- A
Enable the Defender for SQL plan on the management group or subscription
Defender for SQL (IaaS) is a plan under Defender for Cloud. Enabling it extends protection to SQL Server IaaS instances, including ATP capabilities.
- B
Install the SQL IaaS Agent extension on each VM
Why wrong: The SQL IaaS Agent is required for some management features but does not by itself enable ATP. The Defender for SQL plan must also be enabled.
- C
Configure a vulnerability assessment solution on each SQL Server
Why wrong: Vulnerability assessment is a component of Defender for SQL, but enabling the plan is the prerequisite.
- D
Enable Azure SQL Database Threat Detection policy
Why wrong: Azure SQL Database Threat Detection is for Azure SQL Database, not for SQL Server on VMs (IaaS). Different plan needed.
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: defender for SQL is a plan within Microsoft Defender for Cloud.. 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 with Defender for Servers enabled. They also run SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines (IaaS). The security team wants to enable Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) for these SQL Server IaaS instances to detect threats like SQL injection. What is the single most effective action to achieve this?
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 the Defender for SQL plan on the management group or subscription
The Defender for SQL plan in Microsoft Defender for Cloud provides Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) for Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, and SQL Server on Azure VMs. Enabling this plan at the management group or subscription level automatically protects all current and future SQL Server IaaS instances within that scope, including threat detection for SQL injection attacks, without requiring per-VM agent installation.
Key principle: Defender for SQL is a plan within Microsoft Defender for Cloud.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Enable the Defender for SQL plan on the management group or subscription
Why this is correct
Defender for SQL (IaaS) is a plan under Defender for Cloud. Enabling it extends protection to SQL Server IaaS instances, including ATP capabilities.
Related concept
Defender for SQL is a plan within Microsoft Defender for Cloud.
- ✗
Install the SQL IaaS Agent extension on each VM
Why it's wrong here
The SQL IaaS Agent is required for some management features but does not by itself enable ATP. The Defender for SQL plan must also be enabled.
- ✗
Configure a vulnerability assessment solution on each SQL Server
Why it's wrong here
Vulnerability assessment is a component of Defender for SQL, but enabling the plan is the prerequisite.
- ✗
Enable Azure SQL Database Threat Detection policy
Why it's wrong here
Azure SQL Database Threat Detection is for Azure SQL Database, not for SQL Server on VMs (IaaS). Different plan needed.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the SQL IaaS Agent extension (which is needed for VM registration and management) with the actual security configuration required for ATP, leading them to select Option B instead of the subscription-level plan enablement in Option A.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When the Defender for SQL plan is enabled at the subscription level, Defender for Cloud automatically deploys the Microsoft Monitoring Agent (MMA) or Azure Monitor Agent (AMA) on supported SQL Server IaaS VMs and configures the necessary security events and audit logs to feed into the threat detection engine. This engine uses machine learning models and behavioral analytics to detect anomalous activities such as SQL injection attempts, brute-force attacks, and unusual access patterns, providing alerts in the Defender for Cloud dashboard.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Defender for SQL is a plan within Microsoft Defender for Cloud.
- It provides Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) for SQL Server on Azure VMs (IaaS).
- Enabling Defender for SQL at subscription level covers all eligible SQL IaaS instances.
- ATP includes detection for SQL injection, brute-force attacks, and anomalous access.
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
Defender for SQL is a plan within Microsoft Defender for Cloud.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review defender for SQL is a plan within Microsoft Defender for Cloud., then practise related SC-200 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SC-200 question test?
Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender for Cloud — This question tests Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender for Cloud — Defender for SQL is a plan within Microsoft Defender for Cloud..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable the Defender for SQL plan on the management group or subscription — The Defender for SQL plan in Microsoft Defender for Cloud provides Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) for Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, and SQL Server on Azure VMs. Enabling this plan at the management group or subscription level automatically protects all current and future SQL Server IaaS instances within that scope, including threat detection for SQL injection attacks, without requiring per-VM agent installation.
What should I do if I get this SC-200 question wrong?
Review defender for SQL is a plan within Microsoft Defender for Cloud., then practise related SC-200 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Defender for SQL is a plan within Microsoft Defender for Cloud.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This SC-200 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-200 exam.
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