The answer is Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention (DLP). This is the correct solution because DLP policies are specifically designed to detect sensitive information like social security numbers in outgoing emails and automatically block transmission, while also supporting user override through policy tips that allow employees to submit a business justification and bypass the block when necessary. On the SC-900 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how DLP balances security controls with operational flexibility—a common trap is confusing DLP with Microsoft Purview Information Protection, which focuses on classification and labeling rather than blocking actions. Remember that DLP is the enforcement engine for data in motion, while Information Protection handles static labels. A helpful memory tip: DLP stands for "Data Loss Prevention," and the key word is "Prevention"—it actively blocks, but with an override option for legitimate business needs.
SC-900 Practice Question: Describe the capabilities of Microsoft compliance solutions
This SC-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe the capabilities of microsoft compliance solutions. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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. The compliance team needs to create a policy that automatically blocks outgoing emails that contain personally identifiable information (PII) such as social security numbers. However, they want to allow users to override the block with a business justification if necessary. Which Microsoft Purview solution should they configure?
DLP is designed to prevent accidental sharing of sensitive data by detecting and blocking content in email and other locations, with options for user override.
B
Communication Compliance
Why wrong: Communication Compliance focuses on detecting and remediating inappropriate messages (e.g., offensive language) rather than blocking PII in outbound emails.
C
Records Management
Why wrong: Records Management handles retention and disposal of records, not blocking of sensitive data in transit.
D
Audit
Why wrong: Audit logs user and admin activities but does not block content or provide override capabilities.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
Data Loss Prevention (DLP) in Microsoft Purview is designed to detect and protect sensitive information, such as social security numbers, by automatically blocking outgoing emails that contain PII. DLP policies support user override with a business justification through policy tips and allow overrides, enabling compliance teams to balance security with business needs.
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.
✓
Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
Why this is correct
DLP is designed to prevent accidental sharing of sensitive data by detecting and blocking content in email and other locations, with options for user override.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Communication Compliance
Why it's wrong here
Communication Compliance focuses on detecting and remediating inappropriate messages (e.g., offensive language) rather than blocking PII in outbound emails.
✗
Records Management
Why it's wrong here
Records Management handles retention and disposal of records, not blocking of sensitive data in transit.
✗
Audit
Why it's wrong here
Audit logs user and admin activities but does not block content or provide override capabilities.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse Communication Compliance with DLP because both involve monitoring communications, but Communication Compliance is for policy violations and insider risk, not for automated blocking of sensitive data with user overrides.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DLP policies use sensitive information types (e.g., U.S. Social Security Number pattern matching) and conditions to evaluate email content, headers, and attachments. When a policy is triggered, the transport rule engine in Exchange Online can block the message and display a policy tip with an override option, which logs the user's justification for compliance auditing. In a real-world scenario, a healthcare organization might use DLP to block emails containing patient health information (PHI) while allowing clinicians to override with a business reason for urgent care coordination.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this SC-900 question in full detail.
Describe the capabilities of Microsoft compliance solutions — This question tests Describe the capabilities of Microsoft compliance solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Data Loss Prevention (DLP) — Data Loss Prevention (DLP) in Microsoft Purview is designed to detect and protect sensitive information, such as social security numbers, by automatically blocking outgoing emails that contain PII. DLP policies support user override with a business justification through policy tips and allow overrides, enabling compliance teams to balance security with business needs.
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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