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Design solutions that align with security best practices and priorities →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The answer is that the NSG is not associated with the subnet or network interface where the web server is deployed. This is correct because a network security group only filters traffic when it is explicitly linked to a subnet or a network interface card (NIC); without that association, the NSG rules are never applied, so the AllowHTTP rule has no effect and the web server’s traffic defaults to Azure’s platform behavior, which permits all inbound traffic. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this scenario tests your understanding that deploying an NSG with rules is insufficient—you must also associate it with the correct resource, a common trap where candidates assume rule creation alone blocks traffic. A helpful memory tip is “No association, no application”—if the NSG isn’t tied to the subnet or NIC, it’s just a template with no enforcement.

SC-100 Practice Question: Design solutions that align with security best practices and priorities

This SC-100 practice question tests your understanding of design solutions that align with security best practices and priorities. 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.

Exhibit

{
  "$schema": "https://schema.management.azure.com/schemas/2019-04-01/deploymentTemplate.json#",
  "contentVersion": "1.0.0.0",
  "resources": [
    {
      "type": "Microsoft.Network/networkSecurityGroups",
      "apiVersion": "2020-06-01",
      "name": "nsg-web",
      "properties": {
        "securityRules": [
          {
            "name": "AllowHTTP",
            "properties": {
              "protocol": "Tcp",
              "sourcePortRange": "*",
              "destinationPortRange": "80",
              "sourceAddressPrefix": "*",
              "destinationAddressPrefix": "*",
              "access": "Allow",
              "priority": 100,
              "direction": "Inbound"
            }
          },
          {
            "name": "DenyAll",
            "properties": {
              "protocol": "*",
              "sourcePortRange": "*",
              "destinationPortRange": "*",
              "sourceAddressPrefix": "*",
              "destinationAddressPrefix": "*",
              "access": "Deny",
              "priority": 200,
              "direction": "Inbound"
            }
          }
        ]
      }
    }
  ]
}

Refer to the exhibit. You are reviewing an ARM template that deploys a network security group (NSG) for a web application. The NSG allows inbound HTTP traffic from any source and then denies all other inbound traffic. However, after deployment, you find that HTTP traffic is being blocked. What is the most likely cause?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

  • Clue: "most likely"

    Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →

Exhibit

{
  "$schema": "https://schema.management.azure.com/schemas/2019-04-01/deploymentTemplate.json#",
  "contentVersion": "1.0.0.0",
  "resources": [
    {
      "type": "Microsoft.Network/networkSecurityGroups",
      "apiVersion": "2020-06-01",
      "name": "nsg-web",
      "properties": {
        "securityRules": [
          {
            "name": "AllowHTTP",
            "properties": {
              "protocol": "Tcp",
              "sourcePortRange": "*",
              "destinationPortRange": "80",
              "sourceAddressPrefix": "*",
              "destinationAddressPrefix": "*",
              "access": "Allow",
              "priority": 100,
              "direction": "Inbound"
            }
          },
          {
            "name": "DenyAll",
            "properties": {
              "protocol": "*",
              "sourcePortRange": "*",
              "destinationPortRange": "*",
              "sourceAddressPrefix": "*",
              "destinationAddressPrefix": "*",
              "access": "Deny",
              "priority": 200,
              "direction": "Inbound"
            }
          }
        ]
      }
    }
  ]
}

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

✓

The NSG is not associated with the subnet or network interface where the web server is deployed.

Option B is correct because an NSG only filters traffic when it is associated with a subnet or a network interface card (NIC). Without association, the NSG rules are never applied, so the web server's HTTP traffic is not affected by the AllowHTTP rule and is instead subject to the default platform behavior, which allows all inbound traffic. Since the question states HTTP traffic is being blocked, the most likely cause is that the NSG is not associated with the subnet or NIC, leaving the web server's traffic ungoverned by the intended rules.

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.

  • ✗

    The AllowHTTP rule uses sourcePortRange '*' which conflicts with the DenyAll rule.

    Why it's wrong here

    Source port range '*' is acceptable and does not conflict.

  • ✓

    The NSG is not associated with the subnet or network interface where the web server is deployed.

    Why this is correct

    An NSG must be associated with a subnet or NIC to take effect.

    Clue confirmation

    The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.

    Related concept

    Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

  • ✗

    The DenyAll rule has a higher priority than the AllowHTTP rule, so it takes precedence.

    Why it's wrong here

    Lower priority number means higher priority; AllowHTTP (100) has higher priority than DenyAll (200).

  • ✗

    The DenyAll rule uses protocol '*' which blocks all traffic including HTTP.

    Why it's wrong here

    The AllowHTTP rule with higher priority allows HTTP before DenyAll can block it.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates assume an NSG's rules are automatically applied to all resources in the same region or virtual network, when in fact the NSG must be explicitly associated with a subnet or NIC to take effect.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

In Azure, an NSG is a stateful firewall that evaluates rules in priority order (lowest number first) and must be explicitly associated with a subnet or NIC to filter traffic. When an NSG is not associated, the default Azure platform allows all inbound and outbound traffic within a virtual network and from the internet, so HTTP traffic would normally be allowed. The trap here is that candidates often assume NSG rules are automatically enforced once defined, but they are inert until associated with a resource.

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 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.

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 solutions that align with security best practices and priorities — This question tests Design solutions that align with security best practices and priorities — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: The NSG is not associated with the subnet or network interface where the web server is deployed. — Option B is correct because an NSG only filters traffic when it is associated with a subnet or a network interface card (NIC). Without association, the NSG rules are never applied, so the web server's HTTP traffic is not affected by the AllowHTTP rule and is instead subject to the default platform behavior, which allows all inbound traffic. Since the question states HTTP traffic is being blocked, the most likely cause is that the NSG is not associated with the subnet or NIC, leaving the web server's traffic ungoverned by the intended rules.

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.

Are there clue words in this question I should notice?

Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026

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