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Design security operations, identity, and compliance capabilities →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The answer is that agentless VM scanning is not enabled for existing VMs because the Bicep deployment only enables the feature for new VMs, not those already provisioned. This occurs because the pricing resource for 'VirtualMachines' sets the plan at the subscription level, but the agentless scanning extension itself must be explicitly enabled per VM or at the subscription scope, and it only applies to VMs created after that configuration. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this tests your understanding of how Defender for Cloud’s agentless scanning differs from agent-based solutions—a common trap is assuming that setting the pricing tier to Standard automatically retrofits all existing VMs. Remember, the pricing resource is a plan, not a retroactive scanner. Memory tip: “New gets the view; old needs a rescan cue.”

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. 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.

Exhibit

Refer to the exhibit.
```bicep
resource defenderForCloudSettings 'Microsoft.Security/pricings@2023-01-01' = {
  name: 'VirtualMachines'
  properties: {
    pricingTier: 'Standard'
    extensions: [
      {
        name: 'AgentlessVmScanning'
        isEnabled: true
      }
    ]
  }
}
```

Refer to the exhibit. You are deploying this Bicep template to enable Microsoft Defender for Cloud's VM protection. After deployment, you notice that Agentless VM scanning is not enabled for existing VMs. What is the most likely reason?

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 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →

Exhibit

Refer to the exhibit.
```bicep
resource defenderForCloudSettings 'Microsoft.Security/pricings@2023-01-01' = {
  name: 'VirtualMachines'
  properties: {
    pricingTier: 'Standard'
    extensions: [
      {
        name: 'AgentlessVmScanning'
        isEnabled: true
      }
    ]
  }
}
```

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

✓

Agentless scanning is only enabled for new VMs; existing VMs require rescanning.

Option D is correct because the Bicep template sets pricing for 'VirtualMachines' but the extension for agentless scanning must be enabled at the subscription level or per VM; the extension in the pricing resource only enables the feature for new VMs, not existing ones. Option A is wrong because the name 'VirtualMachines' is correct. Option B is wrong because the pricing tier is Standard, which is correct. Option C is wrong because the extension syntax is correct for Bicep.

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 pricing tier must be 'Free' to enable agentless scanning.

    Why it's wrong here

    Standard is required for agentless scanning.

  • ✓

    Agentless scanning is only enabled for new VMs; existing VMs require rescanning.

    Why this is correct

    The setting applies to new VMs; existing VMs need a manual rescan.

    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 resource name 'VirtualMachines' is incorrect; it should be 'virtualMachines'.

    Why it's wrong here

    The name is case-insensitive and correct.

  • ✗

    The extension 'AgentlessVmScanning' must be defined outside the pricing resource.

    Why it's wrong here

    Extensions are part of the pricing resource.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.

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.
  • Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.

TExam Day Tips

  • Underline the problem statement mentally.
  • 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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Identify which SC-100 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this SC-100 question test?

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: Agentless scanning is only enabled for new VMs; existing VMs require rescanning. — Option D is correct because the Bicep template sets pricing for 'VirtualMachines' but the extension for agentless scanning must be enabled at the subscription level or per VM; the extension in the pricing resource only enables the feature for new VMs, not existing ones. Option A is wrong because the name 'VirtualMachines' is correct. Option B is wrong because the pricing tier is Standard, which is correct. Option C is wrong because the extension syntax is correct for Bicep.

What should I do if I get this SC-100 question wrong?

Identify which SC-100 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.

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.

About these practice questions

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Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026

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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.