Understanding Retention Policy Effect on SharePoint Content
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
{
"RetentionPolicyName": "Financial Retention",
"Locations": ["SharePoint", "OneDrive", "Exchange"],
"RetentionAction": "Retain",
"RetentionDuration": "7 years",
"RetentionType": "CreationAge",
"EndAction": "Delete"
}A compliance administrator creates a retention policy as shown in the exhibit. What is the overall effect of this policy on content in SharePoint Online?
Quick Answer
The answer is that content is retained for 7 years and then automatically deleted. This outcome is determined by the retention policy’s two key actions: the 'RetentionAction' set to 'Retain' means the content is preserved for the specified duration from its creation date, while the 'EndAction' set to 'Delete' triggers automatic removal once that period expires. On the SC-900 exam, this question tests your understanding of how retention policies govern SharePoint Online content lifecycle, often appearing as a scenario where you must distinguish between indefinite retention, immediate deletion, and a timed retain-then-delete cycle. A common trap is assuming that a retention policy permanently locks content, but the 'EndAction' field explicitly controls what happens after the retention period ends. For a quick memory tip, think of the policy as a “hold and release” mechanism: the content is held for the retention window, then released for deletion when the timer runs out.
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse 'retention' with 'deletion' timing—candidates often think retention policies only preserve content indefinitely or that deletion happens immediately at the end of the period, but Microsoft's retention policies enforce a 'retain then delete' lifecycle by default.
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
✓
Content is retained for 7 years and then automatically deleted.
The retention policy in the exhibit is configured to retain content for 7 years and then delete it. This means content in SharePoint Online will be kept for the specified duration and automatically purged at the end of the retention period, which matches option D.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Content is deleted immediately after 7 years from creation.
Why it's wrong here
It is retained for 7 years, then deleted.
- ✗
Content is automatically labeled after 7 years.
Why it's wrong here
No labeling is specified.
- ✗
Content is retained indefinitely after 7 years.
Why it's wrong here
The 'EndAction' is 'Delete', not 'Keep'.
- ✓
Content is retained for 7 years and then automatically deleted.
Why this is correct
The policy combines retention with a delete action at the end.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Compliance Concepts
Key term
Policy
A policy is a set of rules or guidelines that defines how an organization manages, secures, and operates its IT systems and services.
Key term
SharePoint Online
SharePoint Online is a cloud-based collaboration platform from Microsoft that lets teams create, store, organize, and share content securely from anywhere.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on SC-900
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Refer to the exhibit. An administrator created a retention label with the settings shown. What is the behavior of this label when applied to content?
medium- A.It retains content for 5 years and then applies a disposition review.
- B.It marks content as a regulatory record and prevents deletion.
- ✓ C.It retains content for 7 years and then automatically deletes it.
- D.It retains content indefinitely with no deletion.
Why C: The retention label is configured with a retention period of 7 years and an action of 'Delete items automatically when the retention period ends.' Since no disposition review is enabled, the content will be automatically deleted after 7 years. This matches option C exactly.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.