The answer is enabling Just-in-Time (JIT) VM access for all virtual machines, as this action most effectively improves the Secure Score by reducing the attack surface. JIT VM access locks down inbound traffic to Azure VMs, allowing only authorized users to open specific management ports like RDP 3389 or SSH 22 for a limited time window, which directly eliminates persistent exposure that attackers can exploit. On the SC-200 exam, this tests your understanding of how Defender for Cloud’s security controls map to Secure Score recommendations—JIT is a high-impact control that can significantly boost your score when implemented. A common trap is confusing JIT with network security groups (NSGs) alone; remember that JIT dynamically manages access, while static NSG rules still leave ports open. Memory tip: JIT = Just In Time, meaning ports are only open when needed, so your score improves because your attack surface shrinks.
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 in Microsoft Defender for Cloud notices that the Secure Score is lower than expected. Which action would most effectively improve the Secure Score by reducing the attack surface?
Enable Just-in-Time (JIT) VM access for all virtual machines.
JIT is a built-in recommendation in Defender for Cloud's Secure Score controls; enabling it improves the score and reduces attack surface.
B
Configure auditing on all SQL databases.
Why wrong: While SQL auditing is a security best practice, it is not part of the core Secure Score controls that affect the score in the default dashboard.
C
Disable all low-severity security alerts in the subscription.
Why wrong: Disabling alerts does not improve Secure Score; it only hides alerts.
D
Install EDR agents on all on-premises servers.
Why wrong: EDR installation is not a Secure Score control in Defender for Cloud; it is a feature of Microsoft Defender for Endpoint.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable Just-in-Time (JIT) VM access for all virtual machines.
Enabling Just-in-Time (JIT) VM access reduces the attack surface by locking down inbound traffic to Azure VMs, allowing only authorized users to open specific ports (e.g., RDP 3389, SSH 22) for a limited time. This directly improves the Secure Score because Microsoft Defender for Cloud includes JIT recommendations as a high-impact security control, and implementing it reduces the number of exposed management ports that attackers can target.
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.
✓
Enable Just-in-Time (JIT) VM access for all virtual machines.
Why this is correct
JIT is a built-in recommendation in Defender for Cloud's Secure Score controls; enabling it improves the score and reduces attack surface.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Configure auditing on all SQL databases.
Why it's wrong here
While SQL auditing is a security best practice, it is not part of the core Secure Score controls that affect the score in the default dashboard.
✗
Disable all low-severity security alerts in the subscription.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling alerts does not improve Secure Score; it only hides alerts.
✗
Install EDR agents on all on-premises servers.
Why it's wrong here
EDR installation is not a Secure Score control in Defender for Cloud; it is a feature of Microsoft Defender for Endpoint.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'reducing the attack surface' with 'improving detection' (e.g., enabling auditing or installing EDR agents), but the Secure Score's attack surface reduction category specifically rewards proactive controls like JIT that limit exposure, not reactive monitoring or alert management.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Just-in-Time VM access works by integrating with Azure Network Security Groups (NSGs) and Azure Firewall to dynamically create allow rules for specific source IPs, ports, and protocols, which are automatically removed after the approved session expires. This reduces the attack surface by eliminating always-open management ports, a common vector for brute-force attacks and ransomware. In a real-world scenario, a company with 100 VMs exposing RDP to the internet could reduce its attack surface by over 90% by enabling JIT, directly increasing the Secure Score by several points.
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
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 — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable Just-in-Time (JIT) VM access for all virtual machines. — Enabling Just-in-Time (JIT) VM access reduces the attack surface by locking down inbound traffic to Azure VMs, allowing only authorized users to open specific ports (e.g., RDP 3389, SSH 22) for a limited time. This directly improves the Secure Score because Microsoft Defender for Cloud includes JIT recommendations as a high-impact security control, and implementing it reduces the number of exposed management ports that attackers can target.
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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