- A
The customer
Why wrong: In IaaS, the customer does not have physical access to the data center and is not responsible for the physical infrastructure. The customer's responsibility starts at the operating system level.
- B
Microsoft
For IaaS, Microsoft is responsible for the physical data center, including physical security, hardware maintenance, and network infrastructure. This is a core tenet of the shared responsibility model.
- C
Both the customer and Microsoft equally
Why wrong: Responsibilities are divided, not shared equally. Microsoft handles the physical layer; the customer handles the OS, apps, and data. Responsibility is not 50/50.
- D
Neither – physical security is no longer needed in the cloud
Why wrong: Physical security remains critical, but it is the provider's responsibility. The statement 'no longer needed' is incorrect; security is still essential, just handled differently.
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. 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 hosts a line-of-business application on an Azure virtual machine. The IT team is responsible for configuring the operating system, installing security updates, and managing the application code. An auditor asks who is responsible for the physical security of the data center where the virtual machine runs. According to the shared responsibility model for cloud services, who is responsible?
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
Microsoft
Under the shared responsibility model, Microsoft is responsible for the physical security of its Azure data centers, including access controls, surveillance, and environmental safeguards. The customer is responsible for securing the virtual machine's operating system, applications, and data, but not the physical infrastructure. Therefore, Microsoft retains responsibility for physical security even when the customer manages the guest OS and application.
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.
- ✗
The customer
Why it's wrong here
In IaaS, the customer does not have physical access to the data center and is not responsible for the physical infrastructure. The customer's responsibility starts at the operating system level.
- ✓
Microsoft
Why this is correct
For IaaS, Microsoft is responsible for the physical data center, including physical security, hardware maintenance, and network infrastructure. This is a core tenet of the shared responsibility model.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Both the customer and Microsoft equally
Why it's wrong here
Responsibilities are divided, not shared equally. Microsoft handles the physical layer; the customer handles the OS, apps, and data. Responsibility is not 50/50.
- ✗
Neither – physical security is no longer needed in the cloud
Why it's wrong here
Physical security remains critical, but it is the provider's responsibility. The statement 'no longer needed' is incorrect; security is still essential, just handled differently.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates mistakenly think the customer is responsible for all security when they manage the OS and application, but physical security always remains the provider's responsibility under the shared responsibility model.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The shared responsibility model is defined by the type of cloud service (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS). For IaaS like Azure VMs, Microsoft manages the physical host, network, and storage infrastructure, while the customer manages the guest OS, applications, and data. This division is codified in Microsoft's documentation and contractual agreements, ensuring that physical security controls (e.g., biometric access, CCTV, and redundant power) are Microsoft's obligation regardless of customer management of the VM.
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.
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Describe the concepts of security, compliance, and identity — study guide chapter
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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 — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Microsoft — Under the shared responsibility model, Microsoft is responsible for the physical security of its Azure data centers, including access controls, surveillance, and environmental safeguards. The customer is responsible for securing the virtual machine's operating system, applications, and data, but not the physical infrastructure. Therefore, Microsoft retains responsibility for physical security even when the customer manages the guest OS and application.
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.
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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.
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