- A
Purchase Azure Backup for all user devices. Configure backup policies to run daily. Use Microsoft Intune to enforce encryption. Implement Conditional Access to require MFA.
Why wrong: Azure Backup is not built-in and adds cost; Intune adds management complexity.
- B
Enable Microsoft Defender for Office 365 to block malicious attachments and links. Configure Microsoft Defender for Business to enable controlled folder access and ransomware protection. Educate users on phishing. Use OneDrive Files Restore to recover from ransomware.
Uses built-in features, simple to configure, effective against ransomware.
- C
Use Microsoft Sentinel as a SIEM to detect ransomware patterns. Deploy Azure ATP for identity protection. Use Azure Policy to enforce backup.
Why wrong: Sentinel and ATP are enterprise-grade, too complex for a startup.
- D
Implement Azure Site Recovery for on-premises servers. Use Microsoft Defender for Cloud for threat detection. Deploy a third-party antivirus.
Why wrong: ASR is for servers, not endpoints; unnecessary.
Quick Answer
The answer is to enable Microsoft Defender for Office 365, configure Defender for Business with controlled folder access, educate users on phishing, and use OneDrive Files Restore for recovery. This combination is correct because it leverages built-in Microsoft 365 Business Premium features to provide layered ransomware protection for small business without requiring cloud expertise—Defender for Office 365 blocks malicious attachments and links at the email gateway, while Defender for Business stops ransomware from encrypting files on endpoints via controlled folder access, and OneDrive Files Restore allows self-service file recovery within 30 days. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this scenario tests your ability to recommend native, low-complexity solutions for small organizations, often contrasting with more advanced tools like Microsoft Sentinel or third-party backups; a common trap is suggesting complex licensing or external tools that exceed the startup’s stated lack of expertise. Remember the mnemonic “B.E.A.R.”—Block email threats, Endpoint protection, Awareness training, Restore files—to recall the four pillars of built-in ransomware defense.
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. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
Adventure Works is a startup that uses Microsoft 365 Business Premium. They have 20 employees and no cloud expertise. The CEO has been hearing about ransomware attacks on small businesses. They want to implement basic protection against ransomware using built-in Microsoft 365 features. They also want to ensure they can recover from an attack quickly. What should you recommend?
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
Enable Microsoft Defender for Office 365 to block malicious attachments and links. Configure Microsoft Defender for Business to enable controlled folder access and ransomware protection. Educate users on phishing. Use OneDrive Files Restore to recover from ransomware.
Option B is correct because it leverages built-in Microsoft 365 Business Premium features to provide immediate ransomware protection without requiring cloud expertise. Microsoft Defender for Office 365 blocks malicious attachments and links at the email gateway, while Defender for Business provides endpoint protection with controlled folder access. OneDrive Files Restore enables self-service recovery of files from ransomware within the last 30 days, aligning with the startup's need for quick recovery without additional infrastructure.
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.
- ✗
Purchase Azure Backup for all user devices. Configure backup policies to run daily. Use Microsoft Intune to enforce encryption. Implement Conditional Access to require MFA.
Why it's wrong here
Azure Backup is not built-in and adds cost; Intune adds management complexity.
- ✓
Enable Microsoft Defender for Office 365 to block malicious attachments and links. Configure Microsoft Defender for Business to enable controlled folder access and ransomware protection. Educate users on phishing. Use OneDrive Files Restore to recover from ransomware.
Why this is correct
Uses built-in features, simple to configure, effective against ransomware.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use Microsoft Sentinel as a SIEM to detect ransomware patterns. Deploy Azure ATP for identity protection. Use Azure Policy to enforce backup.
Why it's wrong here
Sentinel and ATP are enterprise-grade, too complex for a startup.
- ✗
Implement Azure Site Recovery for on-premises servers. Use Microsoft Defender for Cloud for threat detection. Deploy a third-party antivirus.
Why it's wrong here
ASR is for servers, not endpoints; unnecessary.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often over-engineer the solution by recommending enterprise-grade tools like Azure Backup or Sentinel, failing to recognize that Microsoft 365 Business Premium includes sufficient built-in capabilities for a small startup with no cloud expertise.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
OneDrive Files Restore leverages the versioning and recycle bin capabilities of SharePoint Online, allowing users to restore an entire OneDrive to any point within the last 30 days via a time-based slider interface. Controlled folder access in Microsoft Defender for Business uses the Windows kernel to monitor file system calls and blocks unauthorized processes from modifying protected folders, even if a ransomware binary gains execution. Microsoft Defender for Office 365's Safe Attachments feature detonates email attachments in a sandbox environment before delivery, using machine learning to detect zero-day threats.
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
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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: Enable Microsoft Defender for Office 365 to block malicious attachments and links. Configure Microsoft Defender for Business to enable controlled folder access and ransomware protection. Educate users on phishing. Use OneDrive Files Restore to recover from ransomware. — Option B is correct because it leverages built-in Microsoft 365 Business Premium features to provide immediate ransomware protection without requiring cloud expertise. Microsoft Defender for Office 365 blocks malicious attachments and links at the email gateway, while Defender for Business provides endpoint protection with controlled folder access. OneDrive Files Restore enables self-service recovery of files from ransomware within the last 30 days, aligning with the startup's need for quick recovery without additional infrastructure.
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: Jun 24, 2026
This SC-100 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SC-100 exam.
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