Quick Answer
The answer is a session policy. This is correct because a session policy in Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps operates in real time, intercepting user activity and applying conditional access controls based on risk signals from Microsoft Entra ID Protection. When a user is confirmed as compromised, the session policy can automatically suspend access to cloud apps by blocking the session or forcing reauthentication, directly addressing the need to suspend user access based on identity risk. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this tests your understanding of how Defender for Cloud Apps integrates with Entra ID Protection for automated remediation, often appearing as a scenario where you must distinguish session policies from access or app discovery policies. A common trap is choosing an access policy, which controls initial sign-in but cannot react to mid-session risk changes like a session policy can. Memory tip: think of a session policy as the “bouncer” that can kick a user out mid-session, while an access policy only checks the ID at the door.
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.
Your company uses Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps (MDA). You need to create a policy that automatically suspends a user's access to a cloud app if the user is confirmed as compromised by Microsoft Entra ID Protection. Which policy type should you use?
Session policy
Session policies can use risk from Microsoft Entra ID Protection to block access.
Access policy
Why wrong: Access policies control access based on conditions like device state, not risk.
App permissions policy
Why wrong: This manages OAuth app permissions, not user risk.
Anomaly detection policy
Why wrong: This detects behavioral anomalies but does not integrate directly with identity risk.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Session policy
A session policy in Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps can be configured to take real-time actions based on risk signals from Microsoft Entra ID Protection. When a user is confirmed as compromised, a session policy can enforce automatic suspension of access to cloud apps by blocking the session or requiring reauthentication, directly addressing the requirement.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Session policy
Why this is correct
Session policies can use risk from Microsoft Entra ID Protection to block access.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Access policy
Why it's wrong here
Access policies control access based on conditions like device state, not risk.
App permissions policy
Why it's wrong here
This manages OAuth app permissions, not user risk.
Anomaly detection policy
Why it's wrong here
This detects behavioral anomalies but does not integrate directly with identity risk.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse session policies with access policies, assuming access policies handle user risk-based suspension, but access policies lack the real-time session control and direct Entra ID Protection integration that session policies provide.
Detailed technical explanation
Session policies leverage reverse proxy architecture to intercept user traffic in real time, allowing conditional access controls like blocking or restricting downloads. The integration with Entra ID Protection uses the 'User risk level' condition, where a confirmed compromised user triggers a high-risk score, enabling the session policy to enforce actions such as 'Block' or 'Require reauthentication' without needing additional conditional access policies. This is distinct from Conditional Access policies in Entra ID, which operate at the authentication layer, whereas session policies work at the application layer for granular control.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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..
The correct answer is: Session policy — A session policy in Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps can be configured to take real-time actions based on risk signals from Microsoft Entra ID Protection. When a user is confirmed as compromised, a session policy can enforce automatic suspension of access to cloud apps by blocking the session or requiring reauthentication, directly addressing the requirement.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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 →
Same concept, more angles
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. A company uses Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps to monitor SaaS apps. They discover that a user is downloading large volumes of data from SharePoint Online from an atypical IP address. The security team wants to automatically suspend the user's access to all cloud apps. What is the most efficient way to achieve this?
hardWhy C: Option B is correct because session policies enforce real-time controls and can block access. Option A is wrong because file policies control data at rest, not access. Option C is wrong because app tags categorize apps. Option D is wrong because OAuth app policies manage third-party app permissions.
Variation 2. Your company uses Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps and wants to prevent users from uploading sensitive files to personal cloud storage apps. What should you configure?
mediumWhy C: Session policy in Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps allows real-time monitoring and control of user activities based on app and content inspection. By configuring a session policy, you can block or restrict uploads of sensitive files to personal cloud storage apps like Dropbox or Google Drive during the user's session, leveraging reverse proxy capabilities to inspect and intervene in traffic.
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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