The correct approach is to create an Azure Policy that audits subscriptions without any Defender plans and then use a remediation task to enable the required plans. This works because Azure Policy can evaluate compliance at scale, detecting subscriptions that lack any Defender for Cloud plans, but it cannot directly modify resources—remediation tasks, powered by managed identities, are required to deploy the plan configurations. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the difference between audit-only policies and those with deployIfNotExists effects, a common trap where candidates assume Azure Policy can enable plans without a remediation step. Remember that Defender for Cloud’s continuous export is for streaming alerts, not enforcement, and Azure Blueprints are deprecated. To enforce Defender for Cloud plans across subscriptions with Azure Policy, always pair an audit policy with a remediation task. Memory tip: “Audit finds the gap, remediation fills the gap.”
SC-100 Design security solutions for infrastructure Practice Question
This SC-100 practice question tests your understanding of design security solutions for infrastructure. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 uses Microsoft Defender for Cloud to manage security across multiple subscriptions. You need to ensure that all subscriptions have at least one Defender plan enabled, and you want to enforce this centrally using Azure Policy. What is the best approach?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Clue: "least"
Why it matters: You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create an Azure Policy that audits subscriptions without any Defender plans and then use a remediation task to enable the required plans.
Option C is correct because Azure Policy can audit if a subscription has no Defender plans enabled, and then use a remediation task to enable the plans. Option A is wrong because Azure Policy cannot directly enable plans without a remediation task. Option B is wrong because Defender for Cloud's continuous export is for security alerts, not policy enforcement. Option D is wrong because Azure Blueprints are being deprecated in favor of Azure Policy and deployment stacks.
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.
✗
Use the Defender for Cloud continuous export feature to send compliance data to a Log Analytics workspace and create alerts.
Why it's wrong here
Continuous export does not enforce policy.
✗
Create an Azure Policy that denies creation of subscriptions that do not have Defender plans enabled.
Why it's wrong here
Subscriptions are not created via Azure Policy; policy can only audit or modify existing resources.
✗
Use Azure Blueprints to assign Defender plans to all subscriptions.
Why it's wrong here
Blueprints are being deprecated; Azure Policy is the preferred method.
✓
Create an Azure Policy that audits subscriptions without any Defender plans and then use a remediation task to enable the required plans.
Why this is correct
Policy with remediation can enforce the configuration.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "best", "least" in the question point toward this answer.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
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: Create an Azure Policy that audits subscriptions without any Defender plans and then use a remediation task to enable the required plans. — Option C is correct because Azure Policy can audit if a subscription has no Defender plans enabled, and then use a remediation task to enable the plans. Option A is wrong because Azure Policy cannot directly enable plans without a remediation task. Option B is wrong because Defender for Cloud's continuous export is for security alerts, not policy enforcement. Option D is wrong because Azure Blueprints are being deprecated in favor of Azure Policy and deployment stacks.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best", "least". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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