- A
Use Azure Bastion for administrative access, Azure Automation for on-prem management, Azure VPN Gateway for encrypted traffic, and Microsoft Sentinel for monitoring.
Why wrong: Bastion does not provide JIT/JEA; VPN Gateway does not inspect traffic.
- B
Use Microsoft Entra PIM for JIT access, Azure Arc to extend Azure Policy to on-prem servers, Azure Firewall with threat intelligence for traffic inspection, and Microsoft Defender for Identity for monitoring privileged access.
PIM provides JIT/JEA; Arc brings Azure Policy to on-prem; Firewall inspects traffic; Defender for Identity monitors AD.
- C
Use Microsoft Sentinel for all aspects, including JIT via playbooks, Azure Arc for management, Azure Firewall for traffic, and Azure Policy for compliance.
Why wrong: Sentinel is not designed for JIT access.
- D
Use Microsoft Entra roles with permanent assignments, Azure Site Recovery for on-premises management, Azure ExpressRoute for encrypted traffic, and Microsoft Defender for Cloud for monitoring.
Why wrong: Permanent assignments violate JIT; ExpressRoute does not inspect traffic.
Quick Answer
The answer is a combination of Microsoft Entra Privileged Identity Management (PIM), Azure Arc, Azure Firewall with threat intelligence, and Microsoft Defender for Identity. PIM directly delivers just-in-time (JIT) and just-enough-access (JEA) for Azure roles, while Azure Arc extends Azure Policy to enforce consistent security policies across on-premises servers, meeting the central management requirement. Azure Firewall with threat intelligence-based filtering inspects encrypted traffic between on-premises and Azure for threats, and Microsoft Defender for Identity monitors privileged access by detecting attacks on on-premises Active Directory. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this scenario tests your ability to map specific services to distinct hybrid security layers rather than relying on overlapping tools like Azure Bastion (which secures RDP/SSH but lacks JIT) or Azure VPN Gateway (which encrypts but does not inspect). A common trap is choosing Microsoft Sentinel for monitoring, but that is a SIEM for log analysis, not real-time privileged access monitoring. Memory tip: PIM for time-bound roles, Arc for policy reach, Firewall for threat inspection, and Defender for Identity for AD watch.
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 organization is a large financial services company with a hybrid infrastructure consisting of on-premises servers and Azure IaaS. You are tasked with designing a security solution for infrastructure that meets the following requirements: - All administrative access to Azure resources must be just-in-time (JIT) and just-enough-access (JEA). - All on-premises servers must be managed centrally with consistent security policies. - All network traffic between on-premises and Azure must be encrypted and inspected for threats. - All privileged access must be monitored and audited. You have the following services available: Microsoft Entra ID, Microsoft Defender for Cloud, Azure Firewall, Azure Bastion, Microsoft Sentinel, Azure Arc, Azure Policy, Microsoft Defender for Identity, and Microsoft Entra Privileged Identity Management (PIM). Which combination of services should you use to meet all requirements?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Use Microsoft Entra PIM for JIT access, Azure Arc to extend Azure Policy to on-prem servers, Azure Firewall with threat intelligence for traffic inspection, and Microsoft Defender for Identity for monitoring privileged access.
Option A is correct: PIM provides JIT/JEA for Azure roles; Azure Arc enables management of on-prem servers with Azure Policy; Azure Firewall with threat intelligence can inspect encrypted traffic; Microsoft Defender for Identity monitors on-prem AD for privileged attacks. Option B is incorrect: Azure Bastion provides secure RDP/SSH but does not provide JIT/JEA. Option C is incorrect: Azure VPN Gateway does not inspect traffic. Option D is incorrect: Microsoft Sentinel is for SIEM, not JIT.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use Azure Bastion for administrative access, Azure Automation for on-prem management, Azure VPN Gateway for encrypted traffic, and Microsoft Sentinel for monitoring.
- ✓
Use Microsoft Entra PIM for JIT access, Azure Arc to extend Azure Policy to on-prem servers, Azure Firewall with threat intelligence for traffic inspection, and Microsoft Defender for Identity for monitoring privileged access.
- ✗
Use Microsoft Sentinel for all aspects, including JIT via playbooks, Azure Arc for management, Azure Firewall for traffic, and Azure Policy for compliance.
Why it's wrong here
Sentinel is not designed for JIT access.
- ✗
Use Microsoft Entra roles with permanent assignments, Azure Site Recovery for on-premises management, Azure ExpressRoute for encrypted traffic, and Microsoft Defender for Cloud for monitoring.
Why it's wrong here
Permanent assignments violate JIT; ExpressRoute does not inspect traffic.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Authentication checks who the user is.
- Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
- Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
- AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
- Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
- Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
- Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related SC-100 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SC-100 question test?
Design security solutions for infrastructure — This question tests Design security solutions for infrastructure — Authentication checks who the user is..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use Microsoft Entra PIM for JIT access, Azure Arc to extend Azure Policy to on-prem servers, Azure Firewall with threat intelligence for traffic inspection, and Microsoft Defender for Identity for monitoring privileged access. — Option A is correct: PIM provides JIT/JEA for Azure roles; Azure Arc enables management of on-prem servers with Azure Policy; Azure Firewall with threat intelligence can inspect encrypted traffic; Microsoft Defender for Identity monitors on-prem AD for privileged attacks. Option B is incorrect: Azure Bastion provides secure RDP/SSH but does not provide JIT/JEA. Option C is incorrect: Azure VPN Gateway does not inspect traffic. Option D is incorrect: Microsoft Sentinel is for SIEM, not JIT.
What should I do if I get this SC-100 question wrong?
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related SC-100 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Authentication checks who the user is.
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Last reviewed: Jun 21, 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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