The answer is to apply a CanNotDelete resource lock on the Log Analytics workspace. This is correct because a resource lock overrides all Azure role-based access control permissions, meaning that even if an attacker gains elevated privileges, they cannot delete the workspace or its diagnostic settings, which are the critical pipeline streaming telemetry to Microsoft Sentinel. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this scenario tests your understanding of defense-in-depth against data collection disruption, often appearing as a trap where candidates mistakenly choose Azure Policy or role assignments instead of the simpler, more definitive lock. A common memory tip is to remember that locks are the only control that can prevent deletion of diagnostic settings by any user or process, regardless of their permissions—think of it as a physical padlock on the data pipeline.
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. 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 organization uses Microsoft Sentinel for security operations. You need to ensure that an attacker cannot disable data collection by deleting the diagnostic settings on the Sentinel workspace. What should you configure?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Apply a CanNotDelete resource lock on the Log Analytics workspace.
Option C is correct because applying a CanNotDelete resource lock on the Log Analytics workspace prevents any user or process, including an attacker, from deleting the workspace or its diagnostic settings. This lock overrides all role-based permissions, ensuring that even if an attacker gains high-privileged access, they cannot remove the diagnostic settings that stream telemetry to Microsoft Sentinel. Sentinel's data collection relies entirely on these diagnostic settings, so protecting them with a resource lock is the most direct and effective defense against deletion attacks.
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 Sentinel's workspace deletion protection.
Why it's wrong here
This protects the workspace, not diagnostic settings.
✗
Assign the Log Analytics Contributor role only to specific users.
Why it's wrong here
RBAC does not prevent deletion by a compromised account with that role.
✓
Apply a CanNotDelete resource lock on the Log Analytics workspace.
Why this is correct
Resource locks block deletion of the workspace and its diagnostic settings.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Create an Azure Policy to audit diagnostic settings.
Why it's wrong here
Azure Policy audits but does not prevent deletion.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse workspace deletion protection (which only prevents workspace deletion) with diagnostic settings deletion protection, or they assume that RBAC alone (Option B) is sufficient to block a privileged attacker, when in fact a resource lock is the only control that enforces a hard deny on deletion regardless of permissions.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, a CanNotDelete resource lock is an Azure Resource Manager (ARM) deny assignment that applies to all users and services, including the subscription owner, effectively blocking any DELETE operation on the Log Analytics workspace. This lock is evaluated at the control plane level before any RBAC check, meaning it cannot be bypassed by role elevation or direct API calls. In a real-world scenario, if an attacker compromises a Global Administrator account, they could delete diagnostic settings to blind SOC analysts; the CanNotDelete lock ensures that even such a high-privilege attacker cannot remove the settings without first removing the lock, which requires additional permissions (e.g., Owner) and generates audit logs.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this SC-100 question in full detail.
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: Apply a CanNotDelete resource lock on the Log Analytics workspace. — Option C is correct because applying a CanNotDelete resource lock on the Log Analytics workspace prevents any user or process, including an attacker, from deleting the workspace or its diagnostic settings. This lock overrides all role-based permissions, ensuring that even if an attacker gains high-privileged access, they cannot remove the diagnostic settings that stream telemetry to Microsoft Sentinel. Sentinel's data collection relies entirely on these diagnostic settings, so protecting them with a resource lock is the most direct and effective defense against deletion attacks.
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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Question Discussion
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