The correct answer is to create a DLP policy that detects and blocks credit card numbers in Exchange Online. This works because Microsoft Purview includes built-in sensitive information types, such as the credit card number entity, which uses pattern matching and checksum validation to identify the data. When you configure a DLP rule with an action to block the email—either by rejecting the message or sending it to quarantine—you directly prevent the sharing of credit card numbers via email, enforcing compliance at the transport layer. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how Purview DLP policies integrate with Exchange Online mail flow, often appearing as a straightforward configuration task where the trap is choosing a broader endpoint DLP rule or an incorrect sensitive info type. Remember the key: for email-specific blocking, the action must be applied to Exchange, not Teams or SharePoint. A useful memory tip is “CC Block: Check Content, Block Exchange.”
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. 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.
A company plans to implement Microsoft Purview to enforce data loss prevention (DLP) policies. They need to prevent users from sharing credit card numbers via email. What should they configure?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create a DLP policy that detects and blocks credit card numbers in Exchange Online
Option C is correct because Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies can be configured to detect sensitive data types, such as credit card numbers, in Exchange Online emails. When a DLP policy is created with a rule that identifies credit card numbers and blocks the email from being sent, it directly prevents users from sharing that data via email. This is the native mechanism for enforcing DLP on email traffic in Microsoft 365.
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.
✗
Create a sensitivity label and apply it to emails
Why it's wrong here
Sensitivity labels classify data but do not enforce blocking actions in email.
✗
Enable communication compliance policies
Why it's wrong here
Communication compliance is for monitoring communications for policy violations, not for blocking DLP.
✓
Create a DLP policy that detects and blocks credit card numbers in Exchange Online
Why this is correct
DLP policies in Microsoft Purview can detect sensitive info types like credit card numbers and block sharing via email.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Configure a retention policy for email
Why it's wrong here
Retention policies preserve or delete data, not block sharing of sensitive info.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse sensitivity labels (which classify data) with DLP policies (which enforce actions on data in motion), leading them to select Option A instead of the correct DLP policy.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, a DLP policy in Exchange Online uses a built-in sensitive information type (SIT) for credit card numbers, which applies pattern matching (e.g., Luhn check, prefix validation) and confidence levels to detect the data. When a rule is triggered, the policy can enforce actions such as blocking the message, sending a notification, or allowing override with justification. In a real-world scenario, an organization might combine this with a policy tip to educate users before blocking, reducing false positives.
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.
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: Create a DLP policy that detects and blocks credit card numbers in Exchange Online — Option C is correct because Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies can be configured to detect sensitive data types, such as credit card numbers, in Exchange Online emails. When a DLP policy is created with a rule that identifies credit card numbers and blocks the email from being sent, it directly prevents users from sharing that data via email. This is the native mechanism for enforcing DLP on email traffic in Microsoft 365.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Your company uses Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention (DLP). You need to ensure that credit card numbers are not shared externally via email. What should you configure?
easy
A.Create a sensitivity label that applies encryption to emails containing credit card numbers.
✓ B.Create a DLP policy that detects credit card numbers and blocks external sharing.
C.Configure auto-labeling for credit card numbers in Microsoft 365.
D.Create a retention policy for credit card data.
Why B: Option A is correct because DLP policies can detect sensitive information like credit card numbers and block external sharing. Option B is incorrect because sensitivity labels are for classification, not blocking. Option C is incorrect because retention policies manage retention, not sharing. Option D is incorrect because auto-labeling applies labels, but DLP enforces actions.
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
Question Discussion
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