A company with 250 users has Microsoft 365 E3 licenses. They want to add advanced anti-phishing and anti-malware protection for email and also deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) for all devices. What is the most cost-effective licensing add-on?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
Best answer
Microsoft 365 E5 Security add-on
This add-on bundles Defender for Microsoft 365 Plan 2 and Defender for Endpoint Plan 1 at a lower combined price than purchasing them individually.
Distractor review
Microsoft Defender for Microsoft 365 Plan 1 and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Plan 1 add-ons
These two add-ons can be purchased separately, but the E5 Security add-on is typically more cost-effective for the same combined capabilities.
Distractor review
Microsoft 365 E5 Compliance add-on
This add-on provides compliance features (e.g., retention, eDiscovery) but does not include the required threat protection capabilities.
Distractor review
Upgrade all users to Microsoft 365 E5
Upgrading to E5 is more expensive than the Security add-on because it also includes advanced compliance and analytics features that are not required.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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.
Related practice questions
Related MS-900 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
During requirements gathering, an IT manager says the organization must let users provision resources from a portal without provider interaction. Cloud concept or benefit best matches this requirement?
Question 2
A compliance-aware administrator is selecting the right Microsoft 365 capability to use Microsoft 365 and another public cloud provider for different workloads. Cloud concept or benefit best matches this requirement?
Question 3
While preparing a Microsoft 365 adoption plan, a consultant is asked to manage leads, opportunities, customer accounts, and sales processes. Microsoft 365 app or service is the best fit?
Question 4
A project manager needs to create a detailed project schedule with a Gantt chart view, task dependencies, critical path analysis, and milestones. The schedule must be shared with team members who can update their tasks, and the manager wants to track progress against a baseline. Which Microsoft 365 app is specifically designed for this type of project management?
Question 5
A project manager wants to schedule a meeting with team members to discuss project progress. They need to find a time that works for everyone based on their calendars. Which Microsoft 365 app should they use?
Question 6
A project manager wants to create a visual dashboard that tracks project tasks, deadlines, and progress. The dashboard should pull data from a Microsoft List and update in real time. Which Microsoft 365 app is best suited for building this interactive dashboard?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this MS-900 question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Microsoft 365 E5 Security add-on — Microsoft 365 E5 Security add-on includes Microsoft Defender for Microsoft 365 Plan 2 (which provides advanced anti-phishing, automated investigation, etc.) and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Plan 1 (which includes EDR). Purchasing the E5 Security add-on is more cost-effective than buying these two add-ons separately. Upgrading to E5 would also add compliance features, increasing cost unnecessarily.
What should I do if I get this MS-900 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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