The correct answer is that you need to enable just-in-time VM access in Defender for Cloud and assign an Azure Policy that requires JIT access on VMs. This works because JIT access reduces the attack surface by locking down inbound traffic to your VMs via network security group (NSG) rules, which Defender for Cloud automatically creates and manages when JIT is enabled; the Azure Policy then enforces that all supported VMs have this protection, ensuring consistent governance across your environment. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this question tests your understanding of how Defender for Cloud operationalizes security controls through policy-driven enforcement, often tripping candidates who mistakenly think Azure Bastion or a separate Log Analytics workspace is required—remember, Bastion is for managed RDP/SSH access, not JIT, and NSG configuration is handled automatically. A useful memory tip: JIT needs two keys—enable the feature in Defender for Cloud, then lock it in with Azure Policy.
SC-100 Design security solutions for infrastructure Practice Question
This SC-100 practice question tests your understanding of design security solutions 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.
Your company plans to use Microsoft Defender for Cloud to protect its Azure resources. You need to enable just-in-time (JIT) VM access to reduce the attack surface. Which TWO configurations are required to implement JIT access?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable JIT VM access in Microsoft Defender for Cloud.
Option B is correct because JIT access requires enabling it in Defender for Cloud for the VMs. Option D is correct because JIT access requires an Azure Policy to enforce the JIT configuration. Option A is wrong because a network security group (NSG) is used, but it is not a separate requirement; JIT automatically configures NSG rules. Option C is wrong because Azure Bastion is a separate service for secure RDP/SSH access, not required for JIT. Option E is wrong because a Log Analytics workspace is used for monitoring, but not required for JIT.
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.
✓
Enable JIT VM access in Microsoft Defender for Cloud.
Why this is correct
JIT must be enabled in Defender for Cloud for the VMs.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Deploy Azure Bastion for secure RDP/SSH connectivity.
Why it's wrong here
Azure Bastion is not required for JIT.
✗
Configure a Log Analytics workspace to collect JIT logs.
Why it's wrong here
Log collection is optional, not required for JIT functionality.
✓
Assign an Azure Policy that requires JIT access on VMs.
Why this is correct
An Azure Policy helps enforce JIT access across VMs.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Create a network security group (NSG) that allows all inbound traffic.
Why it's wrong here
JIT does not require an NSG to be created separately; it manages NSG rules automatically.
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: Enable JIT VM access in Microsoft Defender for Cloud. — Option B is correct because JIT access requires enabling it in Defender for Cloud for the VMs. Option D is correct because JIT access requires an Azure Policy to enforce the JIT configuration. Option A is wrong because a network security group (NSG) is used, but it is not a separate requirement; JIT automatically configures NSG rules. Option C is wrong because Azure Bastion is a separate service for secure RDP/SSH access, not required for JIT. Option E is wrong because a Log Analytics workspace is used for monitoring, but not required for JIT.
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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