- A
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Why wrong: Defender for Endpoint protects endpoints (workstations, servers) from malware and provides EDR capabilities. It does not scan files in SharePoint Online or OneDrive.
- B
Microsoft Defender for Identity
Why wrong: Defender for Identity monitors on-premises Active Directory for advanced threats like pass-the-hash. It does not assess files in cloud storage.
- C
Microsoft Defender for Office 365
Defender for Office 365 includes Safe Attachments for SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams, which scans and blocks malicious files in those locations. It also provides Safe Links and anti-phishing protection.
- D
Microsoft Defender for Cloud
Why wrong: Defender for Cloud provides cloud security posture management and advanced threat protection for Azure, on-premises, and other clouds. It does not directly scan files in SharePoint/OneDrive.
Quick Answer
The answer is Microsoft Defender for Office 365. This is correct because its Safe Attachments feature for SharePoint, OneDrive, and Microsoft Teams automatically scans files uploaded to these document libraries, using advanced threat detection to identify ransomware and other malware. If a file is found to be malicious, it is blocked and held in quarantine until proven safe, directly matching the scenario’s requirement to scan and hold files. On the SC-900 exam, this question tests your understanding of how Microsoft Defender for Office 365 extends protection beyond email to collaboration platforms, and a common trap is confusing it with Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps or Microsoft Purview. Remember that Safe Attachments is the specific component that handles file scanning in SharePoint and OneDrive, while Defender for Cloud Apps focuses on behavioral analytics and shadow IT. A useful memory tip: think of “Safe Attachments” as the gatekeeper that checks every file’s “ID” before letting it into your document libraries.
SC-900 Practice Question: Describe the capabilities of Microsoft security solutions
This SC-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe the capabilities of microsoft security solutions. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 uses Microsoft 365 and stores many business documents in SharePoint Online and OneDrive. The security team wants to automatically detect and block malicious files (e.g., those containing ransomware or other malware) that are uploaded to these document libraries. Files should be scanned and held until proven safe. Which Microsoft security solution should they enable to provide this protection?
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 Defender for Office 365
Microsoft Defender for Office 365 includes Safe Attachments for SharePoint, OneDrive, and Microsoft Teams, which automatically scans files uploaded to these document libraries. If a file is detected as malicious (e.g., ransomware or malware), it is blocked and held in quarantine until it is proven safe, providing the exact protection described in the scenario.
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.
- ✗
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Why it's wrong here
Defender for Endpoint protects endpoints (workstations, servers) from malware and provides EDR capabilities. It does not scan files in SharePoint Online or OneDrive.
- ✗
Microsoft Defender for Identity
Why it's wrong here
Defender for Identity monitors on-premises Active Directory for advanced threats like pass-the-hash. It does not assess files in cloud storage.
- ✓
Microsoft Defender for Office 365
Why this is correct
Defender for Office 365 includes Safe Attachments for SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams, which scans and blocks malicious files in those locations. It also provides Safe Links and anti-phishing protection.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Microsoft Defender for Cloud
Why it's wrong here
Defender for Cloud provides cloud security posture management and advanced threat protection for Azure, on-premises, and other clouds. It does not directly scan files in SharePoint/OneDrive.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Microsoft Defender for Office 365 with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, assuming endpoint protection covers cloud storage scanning, but Safe Attachments is a specific feature of Defender for Office 365 that protects SharePoint and OneDrive at the file level.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Safe Attachments for SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams uses the same detonation chamber technology as Exchange Online Protection (EOP) to open and analyze files in a sandboxed environment before releasing them. When a file is uploaded, it is held in a 'pending' state and a hash is checked against known threat intelligence; if the file is determined to be malicious, it is automatically moved to quarantine and a policy-based alert is triggered. This process is transparent to end users, who see a warning if they attempt to open a file that is still being scanned.
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
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SC-900 question test?
Describe the capabilities of Microsoft security solutions — This question tests Describe the capabilities of Microsoft security solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Microsoft Defender for Office 365 — Microsoft Defender for Office 365 includes Safe Attachments for SharePoint, OneDrive, and Microsoft Teams, which automatically scans files uploaded to these document libraries. If a file is detected as malicious (e.g., ransomware or malware), it is blocked and held in quarantine until it is proven safe, providing the exact protection described in the scenario.
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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