SC-900 Study Guide (Free Practice Test & Detailed Explanation)

SC-900 Preparation Details

Preparing for the SC-900 Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals exam? Don’t know where to start? This post is the SC-900 Certificate Study Guide (with links to each exam objective).

I have curated a list of articles from Microsoft documentation for each objective of the SC-900 exam. Please share the post within your circles so it helps them to prepare for the exam.

I cleared the SC-900 exam. View my verified credentials. I created a Udemy SC-900 Exam Questions course (Refer to the below table).

SC-900 Practice Test [MS Security & Identity]

Udemy Practice Tests	180 Exam Questions [with Discount Coupon]
Amazon e-book (PDF)	Practice Test book for MS SCI Fundamentals

SC-900 MS Security, Compliance & Identity Prep

Pluralsight	Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity
Udemy	MS Security, Compliance, Identity Basics

SC-900 Sample Exam Questions

Check out all the other Azure certificate study guides

Full Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. I receive a commission when you purchase through them.

Describe the Concepts of Security, Compliance, and Identity (10-15%)

Describe Security and Compliance Concepts

Describe the shared responsibility model

Shared responsibility model

Describe defense in depth

Defense in depth

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Test your knowledge of Defense in depth

Explanation: Defense in depth uses a layered approach to security to reduce the chances of a successful attack. You can use different Azure services to safeguard access to your data/configuration at different layers (Refer to the below image).

Option Defense in depth is the correct choice.

Reference Link: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/modules/describe-security-concepts-methodologies/4-describe-defense-depth

CIA refers to principles (Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability) that help define a security posture. CIA does not provide a layered approach to security although, each of the defense-in-depth layers (see above) implements a CIA principle.

For example, the Physical security layer implements the Confidentiality principle because it grants access only to authorized personnel.

The Identity & Access layer implements the Integrity principle because it gives access only after verifying who the user they claim to be.

And so on.

Option CIA model is incorrect.

Reference Link: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/modules/azure-well-architected-security/2-defense-in-depth#defense-in-depth-a-layered-approach-to-security

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/modules/describe-security-concepts-methodologies/4-describe-defense-depth#confidentiality-integrity-availability-cia

Zero Trust assumes that everything (both inside and outside of your network perimeter) is an untrusted network. By trusting no one, we enhance security. It is an incorrect choice.

Reference Link: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/modules/describe-security-concepts-methodologies/2-describe-zero-trust-methodology

The shared responsibility model identifies security tasks controlled by the cloud provider and the tasks handled by the organization (you). It is an incorrect choice too.

Reference Link: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/modules/describe-security-concepts-methodologies/3-describe-shared-responsibility-model

This question is part of my Udemy course SC-900 Exam Questions. It is copyrighted and cannot be reproduced elsewhere without permission.

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Describe the Zero-Trust model

Zero-trust methodology

Describe encryption and hashing

What is encryption, and how does it work?

Encryption hashing and signing

Describe compliance concepts

Describe compliance concepts

Define Identity Concepts

Define identity as the primary security perimeter

Identity as the primary security perimeter

The 4 pillars of Identity

Define authentication

What is Authentication?

Define authorization

What is Authorization?

Authentication vs. Authorization

Describe identity providers

What is an identity provider (IdP)?

Identity Providers for external identities

Describe Active Directory

Understanding Active Directory

Describe the concept of the Federation

Federated services

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Test your knowledge of Federated services

Explanation:

<<This is a NOT question>>

The above scenario is an example of a federation that enables the access of services across organizational/domain boundaries by establishing trust relationships between the identity providers of Spotify & Google.

Here is a step-by-step process of how this works:

1. Spotify uses Azure AD authentication
2. The user authenticates with Google
3. Spotify has a trust relationship with Google. That means Spotify trusts Google.

(So, the options ‘There is a trust relationship between Spotify’s Azure AD & Google’ and ‘Azure AD used by Spotify trusts Google’ are incorrect).

4. Spotify trusts the user and allows access.

Corroborate the image with the above four bullet points

In the above example, Spotify’s Azure AD trusts Google. But the opposite isn’t true. That is, Google doesn’t trust Spotify unless that trust relationship is configured. So, the option ‘Google trusts Spotify’s Azure AD’ is the correct answer.

The user accesses Spotify with his Google account. Thanks to the trust relationship, he doesn’t need a separate username and password to log into Spotify. The option ‘The user does not need a separate username and password to log into Spotify’ is incorrect too.

So, option 2 is the correct answer

Reference Link: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/modules/describe-identity-principles-concepts/5-describe-concept-federated-services

This question is part of my Udemy course SC-900 Exam Questions. It is copyrighted and cannot be reproduced elsewhere without permission.

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Describe the capabilities of Microsoft Azure Active Directory (Azure
AD), part of Microsoft Entra (25-30%)

Describe the Basic Identity Services and Identity Types of Azure AD

Describe Azure AD

What is Azure Active Directory?

Describe what is Azure Active Directory

Describe Azure AD identities

Describe Azure AD identity types

Describe hybrid identity

The concept of hybrid identities

Describe the different external identity types

Describe the types of external identities

Amazon link (affiliate)

Describe the Authentication Capabilities of Azure AD

Describe the authentication methods available in Azure AD

Different authentication methods in Azure AD

Authentication & verification methods in Azure AD

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Test your knowledge of Security Defaults

Explanation: Security defaults provide default security settings that Microsoft manages to keep your identities safe until you are ready to manage your own identities.

They are best suited for small/midsize organizations that aren’t ready to manage complex security requirements. So, option Organizations that do not know how to approach security is the correct answer.

Reference Link: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/modules/explore-authentication-capabilities/2-describe-different-authentication-methods#security-defaults-and-multifactor-authentication

The option Organizations with Azure AD premium licenses is incorrect as security defaults come with the free Azure AD tier. Azure AD premium users should try and implement Conditional Access.

Both security defaults and Conditional Access are similar in what they do. For example, both require Multi-Factor Authentication. But with Conditional Access, you can implement more granular & advanced security controls for MFA. For example, with Conditional Access, you can:

• Require MFA only when specific signals warrant it.
• Exclude specific users
• Or allow access only to compliant devices

Generally, enterprise organizations have these advanced security requirements. They would do well with Conditional Access.

The Option Organizations with complex security requirements is incorrect because such organizations would use Conditional Access, not security defaults.

Reference Link: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/fundamentals/concept-fundamentals-security-defaults#conditional-access

Option Organizations using Conditional Access policies are incorrect because security defaults are a precursor to Conditional Access.

Organizations should first take advantage of the out-of-the-box security settings provided by security defaults. As their security requirements become more complex, they can manage their own identities with Conditional Access.

Moreover, both Conditional Access and security defaults are mutually exclusive. If you have security defaults enabled, you cannot create a conditional access policy and vice-versa.

This question is part of my Udemy course SC-900 Exam Questions. It is copyrighted and cannot be reproduced elsewhere without permission.

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Describe Multi-factor Authentication

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) in Azure AD

Describe the self-service password reset

Self-service Password Reset (SSPR)

How does Azure AD self-service password reset works?

Describe password protection and management capabilities available in Azure AD

Password protection & management capabilities of Azure AD

Describe the Access Management Capabilities of Azure AD

Describe conditional access

What is Conditional Access?

Conditional access and its benefits

Describe the benefits of Azure AD roles

Describe the benefits of Azure AD roles

Describe the benefits of Azure AD role-based access control

Describe the benefits of role-based access control

Describe the Identity Protection & Governance Capabilities of Azure AD

Describe identity governance in Azure AD

What is Azure AD Identity Governance?

Describe Identity Governance

Describe entitlement management and access reviews

What is Azure AD entitlement management?

What are Azure AD access reviews?

Describe entitlement management & access reviews

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Test Your Knowledge of Entitlement Management

Explanation: You define access packages in Azure AD entitlement management to automate access request workflows, access assignments & access expiration. This is important because, often, users (either new employees or ones with recent role changes) do not know what access they need and whom to request access.

As seen in the image above, the following are the types of resources defined in an access package:

• Membership to Azure AD security groups, Microsoft 365 groups
• Access to Azure AD apps, SaaS apps
• Access to SharePoint Online sites

Although you cannot directly manage access to Microsoft 365 licenses or Azure resources, you can create an Azure AD security group in the access package and:

• Give access to users who need Microsoft 365 licenses (via group-based licensing).
• Create an Azure role assignment for that group

If it is difficult to understand, the below image will help.

So, options 1, 2, 4, 6 are the correct answers.

Reference Link:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/modules/describe-identity-protection-governance-capabilities/3-describe-what-entitlement-management-access-reviews (check the video)

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/governance/entitlement-management-overview#what-are-access-packages-and-what-resources-can-i-manage-with-them

This question and the detailed explanation are part of my course SC-900 Exam Questions. It is copyrighted and cannot be reproduced elsewhere without permission.

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Describe the capabilities of Azure AD Privileged Identity Management (PIM)

Privileged Identity Management

Capabilities of Privileged Identity Management

Describe Azure AD Identity Protection

What is Identity Protection?

What is Azure Identity Protection?

Describe the Capabilities of Microsoft Security Solutions (25-30%)

Describe Basic Security Capabilities in Azure

Describe Azure DDoS protection

Azure DDoS protection

Azure DDoS Protection overview

Describe Azure Firewall

What is Azure Firewall?

Azure Firewall overview

Describe Web Application Firewall

Describe Web Application Firewall

Web Application Firewall overview

Describe Network Segmentation with Azure Virtual Networks

Describe network segmentation in Azure

Describe Azure Network Security groups

Network security groups

Describe Azure Network Security groups

Describe Azure Bastion and JIT Access

Describe Azure Bastion and JIT Access

Azure Bastion overview

Describe ways Azure encrypts data

Encryption options in Azure

Azure encryption overview

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Test Your Knowledge of Microsoft Security Solutions

Explanation: The correct answer is the option:

Detailed Explanation:

A Network Security Group (NSG) contains security rules that filter (allow/deny) inbound/outbound traffic to Azure resources in an Azure Virtual Network. Below, you can see default security rules in an NSG.

Reference Link: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/modules/describe-basic-security-capabilities-azure/2-describe-azure-network-security-groups

Web Application Firewall (WAF) provides centralized protection of your web apps from common exploits like SQL injection and cross-site scripting.

WAF is not a standalone resource. It is generally deployed with Application Gateway/Front Door.

In the below image, we create a WAF policy for Azure Application Gateway. Within the policy, you can find managed rules for common attacks like SQL Injection (highlighted) and XSS.

Reference Link: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/modules/describe-basic-security-capabilities-azure/6-describe-what-web-application-firewall

While WAF for Application Gateway protects http/s protocols (only inbound), Azure Firewall protects non-HTTP protocols for both inbound and outbound connections. For example, Virtual Network resources.

Reference Link: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/modules/describe-basic-security-capabilities-azure/4-describe-what-azure-firewall

Azure Firewall vs. WAF

Azure Bastion service lets you securely connect to a VM from the Azure portal with a browser. Refer to the below image.

Reference Link: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/modules/describe-basic-security-capabilities-azure/5-describe-what-azure-bastion

This question and the detailed explanation are part of my course SC-900 Exam Questions. It is copyrighted and cannot be reproduced elsewhere without permission.

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Describe Security Management Capabilities of Azure

Describe Cloud security posture management (CSPM)

Describe Cloud security posture management

Describe Microsoft Defender for Cloud

Describe Microsoft Defender for Cloud

Describe the enhanced security features of Microsoft Defender for Cloud

Describe the enhanced security of Microsoft Defender for Cloud

Describe security baselines for Azure

Describe security baselines for Azure

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Test Your Knowledge of Azure Defender

Explanation: Microsoft offers a layered approach to security.

• A base layer – Only Azure Security Center (free, basic level of protection)
• An advanced layer – Azure Security Center with Azure Defender (paid, advanced protection with features like Just in time access, Adaptive application controls, vulnerability assessment, etc.)

Reference Link: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/itops-talk-blog/whats-the-difference-between-azure-security-center-azure

You access Azure Defender from Azure Security Center. You get the below screen only after upgrading.

Security Center is the correct choice.

This question is part of my Udemy course SC-900 Exam Questions. It is copyrighted and cannot be reproduced elsewhere without permission.

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Describe Security Capabilities of Microsoft Sentinel

Define the concepts of SIEM and SOAR

Define the concepts of SIEM and SOAR

Describe how Microsoft Sentinel provides integrated threat management

How Microsoft Sentinel provides integrated threat management

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Test Your Knowledge of Microsoft Sentinel

Explanation: SIEM (Security Information Event Management) is a centralized collection point for all the log entries generated by your infrastructure, resources, devices, firewall, and endpoints. It then correlates these logs to generate alerts and notifies the administrator.

SOAR (Security Orchestration Automated Response) takes these alerts and automates your threat response (with playbooks). So, SOAR decreases the incident response time.

In a nutshell, SIEM raises an alert if it detects a malicious activity. SOAR deals with the alerts (including false positives) and prepares an automated response.

So, option 2 is the correct answer

Reference Link: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/sentinel/overview

This question is part of my Udemy course SC-900 Exam Questions. It is copyrighted and cannot be reproduced elsewhere without permission.

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Describe Threat Protection with Microsoft 365 Defender

Describe Microsoft 365 Defender services

Microsoft 365 Defender services

Microsoft 365 Defender overview

Describe Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Microsoft Defender for Office 365 overview

Describe Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

What is Microsoft Defender for Endpoint?

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

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Test Your Knowledge on Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

Explanation: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint offers several features that may be important from an exam point of view.

Advanced Hunting is the correct choice, as it helps you write queries that proactively hunt for threats.

Reference Link: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/security/defender-endpoint/advanced-hunting-overview

Network protection reduces the surface attack of your devices from external attacks. It is incorrect.

Reference Link: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/security/defender-endpoint/network-protection

Your security team does not have time to investigate every alert from endpoints. Automated investigation runs multiple AI-based playbooks to examine and handle the threats. Option Automated investigation is an incorrect choice.

Reference Link: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/security/defender-endpoint/automated-investigations

Microsoft Defender for Antivirus is the next-generation protection component of Defender for Endpoint. Option Next-gen protection is incorrect too.

Reference Link: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/security/defender-endpoint/microsoft-defender-antivirus-in-windows-10

To help you understand all the myriad of capabilities & features in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, I created this image. It will help answer other queries related to Defender for Endpoint.

This question is part of my Udemy course SC-900 Exam Questions. It is copyrighted and cannot be reproduced elsewhere without permission.

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Describe Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps

Overview – Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps

Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps

Describe Microsoft Defender for Identity

What is Microsoft Defender for Identity?

Microsoft Defender for Identity

Describe the Microsoft 365 Defender portal

Describe the Microsoft 365 Defender portal

Describe the Capabilities of Microsoft Compliance Solutions (25-30%)

Describe Microsoft’s Service Trust Portal and Privacy Principles

Describe the offerings of the Service Trust portal

Introducing the Service Trust Portal

Describe the Service Trust Portal

Describe Microsoft’s privacy principles

Describe Microsoft’s privacy principles

Microsoft Privacy principles

Describe the compliance management capabilities of Microsoft Purview

Describe the Microsoft Purview compliance portal

Describe the Microsoft Purview compliance portal

Microsoft Purview compliance portal overview

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Test Your Knowledge of Microsoft Purview Compliance Portal

Explanation: Microsoft 365 solutions catalog helps you discover compliance & risk management solutions available to your organization.

The solutions catalog is organized into three compliance solution areas. Each solution area contains information on several compliance solutions.

See the below infographic for more details.

As evident, Insider risk management, Information protection & governance, and Discovery & response are the only three compliance solution areas.

Data loss prevention is a compliance solution within the Information protection & governance solution area.

Advanced eDiscovery is a compliance solution within the Discovery & response solution area.

And Communication compliance is a compliance solution within the Insider risk management solution area.

Finally, the role of the compliance data manager doesn’t make any difference. All three roles (Global administrator, Compliance administrator, Compliance data administrator) get the same user experience when they access Microsoft Compliance Center.

Reference Link: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/compliance/microsoft-365-solution-catalog

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/modules/describe-compliance-management-capabilities-microsoft/3-describe-compliance-center

This question is part of my Udemy course SC-900 Exam Questions. It is copyrighted and cannot be reproduced elsewhere without permission.

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Describe compliance manager

Describe Compliance Manager

Microsoft Purview Compliance Manager overview

Describe use and benefits of compliance score

Understanding your compliance score

Describe use and benefits of compliance score

Describe Information Protection and Data Lifecycle Management Capabilities of Microsoft Purview

Describe data classification capabilities

Describe the data classification capabilities of the compliance portal

Describe the benefits of content explorer and activity explorer

Get started with content explorer

What is content explorer?

Get started with activity explorer

What is activity explorer?

Describe sensitivity labels

Learn about sensitivity labels

What are sensitivity labels and policies?

Describe Data Loss Prevention (DLP)

Describe data loss prevention

Data loss prevention

Describe Records Management

Learn about records management in Microsoft 365

What is records management?

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Test Your Knowledge of Records Management

Explanation: This question has several layers, so let’s uncover them

First, only the retention labels that mark content as a regulatory record cannot be removed by anyone, even the global administrator.

Reference Link: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/compliance/records-management?view=o365-worldwide#compare-restrictions-for-what-actions-are-allowed-or-blocked

But, as evident from the image, your teammate can only create a retention label that marks items as records, not regulatory records.

 

That’s because this is the default interface when trying to create retention labels under Records management (See the below image).

You don’t see the option to mark items as regulatory records because applying regulatory records to content is far more restrictive than applying records (Refer to the table in the above link).

Since Microsoft wants you to be sure about marking content as regulatory records before you do so, they require you to perform an extra step to display that option in the UI:

· Connect to the Office 365 Security & Compliance Center PowerShell

· Run a PowerShell command (details on them below)

After you perform these steps, you can see the option to mark items as a regulatory record

Per the requirement in the question, he cannot create a label that no one can delete. The correct answer is No.

Reference Link: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/modules/describe-information-protection-governance-capabilities-microsoft-365/7-describe-records-management

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This question is part of my Udemy course SC-900 Exam Questions. It is copyrighted and cannot be reproduced elsewhere without permission.

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Describe Retention policies and Retention Labels

Data loss prevention

Learn about retention policies & labels

What are retention policies and retention labels?

Describe Insider Risk Capabilities in Microsoft Purview

Describe Insider Risk Management

What is an Insider risk management solution?

Learn about insider risk management

Describe communication compliance

What is communication compliance?

Learn about communication compliance

Describe information barriers

What are the different information barriers?

Describe Resource Governance Capabilities in Azure

Define Azure Policy

What is an Azure Policy?

Azure Policy use cases

Describe Azure Blueprints

What is Azure Blueprint?

What’s the use of Azure Blueprints?

Describe the Microsoft Purview unified data governance solution

Describe the capabilities in the Microsoft Purview governance portal

This brings us to the end of the SC-900 Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals exam study guide.

What do you think? Let me know in the comments section if I have missed out on anything. Also, I love to hear from you how your preparation is going on!

In case you are preparing for other Azure certification exams, check out the Azure study guide for those exams.

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