A security team needs to monitor all administrative activities in Microsoft 365, including creating users, resetting passwords, and modifying policies. They require that logs be retained for at least 90 days and want to create custom alerts for suspicious admin actions (e.g., multiple password resets in a short time). Which Microsoft Purview solution should they use?
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 Purview Audit (Premium)
Audit (Premium) offers up to 1 year log retention and allows creation of custom alert policies for specific admin activities, meeting both requirements.
Distractor review
Microsoft Purview Audit (Standard)
While Standard retains logs for 90 days, it does not support custom alerting; only basic search and export are available.
Distractor review
Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps
Defender for Cloud Apps focuses on shadow IT and anomalous behavior across cloud apps, not specifically on auditing admin actions with custom alerts for all Microsoft 365 activities.
Distractor review
Microsoft Entra ID reporting
Microsoft Entra ID reports cover sign-ins and user provisioning but do not include all admin actions across services like Exchange, SharePoint, or Teams.
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 Purview Audit (Premium) — Microsoft Purview Audit (Premium) provides longer retention (up to 1 year) for audit logs and allows creation of custom alert policies based on specific activities. Audit (Standard) retains logs for only 90 days but does not support custom alerting; it only provides basic search. Defender for Cloud Apps can detect anomalous behavior but is not the primary tool for auditing admin actions. Microsoft Entra ID reporting provides sign-in and user reports but does not cover all admin actions across Microsoft 365 services.
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.
Discussion
Sign in to join the discussion.