- A
Adaptive application controls
Why wrong: Adaptive application controls create allowlists for applications running on VMs, not network traffic filtering.
- B
Just-in-time VM access
Why wrong: Just-In-Time VM access restricts inbound access to management ports (RDP/SSH) and does not manage outbound traffic.
- C
Adaptive network hardening
Adaptive network hardening analyzes network traffic and NSG rules to harden them against threats, including blocking outbound traffic to malicious IPs.
- D
File integrity monitoring
Why wrong: File Integrity Monitoring detects changes to critical files, registry, and software, but does not control network traffic.
Question 1,616 of 1,639
Adaptive Network Hardening for Outbound Traffic
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: adaptive network hardening. 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 receives an alert indicating that a VM is communicating with a known malicious IP address. Which Defender for Cloud feature can be used to automatically block outbound traffic to that IP address by adjusting the network security group (NSG)?
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
✓
Adaptive network hardening
Adaptive network hardening (C) is the correct feature because it uses machine learning to analyze traffic patterns and recommend NSG rules to restrict traffic to known trusted sources. When a VM communicates with a malicious IP, adaptive network hardening can automatically create a deny rule in the NSG to block outbound traffic to that IP, reducing the attack surface without manual intervention.
Key principle: Adaptive network hardening
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 create allowlists for applications running on VMs, not network traffic filtering.
- ✗
Just-in-time VM access
- ✓
Adaptive network hardening
Why this is correct
Adaptive network hardening analyzes network traffic and NSG rules to harden them against threats, including blocking outbound traffic to malicious IPs.
Related concept
Adaptive network hardening
- ✗
File integrity monitoring
Why it's wrong here
File Integrity Monitoring detects changes to critical files, registry, and software, but does not control network traffic.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse 'adaptive network hardening' with 'just-in-time VM access' because both involve NSG adjustments, but JIT only manages inbound ports while adaptive network hardening handles both inbound and outbound traffic based on threat intelligence.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Adaptive network hardening leverages machine learning models trained on historical traffic flows (TCP, UDP, ICMP) to identify patterns and generate NSG rules that are more restrictive than default rules. It can automatically apply deny rules for specific IP addresses or port ranges, and it integrates with Defender for Cloud's threat intelligence to block known malicious IPs. In a real-world scenario, if a VM is compromised and starts beaconing to a C2 server, adaptive network hardening can dynamically add a deny rule to the NSG, stopping the outbound communication without requiring manual rule creation.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Adaptive network hardening
- Network security group (NSG)
- Just-in-time VM access (JIT)
- Outbound traffic blocking
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
Adaptive network hardening
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review adaptive network hardening, 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 — Adaptive network hardening.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Adaptive network hardening — Adaptive network hardening (C) is the correct feature because it uses machine learning to analyze traffic patterns and recommend NSG rules to restrict traffic to known trusted sources. When a VM communicates with a malicious IP, adaptive network hardening can automatically create a deny rule in the NSG to block outbound traffic to that IP, reducing the attack surface without manual intervention.
What should I do if I get this SC-200 question wrong?
Review adaptive network hardening, then practise related SC-200 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Adaptive network hardening
About these practice questions
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Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on SC-200
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 security team uses Microsoft Defender for Cloud to protect Azure virtual machines. They notice that a VM is generating alerts for unusual outbound connections. The team wants to use a Defender for Cloud feature that learns the VM's typical network behavior and provides recommendations to tighten network security group rules, while also alerting on suspicious deviations. Which feature should they enable?
medium- ✓ A.Adaptive network hardening
- B.Just-In-Time VM access
- C.File integrity monitoring
- D.Vulnerability scanning
Why A: Adaptive network hardening (ANH) is the correct feature because it uses machine learning to learn a VM's typical traffic patterns (including outbound connections), then analyzes the current Network Security Group (NSG) rules against those learned patterns. It provides recommendations to tighten NSG rules to allow only the traffic that is actually used, and it generates security alerts when it detects deviations from the learned baseline, such as unusual outbound connections.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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