- A
Applying operating system patches to the virtual machines running the App Service
Why wrong: Incorrect. In PaaS like Azure App Service, the platform (including OS) is maintained by Microsoft, so patching is not the customer's responsibility.
- B
Configuring network security groups to filter traffic to the App Service
Why wrong: Incorrect. While customers can configure IP restrictions, the underlying network security groups and infrastructure are managed by Microsoft, so this is not fully under the customer's scope.
- C
Managing the application code and its configuration
Correct. The customer is responsible for securing their application, including code, configuration, authentication, and data handling within the app.
- D
Ensuring physical security of the Azure data centers
Why wrong: Incorrect. Physical security of data centers is always the responsibility of the cloud provider, not the customer.
SC-900 Practice Question: Describe the concepts of security, compliance, and identity
This SC-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe the concepts of security, compliance, and identity. 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.
A company deploys a custom application on Azure App Service (PaaS). Which of the following security responsibilities falls completely under the customer's scope according to the shared responsibility model?
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
Managing the application code and its configuration
In the shared responsibility model for PaaS like Azure App Service, the customer is responsible for managing the application code and its configuration, including secrets, connection strings, and authentication settings. Microsoft manages the underlying platform, including the OS and runtime, so the customer's scope is limited to what they deploy and configure within the service.
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.
- ✗
Applying operating system patches to the virtual machines running the App Service
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. In PaaS like Azure App Service, the platform (including OS) is maintained by Microsoft, so patching is not the customer's responsibility.
- ✗
Configuring network security groups to filter traffic to the App Service
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. While customers can configure IP restrictions, the underlying network security groups and infrastructure are managed by Microsoft, so this is not fully under the customer's scope.
- ✓
Managing the application code and its configuration
Why this is correct
Correct. The customer is responsible for securing their application, including code, configuration, authentication, and data handling within the app.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Ensuring physical security of the Azure data centers
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Physical security of data centers is always the responsibility of the cloud provider, not the customer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse PaaS with IaaS and assume they must manage OS patches or NSGs, but in PaaS, those are abstracted and Microsoft's responsibility, while the customer's focus is on application-level security.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure App Service runs on a multi-tenant platform where Microsoft manages the host OS, runtime stack, and infrastructure patching. The customer's security boundary includes the application code, app settings (e.g., connection strings stored in Azure Key Vault), and authentication/authorization configurations (e.g., Azure AD integration). A real-world scenario: if a customer fails to rotate a database connection string in App Service configuration, that is their responsibility, while Microsoft automatically applies a critical OS patch to the underlying worker without customer action.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Describe the concepts of security, compliance, and identity — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Describe the concepts of security, compliance, and identity practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All SC-900 questions
1,411 questions across all exam domains
- →
Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals SC-900 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
SC-900 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related SC-900 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Describe the capabilities of Microsoft Entra practice questions
Practise SC-900 questions linked to Describe the capabilities of Microsoft Entra.
Describe the capabilities of Microsoft security solutions practice questions
Practise SC-900 questions linked to Describe the capabilities of Microsoft security solutions.
Describe the capabilities of Microsoft compliance solutions practice questions
Practise SC-900 questions linked to Describe the capabilities of Microsoft compliance solutions.
Describe the concepts of security, compliance, and identity practice questions
Practise SC-900 questions linked to Describe the concepts of security, compliance, and identity.
SC-900 fundamentals practice questions
Practise SC-900 questions linked to SC-900 fundamentals.
SC-900 scenario practice questions
Practise SC-900 questions linked to SC-900 scenario.
SC-900 troubleshooting practice questions
Practise SC-900 questions linked to SC-900 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free SC-900 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SC-900 question test?
Describe the concepts of security, compliance, and identity — This question tests Describe the concepts of security, compliance, and identity — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Managing the application code and its configuration — In the shared responsibility model for PaaS like Azure App Service, the customer is responsible for managing the application code and its configuration, including secrets, connection strings, and authentication settings. Microsoft manages the underlying platform, including the OS and runtime, so the customer's scope is limited to what they deploy and configure within the service.
What should I do if I get this SC-900 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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This SC-900 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SC-900 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.