- A
Patching the underlying operating system of the CRM servers.
Why wrong: In a SaaS model, the cloud provider is responsible for patching the operating system and infrastructure. The customer does not have access to the underlying servers, so this responsibility belongs to the provider.
- B
Managing network access controls to the CRM application.
Why wrong: For SaaS, the provider typically manages network-level controls, such as firewalls and network segmentation, as part of securing the application infrastructure. The customer may configure application-level settings but not the underlying network.
- C
Safeguarding the company's customer data and user identities.
The customer is always responsible for their own data, including data classification, encryption, and access management. In SaaS, the provider does not have insight into which users should have access; the customer must manage identities and protect data.
- D
Ensuring physical security of the data centers hosting the CRM.
Why wrong: Physical security of data centers, including access controls, surveillance, and environmental protections, is solely the responsibility of the cloud provider regardless of the service model.
AZ-900 Describe cloud concepts Practice Question
This AZ-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe cloud concepts. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.
A company subscribes to a SaaS-based customer relationship management (CRM) application hosted in the cloud. The CRM provider manages the application, runtime, and infrastructure. The company's employees access the CRM via a web browser. According to the shared responsibility model, which security responsibility belongs solely to the company?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Safeguarding the company's customer data and user identities.
In a SaaS model, the provider manages the application, runtime, and infrastructure, including patching the OS and physical security. The customer retains responsibility for what they bring into the cloud: their data and user identities. Option C is correct because safeguarding customer data and managing user identities (e.g., via Azure AD) is solely the company's responsibility under the shared responsibility model.
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.
- ✗
Patching the underlying operating system of the CRM servers.
Why it's wrong here
In a SaaS model, the cloud provider is responsible for patching the operating system and infrastructure. The customer does not have access to the underlying servers, so this responsibility belongs to the provider.
- ✗
Managing network access controls to the CRM application.
Why it's wrong here
For SaaS, the provider typically manages network-level controls, such as firewalls and network segmentation, as part of securing the application infrastructure. The customer may configure application-level settings but not the underlying network.
- ✓
Safeguarding the company's customer data and user identities.
Why this is correct
The customer is always responsible for their own data, including data classification, encryption, and access management. In SaaS, the provider does not have insight into which users should have access; the customer must manage identities and protect data.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Ensuring physical security of the data centers hosting the CRM.
Why it's wrong here
Physical security of data centers, including access controls, surveillance, and environmental protections, is solely the responsibility of the cloud provider regardless of the service model.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'managing network access controls' (Option B) as solely the customer's responsibility, but in SaaS, the provider manages the underlying network infrastructure, and the customer only controls application-level access policies.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the shared responsibility model for SaaS, the customer is responsible for data classification, identity and access management (IAM), and client-side encryption, while the provider handles the host OS, network, and physical security. For example, in Microsoft 365 (a SaaS offering), the customer must manage Azure AD user accounts and multi-factor authentication, while Microsoft patches Exchange Online servers. A real-world scenario: if a customer's CRM data is leaked due to weak user passwords, the customer bears liability, not the provider.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-900 question test?
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: Safeguarding the company's customer data and user identities. — In a SaaS model, the provider manages the application, runtime, and infrastructure, including patching the OS and physical security. The customer retains responsibility for what they bring into the cloud: their data and user identities. Option C is correct because safeguarding customer data and managing user identities (e.g., via Azure AD) is solely the company's responsibility under the shared responsibility model.
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.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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.
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