Quick Answer
The answer is Security policies and initiatives. This is the correct choice because Defender for Cloud uses built-in security policies, such as the Azure Security Benchmark, to assess and enforce compliance requirements like “secure transfer required” on storage accounts. By assigning an initiative that includes this control, you can continuously monitor and automatically remediate non-compliant resources. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this tests your understanding of how policy-driven governance works at scale, often appearing as a scenario where you must enforce a specific storage setting across multiple subscriptions. A common trap is confusing this with Just-In-Time VM access or adaptive network hardening, which focus on network-level controls rather than data encryption in transit. Remember: if the goal is to enforce a configuration standard across Azure resources, think security policies and initiatives—not network or file integrity tools. Memory tip: “Policies for posture, hardening for hosts.”
This SC-100 practice question tests your understanding of design security solutions for applications and data. 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 using Microsoft Defender for Cloud to assess the security posture of your Azure resources. You need to ensure that all storage accounts have secure transfer required enabled. Which Defender for Cloud feature should you use?
Security policies and initiatives
Policies can enforce that secure transfer is enabled on storage accounts.
File integrity monitoring
Why wrong: FIM monitors file changes, not storage settings.
Adaptive network hardening
Why wrong: This is for network security groups.
Just-In-Time VM access
Why wrong: JIT controls VM access, not storage configuration.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Security policies and initiatives
Option A is correct: Security policies and initiatives allow you to define and enforce compliance requirements. Option B is wrong: Just-In-Time VM access is for network access. Option C is wrong: Adaptive network hardening is for NSGs. Option D is wrong: File integrity monitoring is for critical files.
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.
Security policies and initiatives
Why this is correct
Policies can enforce that secure transfer is enabled on storage accounts.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
File integrity monitoring
Why it's wrong here
FIM monitors file changes, not storage settings.
Adaptive network hardening
Why it's wrong here
This is for network security groups.
Just-In-Time VM access
Why it's wrong here
JIT controls VM access, not storage configuration.
Common exam traps
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
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
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
Design security solutions for applications and data — This question tests Design security solutions for applications and data — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Security policies and initiatives — Option A is correct: Security policies and initiatives allow you to define and enforce compliance requirements. Option B is wrong: Just-In-Time VM access is for network access. Option C is wrong: Adaptive network hardening is for NSGs. Option D is wrong: File integrity monitoring is for critical files.
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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 21, 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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