This AZ-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe cloud concepts. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
What is the role of a cloud provider's physical datacenter security in the shared responsibility model?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Physical security is entirely the cloud provider's responsibility
In the shared responsibility model, physical security of the datacenter—including access controls, surveillance, and environmental controls—is always the sole responsibility of the cloud provider (e.g., Microsoft Azure). The customer never manages or is responsible for the physical infrastructure, regardless of the service model (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS). This is because the customer has no physical access to the datacenter and cannot implement or control physical security measures.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Both the cloud provider and customer share responsibility for physical security
Why it's wrong here
Physical security is entirely the cloud provider's responsibility; customers cannot access provider data centers.
✓
Physical security is entirely the cloud provider's responsibility
Why this is correct
Physical security of cloud provider facilities is always the provider's responsibility across all service models.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Customers are responsible for physical security when using IaaS
Why it's wrong here
Customers using IaaS still have no access to or responsibility for physical datacenter security.
✗
Physical security responsibility depends on the customer's support plan level
Why it's wrong here
Support plans affect technical assistance; physical security responsibility does not depend on support level.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates mistakenly think physical security is shared or customer-managed in IaaS, confusing the customer's responsibility for virtual infrastructure (e.g., VMs, OS) with the provider's responsibility for the physical datacenter.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the shared responsibility model, the provider's responsibilities are defined by the 'security of the cloud,' which includes physical hardware, networking, and datacenter facilities. For example, Azure uses multi-factor authentication, biometric scanners, and 24/7 monitoring for datacenter access, and these controls are never delegated to customers. Even in a hybrid scenario where a customer uses Azure Stack Edge on-premises, the physical security of that specific device is still managed by the customer, but the core Azure datacenter physical security remains with Microsoft.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this AZ-900 question in full detail.
Describe cloud concepts — This question tests Describe cloud concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Physical security is entirely the cloud provider's responsibility — In the shared responsibility model, physical security of the datacenter—including access controls, surveillance, and environmental controls—is always the sole responsibility of the cloud provider (e.g., Microsoft Azure). The customer never manages or is responsible for the physical infrastructure, regardless of the service model (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS). This is because the customer has no physical access to the datacenter and cannot implement or control physical security measures.
What should I do if I get this AZ-900 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
This AZ-900 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the AZ-900 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.