- A
Auto-provisioning of the Log Analytics agent
Why wrong: The Log Analytics agent collects logs and events but does not perform vulnerability scanning for missing updates.
- B
Auto-provisioning of the vulnerability assessment solution
This setting automatically deploys a vulnerability assessment agent (e.g., Qualys or Microsoft built-in) to new VMs, ensuring continuous scanning.
- C
Automatic provisioning of all security agents
Why wrong: While Defender for Cloud can auto-provision several agents, the specific feature for vulnerability assessment must be enabled separately.
- D
Azure Policy assignment for Update Management
Why wrong: Azure Update Management focuses on patching, not vulnerability assessment; it does not automatically install a vulnerability scanning solution.
Quick Answer
The answer is to enable auto-provisioning of the vulnerability assessment solution in Defender for Cloud. This is correct because when enhanced security features are turned on, Defender for Cloud offers a specific auto-provisioning setting that automatically deploys the built-in vulnerability assessment extension—powered by Qualys—to all new and existing Azure VMs. This ensures continuous, agentless vulnerability scanning without requiring manual installation, directly addressing the need for auto-provisioning vulnerability assessment on Azure VMs. On the Microsoft Security Operations Analyst SC-200 exam, this concept tests your understanding of Defender for Cloud’s configuration options, often appearing as a scenario where you must distinguish between general auto-provisioning for the Log Analytics agent and the dedicated vulnerability assessment toggle. A common trap is confusing this with enabling just the “Vulnerability assessment for machines” recommendation, which only enables scanning on existing VMs, not auto-deployment to new ones. Memory tip: think “auto-deploy Qualys” to remember the specific setting for new VMs.
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. 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. 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.
An organization has enabled Microsoft Defender for Cloud's enhanced security features. They want to ensure that newly provisioned Azure virtual machines automatically have the built-in vulnerability assessment solution installed. Which configuration should they enable in Defender for Cloud?
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
Auto-provisioning of the vulnerability assessment solution
Option B is correct because Microsoft Defender for Cloud's enhanced security features include a dedicated auto-provisioning setting specifically for the built-in vulnerability assessment solution (powered by Qualys). When enabled, this setting automatically deploys the vulnerability assessment extension to all new and existing Azure VMs, ensuring continuous vulnerability scanning without manual intervention.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Auto-provisioning of the Log Analytics agent
Why it's wrong here
The Log Analytics agent collects logs and events but does not perform vulnerability scanning for missing updates.
- ✓
Auto-provisioning of the vulnerability assessment solution
Why this is correct
This setting automatically deploys a vulnerability assessment agent (e.g., Qualys or Microsoft built-in) to new VMs, ensuring continuous scanning.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Automatic provisioning of all security agents
Why it's wrong here
While Defender for Cloud can auto-provision several agents, the specific feature for vulnerability assessment must be enabled separately.
- ✗
Azure Policy assignment for Update Management
Why it's wrong here
Azure Update Management focuses on patching, not vulnerability assessment; it does not automatically install a vulnerability scanning solution.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the Log Analytics agent's auto-provisioning (which enables data collection for security alerts) with the separate vulnerability assessment auto-provisioning, assuming that log collection alone covers vulnerability scanning, when in fact a dedicated extension is required for that purpose.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The built-in vulnerability assessment solution in Defender for Cloud uses the Qualys agent, which is deployed as a VM extension. Once installed, it performs continuous scans of the VM's OS and installed software, reporting findings to Defender for Cloud's Secure Score and recommendations. A subtle behavior is that this auto-provisioning setting can be applied at the subscription level via the Defender for Cloud 'Environment settings' blade, and it supports both Azure and hybrid machines connected via Azure Arc.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
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
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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.
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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 — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Auto-provisioning of the vulnerability assessment solution — Option B is correct because Microsoft Defender for Cloud's enhanced security features include a dedicated auto-provisioning setting specifically for the built-in vulnerability assessment solution (powered by Qualys). When enabled, this setting automatically deploys the vulnerability assessment extension to all new and existing Azure VMs, ensuring continuous vulnerability scanning without manual intervention.
What should I do if I get this SC-200 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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