- A
Defense in depth
Correct. Defense in depth employs overlapping layers of security controls to protect assets and ensure resilience against attacks.
- B
Zero Trust
Why wrong: Zero Trust is a security model that focuses on verifying every request as though it originates from an untrusted network, but the scenario does not mention the core pillars of Zero Trust (verify explicitly, least privilege, assume breach). It simply lists multiple layers.
- C
Least privilege
Why wrong: Least privilege is about providing users only the minimum access needed to perform their jobs, not about multiple defensive layers.
- D
CIA triad
Why wrong: The CIA triad (Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability) is a set of security objectives, not a strategy for implementing multiple layers of control.
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. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 implements a security strategy that includes multiple layers of controls: a perimeter firewall, an intrusion detection system, endpoint antivirus software, and multi-factor authentication for user access. The goal is that if one layer fails, another layer is in place to prevent or mitigate an attack. Which security principle does this approach best represent?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
Defense in depth
Defense in depth is a security strategy that layers independent defensive mechanisms so that if one layer fails, another layer is already in place to prevent or mitigate an attack. The scenario explicitly describes multiple layers (firewall, IDS, endpoint antivirus, MFA) working together, which is the core definition of defense in depth. This approach ensures no single point of failure can compromise the entire security posture.
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.
- ✓
Defense in depth
Why this is correct
Correct. Defense in depth employs overlapping layers of security controls to protect assets and ensure resilience against attacks.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Zero Trust
Why it's wrong here
Zero Trust is a security model that focuses on verifying every request as though it originates from an untrusted network, but the scenario does not mention the core pillars of Zero Trust (verify explicitly, least privilege, assume breach). It simply lists multiple layers.
- ✗
Least privilege
Why it's wrong here
Least privilege is about providing users only the minimum access needed to perform their jobs, not about multiple defensive layers.
- ✗
CIA triad
Why it's wrong here
The CIA triad (Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability) is a set of security objectives, not a strategy for implementing multiple layers of control.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'Defense in depth' with 'Zero Trust' because both involve multiple security controls, but Zero Trust is specifically about eliminating implicit trust and verifying every access request, not about layering defenses as a fail-safe mechanism.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
Zero Trust is a security model that focuses on verifying every request as though it originates from an untrusted network, but the scenario does not mention the core pillars of Zero Trust (verify explicitly, least privilege, assume breach). It simply lists multiple layers.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Defense in depth is often implemented using a 'castle-and-moat' approach with overlapping controls at the network, host, application, and data layers. For example, a perimeter firewall (network layer) might block malicious traffic, but if an attacker bypasses it via a VPN, an intrusion detection system (IDS) at the host layer can detect anomalous behavior, and endpoint antivirus can quarantine the payload. This layered redundancy is critical in real-world scenarios like a supply chain attack, where a single compromised vendor credential might bypass MFA but still be caught by endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools.
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: Defense in depth — Defense in depth is a security strategy that layers independent defensive mechanisms so that if one layer fails, another layer is already in place to prevent or mitigate an attack. The scenario explicitly describes multiple layers (firewall, IDS, endpoint antivirus, MFA) working together, which is the core definition of defense in depth. This approach ensures no single point of failure can compromise the entire security posture.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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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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