The answer is to create an access policy in Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps. An access policy allows you to automatically block a user account when their risk score exceeds 80 by evaluating real-time signals and applying conditional controls like "block" directly at the app level. This differs from session policies, which only monitor or restrict activity in real time without blocking the account, and from Conditional Access app control, which operates at the session layer rather than enforcing account-level blocks. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between policy types in Defender for Cloud Apps—a common trap is confusing access policies with session policies, so remember that access policies enforce actions like block or allow based on risk, while session policies only log or restrict behavior. A helpful memory tip: "Access blocks the door; session just watches the room."
SC-100 Practice Question: Design security solutions for applications and data
This SC-100 practice question tests your understanding of design security solutions for applications and data. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 uses Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps to protect SaaS applications. The security team receives alerts about suspicious file downloads from a specific user. They want to automatically block the user's account when the risk score exceeds 80. What should they configure?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create an access policy
Option B is correct because an access policy in Defender for Cloud Apps can automatically block a user based on risk score. Option A is wrong because session policies control real-time monitoring, not blocking. Option C is wrong because app governance policies manage consent and permissions. Option D is wrong because Conditional Access app control is for session-level controls.
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.
✗
Configure Conditional Access app control
Why it's wrong here
Conditional Access app control provides session-level controls but does not automatically block the user account.
✗
Create a session policy
Why it's wrong here
Session policies monitor and control behaviors in real time but do not automatically block the user account.
✓
Create an access policy
Why this is correct
Access policies can automatically block a user when the risk score exceeds a threshold.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Create an app governance policy
Why it's wrong here
App governance policies manage app consent and permissions, not user blocking based on risk.
Common exam traps
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.
Detailed technical explanation
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.
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 SC-100 question in full detail.
Identify which SC-100 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Design security solutions for applications and data — This question tests Design security solutions for applications and data — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create an access policy — Option B is correct because an access policy in Defender for Cloud Apps can automatically block a user based on risk score. Option A is wrong because session policies control real-time monitoring, not blocking. Option C is wrong because app governance policies manage consent and permissions. Option D is wrong because Conditional Access app control is for session-level controls.
What should I do if I get this SC-100 question wrong?
Identify which SC-100 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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