ins from foreign locations. Sentinel’s advanced analytics and correlation capabilities help identify attack chains that may span multiple systems and users, providing deeper insight into complex threats.

Integration with Microsoft threat intelligence enhances Sentinel’s detection capabilities. Threat intelligence feeds inform correlation rules and alert generation, helping organizations detect emerging attack vectors and known malicious entities. Sentinel provides enriched alerts with contextual information, including affected users, targeted resources, and recommended mitigation actions.

Question 207

A company wants to discover, classify, and protect sensitive documents in SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams based on regulatory compliance requirements. Which SC-900 service should they use?

A) Microsoft Purview Information Protection
B) Microsoft Entra Conditional Access
C) Microsoft Sentinel
D) Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Correct Answer: A)

Explanation

Microsoft Purview Information Protection is a comprehensive solution that enables organizations to discover, classify, label, and protect sensitive information across Microsoft 365 services such as SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, and Exchange Online. Its core function is to ensure that documents containing sensitive information, such as personally identifiable information (PII), financial records, or health data, are identified and protected according to regulatory compliance requirements. This aligns directly with SC-900 objectives regarding data security, compliance, and information governance in cloud environments.

The discovery process begins with scanning documents and data stored across Microsoft 365 services to identify sensitive content. Microsoft Purview uses built-in sensitive information types, such as credit card numbers, social security numbers, health records, and financial account information. Organizations can also create custom sensitive information types based on unique regulatory requirements or internal policies. This scanning and classification process can occur automatically or be initiated by administrators, ensuring comprehensive coverage across all content repositories.

After discovery, Purview Information Protection allows organizations to apply sensitivity labels to classify documents according to their risk level or compliance requirements. Labels such as Confidential, Highly Confidential, or Internal-Use-Only can be applied automatically through rules and conditions, manually by users, or through a combination of both. These labels can enforce protection actions, including encryption, access restrictions, content marking, and sharing limitations, ensuring that sensitive information is adequately safeguarded from unauthorized access or disclosure.

Option B, Microsoft Entra Conditional Access, governs access policies but does not classify or protect content based on sensitivity. Option C, Microsoft Sentinel, provides security monitoring and threat response but does not manage document classification or protection. Option D, Microsoft Defender for Office 365, protects against threats like phishing and malware but does not handle document classification for regulatory compliance.

Integration with Microsoft Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies enhances Purview’s protective capabilities by preventing sensitive data from being shared or transmitted in unauthorized ways. DLP rules can block, encrypt, or alert on policy violations, working alongside sensitivity labels to enforce consistent protection measures across the organization. For example, a DLP rule might prevent users from sharing documents containing social security numbers outside the organization, automatically applying encryption or blocking the action.

Purview Information Protection also integrates with Compliance Manager, providing visibility into the organization’s compliance posture. Compliance Manager evaluates controls related to sensitive data protection, assesses regulatory risks, and generates actionable recommendations. This integration helps organizations demonstrate adherence to standards such as GDPR, HIPAA, ISO 27001, or other local and international regulations.

Advanced reporting and monitoring within Purview provide insight into how sensitive documents are being accessed, shared, and used. Activity logs and dashboards enable administrators to track label application, policy enforcement, and potential misuse of sensitive information. These insights support risk management, policy refinement, and audit requirements, ensuring that organizations maintain regulatory compliance and secure handling of critical data.

By implementing Microsoft Purview Information Protection, organizations can systematically discover, classify, and protect sensitive documents across SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams. The combination of automated and manual labeling, integrated DLP, monitoring, and compliance assessment ensures that sensitive information is managed according to regulatory requirements. This capability aligns with SC-900 objectives related to information protection, compliance management, and security within Microsoft cloud services.

Question 208

A company wants to prevent users from sharing sensitive documents containing financial data outside the organization in Microsoft 365. Which SC-900 service should they use?

A) Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention
B) Microsoft Entra Conditional Access
C) Microsoft Sentinel
D) Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Correct Answer: A)

Explanation

Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention (DLP) is a robust tool designed to help organizations identify, monitor, and automatically protect sensitive information across Microsoft 365 services, including SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, and Exchange Online. Its primary goal is to prevent accidental or intentional leakage of sensitive information while ensuring compliance with organizational policies and regulatory requirements. Within the SC-900 framework, understanding how DLP helps enforce information protection policies is critical.

DLP works by defining rules that detect specific sensitive information types, such as financial data, personally identifiable information (PII), health records, or intellectual property. These rules can be pre-configured using built-in templates aligned with regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, or ISO 27001, or they can be custom-designed based on organizational requirements. For financial data, DLP can scan documents and emails for bank account numbers, credit card numbers, and other relevant identifiers. Once detected, policies can trigger actions such as blocking the content, restricting sharing, encrypting the data, or alerting administrators.

Option B, Microsoft Entra Conditional Access, enforces access controls but does not inspect the content of files for sensitive data. Option C, Microsoft Sentinel, focuses on threat monitoring and incident response but does not provide content-based data protection. Option D, Microsoft Defender for Office 365, protects against email-borne threats but does not enforce organizational sharing rules for sensitive content.

DLP policies are applied across multiple locations in Microsoft 365. For instance, if a user attempts to upload a financial report to a Teams channel shared externally, DLP can automatically block the upload or restrict sharing only to authorized personnel. Similarly, if an email containing sensitive financial attachments is composed for an external recipient, DLP can prevent sending, notify the user, and optionally alert security teams. This ensures that sensitive data is consistently protected regardless of the collaboration platform.

DLP also integrates with Microsoft Information Protection labels. Sensitivity labels can classify documents as Confidential, Highly Confidential, or Restricted, which then guides DLP policies on how these documents can be shared. This layered approach strengthens data protection by combining classification and enforcement mechanisms, providing end-to-end control over sensitive information.

Administrators can configure DLP to include user notifications and policy tips that educate users in real-time about sharing restrictions. This helps prevent accidental data leaks while maintaining productivity. For example, a user trying to share a financial spreadsheet externally might receive a prompt explaining the sharing restrictions, thereby reducing the risk of inadvertent exposure.

Monitoring and reporting are essential features of DLP. Administrators can track policy violations, generate reports on attempted data leaks, and evaluate compliance with internal policies and regulatory standards. These insights allow organizations to refine DLP rules, identify high-risk users or departments, and ensure accountability in data handling practices.

DLP also supports integration with endpoint devices through Microsoft Endpoint Data Loss Prevention (Endpoint DLP). This extends protection to local files on Windows devices, controlling actions such as copying to USB drives, printing, or uploading to non-compliant cloud services. By incorporating both cloud and endpoint protection, organizations achieve a comprehensive data protection strategy that mitigates the risk of financial data leakage across multiple channels.

In addition to protecting against unintentional data leaks, DLP helps identify potential insider threats by analyzing sharing patterns and user behavior. Advanced analytics can highlight unusual sharing activity, such as sending large volumes of sensitive files externally, which may indicate malicious intent. Security teams can investigate these incidents and take appropriate measures to prevent breaches.

Question 209

A company wants to provide users with secure access to SaaS applications and enforce multi-factor authentication when risk is detected during sign-in. Which SC-900 service should they use?

A) Microsoft Entra Identity Protection
B) Microsoft Purview Information Protection
C) Microsoft Sentinel
D) Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Correct Answer: A)

Explanation

Microsoft Entra Identity Protection is a cloud-based identity security solution that helps organizations detect, investigate, and remediate identity-related risks, including compromised accounts, leaked credentials, and suspicious sign-in activity. It allows organizations to enforce risk-based adaptive policies, such as requiring multi-factor authentication (MFA) or blocking access based on detected threats. Within the SC-900 exam context, Identity Protection is critical for understanding risk-based access management and identity security in cloud environments.

Entra Identity Protection continuously evaluates user sign-ins and account activity, generating risk scores for both sign-ins and users. These scores consider multiple factors such as unusual sign-in locations, anonymous IP addresses, atypical device usage, malware infection indicators, and compromised credentials. Based on the risk score, organizations can apply conditional access policies that require MFA, password reset, or even block access to sensitive applications until the risk is mitigated.

Option B, Microsoft Purview Information Protection, focuses on classifying and protecting sensitive information but does not assess identity risks. Option C, Microsoft Sentinel, provides monitoring and response for security incidents but does not enforce risk-based access at the identity level. Option D, Microsoft Defender for Office 365, protects email and collaboration tools from threats but does not manage identity risks across SaaS applications.

Entra Identity Protection enables organizations to define policies tailored to different risk levels. For instance, low-risk sign-ins may proceed without additional verification, while medium or high-risk sign-ins can trigger MFA or access restrictions. This adaptive approach balances security with usability, ensuring that users are not burdened unnecessarily while maintaining strong protection against identity compromise.

Integration with Microsoft Entra Conditional Access allows for dynamic application of these risk-based policies. Conditional Access evaluates contextual factors such as device compliance, location, user role, and application sensitivity alongside Identity Protection risk scores. This integrated solution ensures that high-risk sign-ins are effectively mitigated, minimizing the potential impact of compromised accounts.

Identity Protection also provides continuous monitoring and alerting capabilities. Administrators receive notifications about high-risk users, unusual sign-in patterns, or potential credential leaks. They can investigate incidents, apply remediation actions such as forced password resets or blocking access, and track resolution progress. These capabilities align with SC-900 objectives of proactive threat detection, risk assessment, and compliance reporting.

Advanced reporting and analytics in Entra Identity Protection help organizations identify trends in risky behavior, assess policy effectiveness, and prioritize high-risk accounts for additional security measures. Reports can provide visibility into the number of risky sign-ins, the types of detected risks, and the remediation actions taken. This insight supports ongoing security strategy refinement and regulatory compliance.

Question 210

A company wants to detect phishing and malware attacks in emails sent to Microsoft 365 users and provide real-time threat protection. Which SC-900 service should they use?

A) Microsoft Defender for Office 365
B) Microsoft Entra Conditional Access
C) Microsoft Purview Information Protection
D) Microsoft Sentinel

Correct Answer: A)

Explanation

Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is a specialized security solution designed to protect Microsoft 365 users from email-based threats, including phishing, malware, malicious attachments, and unsafe links. Its focus is on threat detection, prevention, investigation, and response, making it highly relevant for SC-900 objectives related to threat protection, cloud security, and information governance.

Defender for Office 365 uses advanced threat intelligence, machine learning, and behavioral analysis to detect and block malicious content before it reaches users’ inboxes. It scans incoming and outgoing emails for known threats and suspicious patterns, leveraging Microsoft’s extensive security intelligence database to identify emerging attack vectors. This proactive approach is crucial for preventing phishing attacks, credential theft, ransomware, and other email-borne threats.

Option B, Microsoft Entra Conditional Access, controls access based on identity and device conditions but does not protect against email threats. Option C, Microsoft Purview Information Protection, classifies and protects sensitive information but does not detect malicious content in emails. Option D, Microsoft Sentinel, monitors security events and provides incident response but does not specifically target email-based threats.

Defender for Office 365 includes features such as Safe Links, Safe Attachments, anti-phishing policies, and real-time threat intelligence. Safe Links protect users by scanning URLs in emails and documents in real-time, blocking access to malicious websites even if the link was safe when delivered. Safe Attachments analyze email attachments in a secure sandbox environment to detect malware before the user interacts with them. Anti-phishing policies help identify and mitigate spoofing attempts and impersonation attacks.

Administrators can configure policies to tailor protection based on user roles, groups, or domains. For example, executives or high-profile users may receive stricter protection settings due to higher risk, including advanced mailbox scanning, zero-hour auto purge of malicious emails, and targeted attack simulations. These measures provide a layered defense that adapts to user risk levels and organizational priorities.

Reporting and alerting capabilities within Defender for Office 365 provide visibility into threat activity, including blocked emails, detected phishing attempts, and malware campaigns. Security teams can investigate incidents, analyze attack patterns, and take remediation actions such as quarantining affected emails, notifying users, or initiating account reviews. These capabilities align with SC-900 learning objectives for threat detection, monitoring, and incident response.

Integration with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint enhances protection by correlating email threats with endpoint activity. For instance, if a phishing email delivers malware, Defender for Endpoint can detect the resulting malicious process on devices, enabling coordinated investigation and containment. This holistic approach strengthens organizational security across multiple layers, including email, identity, and endpoints.