The answer is a sensitive info type rule, an action to block the email and send a notification, and a policy scope defining where the policy applies. This is correct because a Microsoft Purview DLP policy blocking credit card numbers must first detect the data using a built-in sensitive info type (SIT) that validates patterns, checksums, and keyword proximity, then enforce a protective action like blocking transmission, and finally be scoped to specific locations such as Exchange Online. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this tests your understanding that a DLP policy is not just a single setting but a layered construct of conditions and actions; a common trap is forgetting the scope component, assuming the SIT and action alone suffice. Remember the mnemonic "SAS" — Sensitive info type, Action, Scope — to recall the three required components for any data-centric DLP policy.
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.
Your organization is implementing Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention (DLP) to protect sensitive data. You need to design a policy that prevents users from sharing credit card numbers via email. Which THREE components are required to build this DLP policy?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
A rule that includes a sensitive info type for credit card numbers
Option B is correct because a DLP policy must include a rule that defines the sensitive data to detect. For credit card numbers, Microsoft Purview provides a built-in sensitive info type (SIT) that uses pattern matching, checksum validation, and keyword proximity to accurately identify credit card numbers. Without this rule, the policy would have no criteria to trigger actions.
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.
✗
A policy tip to warn users before sending
Why it's wrong here
Policy tips are helpful but not required for blocking.
✓
A rule that includes a sensitive info type for credit card numbers
Why this is correct
Sensitive info types detect credit card patterns.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
A trainable classifier for financial data
Why it's wrong here
Trainable classifiers are not needed; built-in sensitive info types suffice.
✓
A policy scope that includes Exchange Online
Why this is correct
The policy must be scoped to the workload where emails are sent.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
An action to block the email and send a notification
Why this is correct
Blocking the email prevents the data leak; notification educates the user.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse optional enhancements (like policy tips or trainable classifiers) with mandatory components, but the core requirement is a rule with a sensitive info type, a scope (Exchange Online), and an action to block and notify.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Microsoft Purview DLP uses sensitive info types that combine regex patterns (e.g., for major credit card issuers), Luhn checksum validation, and proximity of keywords like 'card' or 'credit' to reduce false positives. The policy scope in Exchange Online ensures the rule is evaluated during email transport via the Exchange transport pipeline, where the DLP agent inspects message content and attachments before delivery.
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 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: A rule that includes a sensitive info type for credit card numbers — Option B is correct because a DLP policy must include a rule that defines the sensitive data to detect. For credit card numbers, Microsoft Purview provides a built-in sensitive info type (SIT) that uses pattern matching, checksum validation, and keyword proximity to accurately identify credit card numbers. Without this rule, the policy would have no criteria to trigger actions.
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
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Variation 1. Your organization plans to use Microsoft Purview to protect sensitive data in Microsoft 365. The compliance team needs to detect when users share credit card numbers via email and automatically apply encryption. Which solution should you implement?
hard
A.Microsoft Purview Audit
B.Microsoft Purview eDiscovery
C.Microsoft Purview Information Protection
✓ D.Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
Why D: Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention (DLP) is the correct solution because it is specifically designed to detect sensitive data types—such as credit card numbers—in email messages and automatically apply protective actions like encryption. DLP policies can inspect email content in transit via Exchange Online, match patterns against predefined sensitive info types (e.g., credit card number regex), and trigger actions such as 'Encrypt the message' using Azure Rights Management. This directly meets the requirement to detect sharing of credit card numbers and enforce encryption automatically.
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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