Quick Answer
The answer is to set up the AWS connector in Defender for Cloud. This native integration is the correct configuration because it establishes a continuous, automated bridge between your AWS environment and Defender for Cloud using AWS IAM roles and APIs, which allows Defender to discover and onboard EC2 instances without requiring manual agent installation on each machine. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this scenario tests your understanding of multi-cloud management and the distinction between native connectors and manual agent deployment—a common trap is assuming you need to install the Defender agent individually on each EC2 instance, but the connector handles this automatically through Defender for Servers plans. Remember the memory tip: “Connector first, agents follow”—the AWS connector is the single control point that enables automatic onboarding of all EC2 instances.
This SC-100 practice question tests your understanding of design security for infrastructure. 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.
An organization uses Microsoft Defender for Cloud to secure their multi-cloud environment, including Azure and AWS. They want to ensure that all AWS EC2 instances are automatically onboarded to Defender for Cloud. What should they configure?
Deploy Azure Arc on each EC2 instance
Why wrong: Azure Arc requires manual installation.
Use AWS Systems Manager to push Defender workload
Why wrong: No integration exists.
Set up the AWS connector in Defender for Cloud
The connector automatically discovers and monitors EC2 instances.
Configure AWS Config rules to report to Defender
Why wrong: AWS Config does not onboard to Defender.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Set up the AWS connector in Defender for Cloud
Option C is correct because the AWS connector in Microsoft Defender for Cloud is the native integration that enables automatic discovery and onboarding of AWS resources, including EC2 instances, into Defender for Cloud. Once configured, the connector uses AWS IAM roles and APIs to continuously sync EC2 inventory and apply Defender plans (e.g., Defender for Servers) without requiring manual agent installation on each instance.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Deploy Azure Arc on each EC2 instance
Why it's wrong here
Azure Arc requires manual installation.
Use AWS Systems Manager to push Defender workload
Why it's wrong here
No integration exists.
Set up the AWS connector in Defender for Cloud
Why this is correct
The connector automatically discovers and monitors EC2 instances.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Configure AWS Config rules to report to Defender
Why it's wrong here
AWS Config does not onboard to Defender.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse the AWS connector (a cloud-to-cloud integration) with Azure Arc (a hybrid management tool), assuming Arc is required for any non-Azure workload, when in fact the connector handles automatic onboarding without per-instance configuration.
Detailed technical explanation
The AWS connector in Defender for Cloud uses a cross-account IAM role (with a trust policy allowing Microsoft's security principal) to perform read-only API calls like DescribeInstances and DescribeSecurityGroups, enabling inventory sync and agent deployment via AWS Systems Manager Run Command or user data scripts. A subtle behavior is that the connector only supports EC2 instances in the same AWS region as the connector; if instances span multiple regions, separate connectors must be configured per region. In a real-world scenario, organizations often miss that the connector requires the 'SecurityAudit' managed policy attached to the IAM role to function correctly.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Design security for infrastructure — This question tests Design security for infrastructure — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Set up the AWS connector in Defender for Cloud — Option C is correct because the AWS connector in Microsoft Defender for Cloud is the native integration that enables automatic discovery and onboarding of AWS resources, including EC2 instances, into Defender for Cloud. Once configured, the connector uses AWS IAM roles and APIs to continuously sync EC2 inventory and apply Defender plans (e.g., Defender for Servers) without requiring manual agent installation on each instance.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This SC-100 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SC-100 exam.
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