Question 1easymultiple choice
Full question →easymultiple choiceObjective-mapped
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?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Best answer
Defense in depth
Correct. Defense in depth employs overlapping layers of security controls to protect assets and ensure resilience against attacks.
B
Distractor review
Zero Trust
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
Distractor review
Least privilege
Least privilege is about providing users only the minimum access needed to perform their jobs, not about multiple defensive layers.
D
Distractor review
CIA triad
The CIA triad (Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability) is a set of security objectives, not a strategy for implementing multiple layers of control.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Authentication checks who the user is.
- Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
- Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
- AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
- Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
- Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
- Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
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.
More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A company must retain all customer contracts for 10 years to comply with industry regulations. After 10 years, the contracts must be permanently deleted. Which Microsoft Purview solution should be used to automate this process?
Question 2
A company uses a cloud-based SaaS (Software as a Service) application for customer relationship management. According to the shared responsibility model, which security responsibility is primarily handled by the customer?
Question 3
A company runs a mix of on-premises servers and Azure virtual machines. They deploy Microsoft Defender for Endpoint on all servers. The security team wants to create custom queries to hunt for a specific attack pattern that involves a sequence of events across multiple machines, such as a PowerShell script being downloaded and then executed on several servers. They need to write their own detection rules based on advanced hunting data. Which Microsoft 365 Defender capability should they use?
Question 4
A company runs a consumer-facing e-commerce website and wants to allow customers to sign in using their existing social media accounts such as Google, Facebook, or LinkedIn. Which Microsoft Entra ID solution should they implement?
Question 5
A company has a hybrid identity environment with Active Directory synchronizing to Microsoft Entra ID. They want users to be able to reset their own on-premises passwords via the cloud SSPR portal. What is the minimum license required for this capability?
Question 6
A company uses a cloud-based Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system that is delivered as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). According to the shared responsibility model, which security responsibility is primarily handled by the customer?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SC-900 question test?
Authentication checks who the user is.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Defense in depth — Defense in depth is a security strategy that uses multiple layers of defense to protect information and systems. If one layer is breached, subsequent layers prevent further compromise. The scenario describes exactly this layered approach. Zero Trust is a model that assumes breach and verifies every access request explicitly, but it is not characterized simply by multiple layers; it also includes concepts like least privilege and micro-segmentation. Least privilege is about granting only necessary permissions. The CIA triad covers confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Therefore, defense in depth is the correct concept.
What should I do if I get this SC-900 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
Discussion
Loading comments…
Sign in to join the discussion.