- A
Configure 'Vulnerability assessment for machines' in Defender for Cloud settings
Why wrong: This setting enables the VA solution on machines that already have the agent, but it does not automatically deploy the solution to new or existing VMs.
- B
Assign an Azure Policy with DeployIfNotExists effect for the VA solution
This policy automatically deploys the VA solution (e.g., Qualys or integrated VA) to VMs that do not have it, ensuring all VMs are covered.
- C
Enable the Defender for Servers plan on the subscription
Why wrong: Enabling the Defender for Servers plan is a prerequisite, but it does not automatically deploy the VA solution to all VMs; a policy or manual action is needed.
- D
Run a PowerShell script to install the VA solution on all VMs
Why wrong: This would require manual intervention and is not a scalable automatic solution for ongoing compliance.
Quick Answer
The correct method is to assign an Azure Policy with the DeployIfNotExists effect for the vulnerability assessment solution. This approach works because DeployIfNotExists automatically evaluates all Azure virtual machines in a subscription and, when it detects a VM missing the required vulnerability assessment extension—either from Qualys or Microsoft Defender for Cloud—it triggers a remediation task to deploy the solution without any manual intervention, covering both new and existing resources. On the SC-200 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how Azure Policy enforces security baselines at scale, often appearing as a distractor against manual deployment via Azure Security Center or PowerShell scripts; a common trap is assuming a simple enablement toggle suffices, but DeployIfNotExists ensures continuous compliance through automated remediation. Remember the memory tip: "DeployIfNotExists deploys what's missing"—if the VA extension is absent, the policy fills the gap.
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. 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.
A security administrator wants to ensure that all Azure virtual machines have Microsoft Defender for Cloud's vulnerability assessment (VA) solution enabled automatically. They need to deploy the VA solution to new and existing VMs without manual intervention. Which method should they use?
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
Assign an Azure Policy with DeployIfNotExists effect for the VA solution
Option B is correct because Azure Policy with a DeployIfNotExists effect can automatically deploy the Microsoft Defender for Cloud integrated vulnerability assessment (VA) solution (Qualys or Microsoft) to both new and existing Azure VMs without manual intervention. This policy evaluates VMs that do not have the VA extension installed and triggers a remediation task to deploy it, ensuring continuous compliance across the subscription.
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.
- ✗
Configure 'Vulnerability assessment for machines' in Defender for Cloud settings
Why it's wrong here
This setting enables the VA solution on machines that already have the agent, but it does not automatically deploy the solution to new or existing VMs.
- ✓
Assign an Azure Policy with DeployIfNotExists effect for the VA solution
Why this is correct
This policy automatically deploys the VA solution (e.g., Qualys or integrated VA) to VMs that do not have it, ensuring all VMs are covered.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Enable the Defender for Servers plan on the subscription
Why it's wrong here
Enabling the Defender for Servers plan is a prerequisite, but it does not automatically deploy the VA solution to all VMs; a policy or manual action is needed.
- ✗
Run a PowerShell script to install the VA solution on all VMs
Why it's wrong here
This would require manual intervention and is not a scalable automatic solution for ongoing compliance.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse enabling the Defender for Servers plan (which only activates the feature) with the automatic deployment mechanism provided by Azure Policy, leading them to select option C instead of the correct policy-based approach.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The DeployIfNotExists policy effect uses Azure Resource Manager to evaluate VM resources and, if the 'Microsoft.Azure.Security.VulnerabilityAssessment' extension is missing, it triggers a deployment task that installs the VA agent (either Qualys or the built-in Microsoft scanner) via a linked ARM template. This policy can be assigned at management group, subscription, or resource group scope, and it integrates with Azure Policy's compliance dashboard to report non-compliant VMs. In a real-world scenario, this ensures that even VMs created through automation or ad-hoc processes are automatically covered, reducing security gaps without requiring manual oversight.
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
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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: Assign an Azure Policy with DeployIfNotExists effect for the VA solution — Option B is correct because Azure Policy with a DeployIfNotExists effect can automatically deploy the Microsoft Defender for Cloud integrated vulnerability assessment (VA) solution (Qualys or Microsoft) to both new and existing Azure VMs without manual intervention. This policy evaluates VMs that do not have the VA extension installed and triggers a remediation task to deploy it, ensuring continuous compliance across the subscription.
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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