The answer is Azure Policy’s DeployIfNotExists effect. This effect is correct because it automatically remediates non-compliant Azure resources by deploying missing configurations—such as enabling diagnostic settings—whenever a resource is created or updated, without requiring manual intervention. It works by evaluating resources against a policy definition and, if the specified configuration is absent, triggering a deployment task to apply the required settings. On the SC-200 exam, this concept tests your understanding of how Microsoft Defender for Cloud enforces security baselines through policy-driven automatic remediation, often appearing in scenario-based questions about compliance automation. A common trap is confusing DeployIfNotExists with the AuditIfNotExists effect, which only reports non-compliance without fixing it. Memory tip: think “Deploy = Do it,” meaning the policy actively deploys the missing configuration to make the resource compliant.
SC-200 DeployIfNotExists is an Azure Policy effect. Practice Question
This SC-200 practice question tests your understanding of mitigate threats using microsoft defender for cloud. 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. A key principle to apply: deployIfNotExists is an Azure Policy effect.. 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 and wants to automatically remediate non-compliant Azure resources by deploying missing configurations (e.g., enabling diagnostics when not enabled). Which feature should they enable?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
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Azure Policy's DeployIfNotExists effect
Azure Policy's DeployIfNotExists effect is the correct feature because it automatically remediates non-compliant Azure resources by deploying missing configurations, such as enabling diagnostic settings, when the resource is created or updated. This effect evaluates resources against a policy definition and, if the specified configuration does not exist, triggers a deployment task to apply the required settings. In Defender for Cloud, this is used to enforce security baselines by automatically correcting non-compliant resources without manual intervention.
Key principle: DeployIfNotExists is an Azure Policy effect.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Azure Policy's DeployIfNotExists effect
Why this is correct
Correct: DeployIfNotExists automatically deploys required configurations when a resource is non-compliant, enabling auto-remediation.
Related concept
DeployIfNotExists is an Azure Policy effect.
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Just-In-Time VM access
Why it's wrong here
JIT controls network access to VMs, not deployment of missing resource settings.
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Adaptive network hardening
Why it's wrong here
Adaptive network hardening provides recommendations for tightening NSG rules, not automatic deployment of baseline configurations.
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File integrity monitoring
Why it's wrong here
File integrity monitoring tracks changes to files on VMs, not resource compliance.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse 'automatic remediation' with security controls like JIT or network hardening, but the question specifically asks about deploying missing configurations, which is a policy-based remediation feature, not a threat mitigation control.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The DeployIfNotExists effect works by associating a policy definition with a managed identity and a deployment template; when a resource is evaluated and found non-compliant, Azure Policy triggers a remediation task that uses the template to deploy the missing configuration. This effect supports idempotent deployments, meaning if the configuration already exists, no action is taken, avoiding duplicate or conflicting changes. In real-world scenarios, this is critical for ensuring that all new storage accounts automatically have diagnostic logging enabled, meeting compliance requirements like SOC 2 or PCI DSS without manual oversight.
KKey Concepts to Remember
DeployIfNotExists is an Azure Policy effect.
It automatically deploys a specified ARM template when non-compliance is detected.
DINE policies require a managed identity for deployment operations.
It is used for auto-remediation of missing configurations or settings.
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
DeployIfNotExists is an Azure Policy effect.
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.
Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender for Cloud — This question tests Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender for Cloud — DeployIfNotExists is an Azure Policy effect..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Azure Policy's DeployIfNotExists effect — Azure Policy's DeployIfNotExists effect is the correct feature because it automatically remediates non-compliant Azure resources by deploying missing configurations, such as enabling diagnostic settings, when the resource is created or updated. This effect evaluates resources against a policy definition and, if the specified configuration does not exist, triggers a deployment task to apply the required settings. In Defender for Cloud, this is used to enforce security baselines by automatically correcting non-compliant resources without manual intervention.
What should I do if I get this SC-200 question wrong?
Review deployIfNotExists is an Azure Policy effect., then practise related SC-200 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
DeployIfNotExists is an Azure Policy effect.
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