The answer is the three built-in policies that align with the Azure compute security baseline for Linux VMs: one to audit SSH access restrictions from the internet, one to audit disk encryption, and one to deploy a vulnerability assessment solution. These three policies are correct because they directly enforce the core security controls required by the Azure compute security baseline—specifically, limiting administrative attack surfaces, protecting data at rest, and ensuring continuous vulnerability monitoring. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between Windows-specific and Linux-specific policies, a common trap where candidates mistakenly select policies like Microsoft Antimalware or Windows Defender Credential Guard, which are invalid for Linux. A reliable memory tip is to remember the three pillars of a Linux security baseline: SSH, encryption, and vulnerability scanning—if a policy mentions Windows, it is automatically wrong.
SC-100 Design security solutions for infrastructure Practice Question
This SC-100 practice question tests your understanding of design security solutions for infrastructure. 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.
Your company is designing a secure baseline for Azure Linux virtual machines using Azure Policy. You need to ensure that all Linux VMs have SSH access restricted, disk encryption enabled, and vulnerability assessments installed. Which THREE built-in policies should you assign? (Choose THREE.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
[Preview]: Configure Linux VMs to install the Azure Security Agent for vulnerability assessment
Options A, B, and D are correct. A restricts SSH from the internet, B enables encryption, and D deploys vulnerability assessment. Option C is wrong because it requires Microsoft Antimalware, which is for Windows. Option E is wrong because it enforces Windows Defender Credential Guard, which is Windows-specific.
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.
✗
Microsoft Antimalware for Azure must be configured with automatic update
Why it's wrong here
Antimalware is for Windows VMs, not Linux.
✓
[Preview]: Configure Linux VMs to install the Azure Security Agent for vulnerability assessment
Why this is correct
This policy deploys the vulnerability assessment agent on Linux.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Windows Defender Credential Guard should be enabled on Windows VMs
Why it's wrong here
Credential Guard is for Windows, not Linux.
✓
Disk encryption should be applied on virtual machines
Why this is correct
This policy ensures encryption is enabled for VM disks.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
[Preview]: Linux machines should meet requirements for the Azure compute security baseline
Why this is correct
This policy includes SSH restriction among other settings.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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 infrastructure — This question tests Design security solutions for infrastructure — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: [Preview]: Configure Linux VMs to install the Azure Security Agent for vulnerability assessment — Options A, B, and D are correct. A restricts SSH from the internet, B enables encryption, and D deploys vulnerability assessment. Option C is wrong because it requires Microsoft Antimalware, which is for Windows. Option E is wrong because it enforces Windows Defender Credential Guard, which is Windows-specific.
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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