- A
Physical security of the datacenter hosting the App Service
Why wrong: Physical security of datacenters is always the responsibility of the cloud provider (Microsoft), regardless of the service model.
- B
Patching the operating system of the App Service host machines
Why wrong: For PaaS, Microsoft manages the underlying host OS and automatically applies patches. The customer does not have access to the host OS.
- C
Managing user identities and access to the application
The customer is responsible for managing identity and access to their application, including authentication, authorization, and user roles. Microsoft provides the platform but does not control who accesses the customer's app.
- D
Network security for the Azure backbone connecting datacenters
Why wrong: Network security for the Azure backbone and physical network infrastructure is managed by Microsoft. The customer is responsible for configuring network security groups (NSGs) and application security policies.
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. 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. A key principle to apply: customer is responsible for security 'in' the cloud.. 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 web application on Azure App Service (PaaS). The application stores data in Azure SQL Database. The security team needs to identify which security responsibilities fall under the customer according to the Microsoft shared responsibility model. Which of the following is primarily the customer's responsibility for this PaaS deployment?
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 user identities and access to the application
In a PaaS deployment like Azure App Service with Azure SQL Database, the customer is responsible for managing user identities and access to the application, including authentication, authorization, and role-based access control (RBAC). Microsoft manages the underlying infrastructure, including the host OS, physical datacenter security, and network backbone, but the customer must secure application-level access and data plane operations.
Key principle: Customer is responsible for security 'in' the cloud.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Physical security of the datacenter hosting the App Service
Why it's wrong here
Physical security of datacenters is always the responsibility of the cloud provider (Microsoft), regardless of the service model.
- ✗
Patching the operating system of the App Service host machines
Why it's wrong here
For PaaS, Microsoft manages the underlying host OS and automatically applies patches. The customer does not have access to the host OS.
- ✓
Managing user identities and access to the application
Why this is correct
The customer is responsible for managing identity and access to their application, including authentication, authorization, and user roles. Microsoft provides the platform but does not control who accesses the customer's app.
Related concept
Customer is responsible for security 'in' the cloud.
- ✗
Network security for the Azure backbone connecting datacenters
Why it's wrong here
Network security for the Azure backbone and physical network infrastructure is managed by Microsoft. The customer is responsible for configuring network security groups (NSGs) and application security policies.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume PaaS means Microsoft handles all security, but the customer still owns identity and access management for the application and data, which is a frequent exam distraction.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the shared responsibility model, the customer's responsibilities for PaaS include managing application-level identity and access (e.g., Azure AD authentication, app roles, and conditional access policies), while Microsoft handles hypervisor, OS, and physical layer security. For Azure SQL Database, the customer must also manage database-level user permissions and firewall rules, but not the underlying server OS or hardware. A real-world scenario: if a customer fails to enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) for app users, they remain liable for any data breach, even though Microsoft secures the PaaS infrastructure.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Customer is responsible for security 'in' the cloud.
- Identity and access management for applications is a customer responsibility.
- PaaS abstracts underlying OS patching from the customer.
- Microsoft manages the physical security of datacenters.
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
Customer is responsible for security 'in' the cloud.
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.
Review customer is responsible for security 'in' the cloud., then practise related SC-900 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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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 — Customer is responsible for security 'in' the cloud..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Managing user identities and access to the application — In a PaaS deployment like Azure App Service with Azure SQL Database, the customer is responsible for managing user identities and access to the application, including authentication, authorization, and role-based access control (RBAC). Microsoft manages the underlying infrastructure, including the host OS, physical datacenter security, and network backbone, but the customer must secure application-level access and data plane operations.
What should I do if I get this SC-900 question wrong?
Review customer is responsible for security 'in' the cloud., then practise related SC-900 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Customer is responsible for security 'in' the cloud.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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