- A
Least privilege
Why wrong: Least privilege is the principle of granting users only the minimum permissions necessary to perform their tasks. While important, the described layered controls do not primarily limit permissions; they add multiple defensive barriers.
- B
Defense in depth
Correct. Defense in depth uses multiple, overlapping security controls (firewalls, IPS, antivirus, encryption) so that failure of one does not compromise the entire security posture. This is exactly what the company is implementing.
- C
Zero Trust
Why wrong: Zero Trust is a security model based on 'never trust, always verify' and assumes breach. It focuses on continuous verification of every access request, not just deploying layered controls. While defense in depth can be part of a Zero Trust architecture, the scenario describes only the layered approach, not the full Zero Trust model.
- D
Separation of duties
Why wrong: Separation of duties prevents a single person from having too much control over a critical process (e.g., one person requests a purchase, another approves). The scenario describes technical security layers, not task separation among people.
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 secures its network by deploying a firewall at the perimeter, an intrusion prevention system on internal segments, endpoint antivirus on all workstations, and encrypting sensitive data at rest and in transit. This layered approach ensures that if one control fails, others still provide protection. Which security concept does this strategy 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
The strategy described uses multiple independent security controls—firewall, IPS, endpoint antivirus, and encryption—so that if one layer fails, others continue to protect the asset. This is the core definition of defense in depth, which creates overlapping layers of protection rather than relying on a single point of failure.
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.
- ✗
Least privilege
Why it's wrong here
Least privilege is the principle of granting users only the minimum permissions necessary to perform their tasks. While important, the described layered controls do not primarily limit permissions; they add multiple defensive barriers.
- ✓
Defense in depth
Why this is correct
Correct. Defense in depth uses multiple, overlapping security controls (firewalls, IPS, antivirus, encryption) so that failure of one does not compromise the entire security posture. This is exactly what the company is implementing.
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 based on 'never trust, always verify' and assumes breach. It focuses on continuous verification of every access request, not just deploying layered controls. While defense in depth can be part of a Zero Trust architecture, the scenario describes only the layered approach, not the full Zero Trust model.
- ✗
Separation of duties
Why it's wrong here
Separation of duties prevents a single person from having too much control over a critical process (e.g., one person requests a purchase, another approves). The scenario describes technical security layers, not task separation among people.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse Zero Trust with defense in depth because both involve multiple controls, but Zero Trust specifically requires identity-based verification and micro-segmentation rather than relying on layered perimeter defenses.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
Zero Trust is a security model based on 'never trust, always verify' and assumes breach. It focuses on continuous verification of every access request, not just deploying layered controls. While defense in depth can be part of a Zero Trust architecture, the scenario describes only the layered approach, not the full Zero Trust model.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Defense in depth leverages distinct security zones and control types (preventive, detective, corrective) across network, host, application, and data layers. For example, a firewall blocks unauthorized inbound traffic at the perimeter, while an IPS inspects internal traffic for anomalies, and encryption (e.g., TLS 1.3 for transit, AES-256 for data at rest) ensures confidentiality even if network controls are bypassed. This model is formalized in frameworks like NIST SP 800-53, which recommends multiple overlapping controls to achieve defense in depth.
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 healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
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: Defense in depth — The strategy described uses multiple independent security controls—firewall, IPS, endpoint antivirus, and encryption—so that if one layer fails, others continue to protect the asset. This is the core definition of defense in depth, which creates overlapping layers of protection rather than relying on a single point of failure.
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
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.