Question 807 of 1,031

Describe cloud concepts →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The correct answer is that the company is responsible for managing user access and protecting their own data within the SaaS application. This is because, under the shared responsibility model for SaaS, the cloud provider handles everything from the application layer down through the runtime, middleware, and physical infrastructure, while the customer retains ownership and control over their data and who can access it. On the Microsoft Azure Fundamentals AZ-900 exam, this concept tests your understanding of how security obligations shift depending on the service model; a common trap is assuming the provider secures everything, including customer data and identity management. Remember the memory tip: in SaaS, the provider secures the *stack*, but you secure the *stuff*—your data and user access.

AZ-900 Describe cloud concepts Practice Question

This AZ-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe cloud concepts. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 is migrating its customer relationship management (CRM) system to a Software as a Service (SaaS) provider. The provider manages the application, runtime, middleware, and infrastructure. The company's IT security team is concerned about who is responsible for protecting the company's data and managing user access. Based on the shared responsibility model for cloud computing, which statement is correct?

Question 1mediummultiple choice

Full question →

A
The SaaS provider is responsible for everything, including data classification and user access control.
Why wrong: This is incorrect. The SaaS provider does not manage the customer's data classification or access control. The customer retains responsibility for its own data and who has access.
B
The company is responsible for the security of the application itself, including patching vulnerabilities in the CRM software.
Why wrong: This is incorrect. In SaaS, the provider is responsible for patching and securing the application. The customer does not have access to the underlying application code or runtime to perform such tasks.
C
The company is responsible for managing user access and protecting their own data within the SaaS application.
This is correct. Under the shared responsibility model for SaaS, the customer manages user identities, data classification, and access control. The provider secures the platform and infrastructure, but the customer must ensure only authorized users access the data and that data is handled appropriately.
D
The SaaS provider is responsible for physical security of data centers, and the company is responsible for patching the operating system of the servers hosting the CRM.
Why wrong: This is incorrect. While the provider does handle physical security, patching the operating system is also the provider's responsibility in a SaaS model. The customer does not manage the OS at all.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

The company is responsible for managing user access and protecting their own data within the SaaS application.

In the shared responsibility model for SaaS, the provider manages the application, runtime, middleware, and infrastructure, but the customer retains responsibility for securing their own data and managing user access. This includes tasks such as data classification, identity and access management (IAM), and ensuring compliance with internal policies. Option C correctly identifies that the company must handle user access and data protection within the SaaS application.

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.

✗
The SaaS provider is responsible for everything, including data classification and user access control.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect. The SaaS provider does not manage the customer's data classification or access control. The customer retains responsibility for its own data and who has access.
✗
The company is responsible for the security of the application itself, including patching vulnerabilities in the CRM software.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect. In SaaS, the provider is responsible for patching and securing the application. The customer does not have access to the underlying application code or runtime to perform such tasks.
✓
The company is responsible for managing user access and protecting their own data within the SaaS application.
Why this is correct
This is correct. Under the shared responsibility model for SaaS, the customer manages user identities, data classification, and access control. The provider secures the platform and infrastructure, but the customer must ensure only authorized users access the data and that data is handled appropriately.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The SaaS provider is responsible for physical security of data centers, and the company is responsible for patching the operating system of the servers hosting the CRM.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect. While the provider does handle physical security, patching the operating system is also the provider's responsibility in a SaaS model. The customer does not manage the OS at all.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates often assume the SaaS provider handles all security aspects, including data and access, because the provider manages the application, but the shared responsibility model clearly assigns data and access management to the customer.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Under the shared responsibility model, the SaaS provider is responsible for the security of the underlying infrastructure, runtime, middleware, and application code, while the customer is responsible for configuring access controls (e.g., Azure AD roles, conditional access policies) and protecting data through encryption at rest and in transit, as well as data classification. For example, in Microsoft 365 (a SaaS offering), Microsoft manages the service, but the customer must configure multi-factor authentication and manage user permissions via Azure AD. This division is defined in the Microsoft Service Trust Portal and contractual agreements.

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.

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

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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: The company is responsible for managing user access and protecting their own data within the SaaS application. — In the shared responsibility model for SaaS, the provider manages the application, runtime, middleware, and infrastructure, but the customer retains responsibility for securing their own data and managing user access. This includes tasks such as data classification, identity and access management (IAM), and ensuring compliance with internal policies. Option C correctly identifies that the company must handle user access and data protection within the SaaS application.

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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