- A
Configure AWS Config and GCP Security Command Center to export findings to Microsoft Sentinel
Why wrong: This centralizes logs but does not enforce a single security baseline across clouds.
- B
Connect AWS and GCP accounts to Defender for Cloud and use Azure Policy to enforce the Microsoft Cloud Security Benchmark
Connecting multi-cloud accounts allows Defender for Cloud to assess them against Azure Policy initiatives like the Microsoft Cloud Security Benchmark.
- C
Use regulatory compliance standards for each cloud separately
Why wrong: Regulatory compliance standards are predefined and may not match your custom baseline.
- D
Enable the Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) plan and configure AWS and GCP connectors
Why wrong: CSPM assesses posture but applies different baselines per cloud unless you use Azure Policy.
SC-100 Practice Question: Design security operations, identity, and compliance capabilities
This SC-100 practice question tests your understanding of design security operations, identity, and compliance capabilities. 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 uses Microsoft Defender for Cloud to secure multi-cloud workloads. You need to ensure that Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) resources are assessed against the same security baseline. What should you do?
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
Connect AWS and GCP accounts to Defender for Cloud and use Azure Policy to enforce the Microsoft Cloud Security Benchmark
Option B is correct because Microsoft Defender for Cloud's multi-cloud CSPM capabilities allow you to connect AWS and GCP accounts directly, and then apply Azure Policy to enforce the Microsoft Cloud Security Benchmark (MCSB) across all connected clouds. This ensures a unified security baseline assessment for Azure, AWS, and GCP resources, as MCSB is the default policy initiative in Defender for Cloud.
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.
- ✗
Configure AWS Config and GCP Security Command Center to export findings to Microsoft Sentinel
Why it's wrong here
This centralizes logs but does not enforce a single security baseline across clouds.
- ✓
Connect AWS and GCP accounts to Defender for Cloud and use Azure Policy to enforce the Microsoft Cloud Security Benchmark
Why this is correct
Connecting multi-cloud accounts allows Defender for Cloud to assess them against Azure Policy initiatives like the Microsoft Cloud Security Benchmark.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use regulatory compliance standards for each cloud separately
Why it's wrong here
Regulatory compliance standards are predefined and may not match your custom baseline.
- ✗
Enable the Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) plan and configure AWS and GCP connectors
Why it's wrong here
CSPM assesses posture but applies different baselines per cloud unless you use Azure Policy.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse enabling the CSPM plan and connectors (Option D) with the complete solution, forgetting that a specific baseline policy (MCSB) must be assigned via Azure Policy to enforce the unified assessment.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Defender for Cloud uses Azure Policy's built-in initiative 'Microsoft Cloud Security Benchmark' (formerly Azure Security Benchmark) to continuously assess compliance. When AWS and GCP connectors are configured, Defender for Cloud translates cloud-specific resource configurations (e.g., AWS S3 bucket settings, GCP IAM policies) into Azure Policy compliance states, enabling a single pane of glass for multi-cloud security posture. A subtle behavior is that the MCSB initiative includes over 200 controls, and some controls may not map perfectly to GCP resources, requiring manual adjustment or custom policies.
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.
TExam Day Tips
- 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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SC-100 question test?
Design security operations, identity, and compliance capabilities — This question tests Design security operations, identity, and compliance capabilities — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Connect AWS and GCP accounts to Defender for Cloud and use Azure Policy to enforce the Microsoft Cloud Security Benchmark — Option B is correct because Microsoft Defender for Cloud's multi-cloud CSPM capabilities allow you to connect AWS and GCP accounts directly, and then apply Azure Policy to enforce the Microsoft Cloud Security Benchmark (MCSB) across all connected clouds. This ensures a unified security baseline assessment for Azure, AWS, and GCP resources, as MCSB is the default policy initiative in Defender for Cloud.
What should I do if I get this SC-100 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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