The answer is on-premises servers connected via Azure Arc, along with Azure virtual machines and SQL servers. This is correct because Microsoft Defender for Cloud’s workload protection plans extend beyond native Azure resources to hybrid environments, using Azure Arc to bridge on-premises servers into the same security posture. The plans rely on the Microsoft Monitoring Agent or Azure Monitor Agent to collect security events and network data, enabling features like just-in-time VM access, file integrity monitoring, and vulnerability assessments across both cloud and on-premises workloads. On the SC-200 exam, this question tests your understanding that Defender for Cloud is not limited to Azure-only resources—a common trap is assuming only Azure VMs are supported, when in fact Arc-connected servers, SQL databases, and storage accounts are also covered. A memory tip: think “Arc bridges the gap”—if a server can report to Azure via Arc, Defender for Cloud can protect it.
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.
Which of the following resource types are supported by Microsoft Defender for Cloud's workload protection plans? (Select all that apply.) (Choose 3.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Azure virtual machines
Microsoft Defender for Cloud's workload protection plans support Azure virtual machines by providing integrated threat detection and advanced security features like just-in-time VM access, file integrity monitoring, and vulnerability assessments. These capabilities leverage the Microsoft Monitoring Agent or Azure Monitor Agent to analyze security events and detect suspicious activities within the VM's operating system and network traffic.
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.
✓
Azure virtual machines
Why this is correct
Defender for Servers plan protects Azure VMs, including threat detection and vulnerability assessment.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Azure SQL databases
Why this is correct
Defender for SQL plan protects Azure SQL databases, including advanced threat protection and vulnerability assessment.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
On-premises servers connected via Azure Arc
Why this is correct
Defender for Servers extends to hybrid environments through Azure Arc-enabled servers.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Azure Logic Apps
Why it's wrong here
Azure Logic Apps is not a direct workload protection target; Defender for Cloud covers App Service, but not Logic Apps.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume all Azure resource types are covered by the same workload protection plan, but Microsoft specifically scopes these plans to compute, data, and hybrid workloads, excluding serverless or integration services like Logic Apps which require separate Defender plans.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Defender for Cloud's workload protection plans use a combination of agent-based and agentless monitoring: for Azure VMs, the Log Analytics agent collects security events and performance data, while for Azure SQL databases, it leverages SQL Advanced Threat Protection to detect SQL injection and anomalous access patterns. For on-premises servers via Azure Arc, the Azure Connected Machine agent enables the same security policies and threat detection as native Azure VMs, ensuring consistent protection across hybrid environments. This integration allows Defender for Cloud to correlate signals across workloads, such as detecting a compromised VM attempting to exfiltrate data from a SQL database.
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: Azure virtual machines — Microsoft Defender for Cloud's workload protection plans support Azure virtual machines by providing integrated threat detection and advanced security features like just-in-time VM access, file integrity monitoring, and vulnerability assessments. These capabilities leverage the Microsoft Monitoring Agent or Azure Monitor Agent to analyze security events and detect suspicious activities within the VM's operating system and network traffic.
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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Question Discussion
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