SC-200 Practice Question: Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender for Cloud
This SC-200 practice question tests your understanding of mitigate threats using microsoft defender for cloud. 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. A key principle to apply: vulnerability assessment identifies security weaknesses in VMs.. 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.
A company uses Microsoft Defender for Cloud to protect Azure virtual machines. The security team wants to identify which VMs have missing system updates such as critical security patches. Which Defender for Cloud feature should they use?
Why wrong: Adaptive application controls help define allowlisted applications to prevent malicious software, but they do not scan for missing system updates.
B
Just-in-time VM access
Why wrong: Just-in-time VM access manages inbound network traffic to reduce exposure to attacks but does not identify missing updates.
C
Vulnerability assessment
Vulnerability assessment scans VMs for known vulnerabilities, including missing security updates and misconfigurations, making it the correct choice.
D
File integrity monitoring
Why wrong: File integrity monitoring tracks changes to files and registries but does not assess the patch status of the operating system.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Vulnerability assessment
Vulnerability assessment in Microsoft Defender for Cloud scans Azure VMs for missing system updates, including critical security patches, by integrating with built-in or partner vulnerability scanners (e.g., Qualys). This feature provides a continuous assessment of OS and application vulnerabilities, directly addressing the need to identify VMs with missing patches.
Key principle: Vulnerability assessment identifies security weaknesses in VMs.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Adaptive application controls
Why it's wrong here
Adaptive application controls help define allowlisted applications to prevent malicious software, but they do not scan for missing system updates.
✗
Just-in-time VM access
Why it's wrong here
Just-in-time VM access manages inbound network traffic to reduce exposure to attacks but does not identify missing updates.
✓
Vulnerability assessment
Why this is correct
Vulnerability assessment scans VMs for known vulnerabilities, including missing security updates and misconfigurations, making it the correct choice.
Related concept
Vulnerability assessment identifies security weaknesses in VMs.
✗
File integrity monitoring
Why it's wrong here
File integrity monitoring tracks changes to files and registries but does not assess the patch status of the operating system.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is confusing vulnerability assessment (which identifies missing patches and misconfigurations) with adaptive application controls (which restricts application execution) or file integrity monitoring (which detects file changes), leading candidates to pick a feature that addresses a different security control objective.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Defender for Cloud's vulnerability assessment uses the Qualys agent (or Microsoft's built-in scanner) to perform authenticated scans against the VM's OS, comparing installed patches against a continuously updated vulnerability database (e.g., CVE feeds). The results are aggregated into a secure score and actionable recommendations, such as 'System updates should be installed on your machines,' which directly maps to the missing patches scenario. In a real-world environment, this feature can detect missing patches across thousands of VMs and prioritize remediation based on severity and exploitability.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Vulnerability assessment identifies security weaknesses in VMs.
It scans for missing security updates and misconfigurations.
Defender for Cloud integrates with Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management for this.
Results provide actionable recommendations for remediation.
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
Vulnerability assessment identifies security weaknesses in VMs.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this SC-200 question in full detail.
Review vulnerability assessment identifies security weaknesses in VMs., then practise related SC-200 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender for Cloud — This question tests Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender for Cloud — Vulnerability assessment identifies security weaknesses in VMs..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Vulnerability assessment — Vulnerability assessment in Microsoft Defender for Cloud scans Azure VMs for missing system updates, including critical security patches, by integrating with built-in or partner vulnerability scanners (e.g., Qualys). This feature provides a continuous assessment of OS and application vulnerabilities, directly addressing the need to identify VMs with missing patches.
What should I do if I get this SC-200 question wrong?
Review vulnerability assessment identifies security weaknesses in VMs., then practise related SC-200 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Vulnerability assessment identifies security weaknesses in VMs.
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