- A
Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
Microsoft Purview DLP policies can automatically detect sensitive data (e.g., credit card numbers) and take actions such as blocking the email and notifying the sender with a policy tip.
- B
Communication Compliance
Why wrong: Communication Compliance is used to review and analyze communications for regulatory compliance (e.g., insider trading), not to block data exfiltration in real time.
- C
Information Protection
Why wrong: Information Protection focuses on classifying data and applying sensitivity labels, but it does not enforce blocking of emails based on content; DLP provides the enforcement.
- D
Insider Risk Management
Why wrong: Insider Risk Management detects patterns of risky behavior by users, but it does not prevent real-time email transmissions containing sensitive data.
Quick Answer
The answer is Data Loss Prevention (DLP). Microsoft Purview DLP is the correct solution because it is purpose-built to detect and block sensitive data, such as credit card numbers, while in transit via email. By configuring a DLP policy with the built-in sensitive info type for credit card numbers, you can set the action to block the message and display a policy tip to the sender, directly enforcing PCI DSS compliance. On the SC-900 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how Purview solutions map to specific compliance controls—a common trap is confusing DLP with Microsoft Defender for Office 365, which focuses on malware and phishing rather than data content. Remember the memory tip: DLP stands for “Data Loss Prevention,” and in this case, you are preventing the loss of credit card data by blocking it before it leaves your organization.
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 financial services company uses Microsoft 365 and must comply with PCI DSS. They want to automatically prevent users from sending emails that contain credit card numbers to external recipients. If a user tries to send such an email, the system should block the message and notify the user with a policy tip. Which Microsoft Purview solution should they configure?
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
Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
Data Loss Prevention (DLP) is the correct solution because it is specifically designed to detect and block sensitive data, such as credit card numbers, in transit (e.g., email). DLP policies can be configured with conditions to match credit card number patterns (using a built-in sensitive info type) and set actions to block the message and display a policy tip to the sender, meeting the PCI DSS compliance requirement.
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
Microsoft Purview DLP policies can automatically detect sensitive data (e.g., credit card numbers) and take actions such as blocking the email and notifying the sender with a policy tip.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Communication Compliance
Why it's wrong here
Communication Compliance is used to review and analyze communications for regulatory compliance (e.g., insider trading), not to block data exfiltration in real time.
- ✗
Information Protection
Why it's wrong here
Information Protection focuses on classifying data and applying sensitivity labels, but it does not enforce blocking of emails based on content; DLP provides the enforcement.
- ✗
Insider Risk Management
Why it's wrong here
Insider Risk Management detects patterns of risky behavior by users, but it does not prevent real-time email transmissions containing sensitive data.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Information Protection (labels/encryption) with DLP, but Information Protection does not provide real-time blocking of outbound data; it only applies protection after classification, whereas DLP actively monitors and blocks data in motion.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DLP in Microsoft Purview uses built-in sensitive information types (e.g., Credit Card Number, defined by regex and checksum validation per Luhn algorithm) to scan email content and attachments. When a match occurs, the DLP policy can enforce an 'Overrule' action that blocks the message and sends a policy tip via Outlook, which is critical for PCI DSS Requirement 3.4 (render PAN unreadable) and Requirement 10 (monitor access). A subtle behavior: DLP can also apply to Teams chats and SharePoint, but for email blocking, the transport rule engine (Exchange Online) enforces the action.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SC-900 question test?
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) is the correct solution because it is specifically designed to detect and block sensitive data, such as credit card numbers, in transit (e.g., email). DLP policies can be configured with conditions to match credit card number patterns (using a built-in sensitive info type) and set actions to block the message and display a policy tip to the sender, meeting the PCI DSS compliance requirement.
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.
About these practice questions
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Same concept, more angles
2 more ways 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. A company wants to prevent users from sharing files containing personally identifiable information (PII) with external recipients. They also need to notify users if they attempt to share such files. Which Microsoft Purview solution should be configured?
hard- A.Microsoft Purview Sensitivity Labels
- B.Microsoft Purview Communication Compliance
- C.Microsoft Purview eDiscovery
- ✓ D.Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention
Why D: Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies can detect sensitive data like PII and block sharing while showing a policy tip to the user. Option A is wrong because sensitivity labels alone do not block sharing. Option B is wrong because eDiscovery is not for prevention. Option D is wrong because Communication Compliance is for inappropriate messages.
Variation 2. A financial services company is required by regulation to prevent sensitive customer financial information from being shared externally via email. The compliance team wants to automatically scan all outgoing emails for patterns that match credit card numbers or account numbers. If a match is found, the email should be blocked and the sender should receive a policy tip. Which Microsoft Purview solution should be configured?
medium- A.Microsoft Purview Audit
- B.Microsoft Purview Data Lifecycle Management
- ✓ C.Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
- D.Microsoft Purview eDiscovery
Why C: Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention (DLP) is the correct solution because it is specifically designed to detect and block sensitive information—such as credit card numbers and account numbers—in outgoing emails. DLP policies can scan email content and attachments for predefined sensitive information types, and when a match is found, the email can be blocked and a policy tip sent to the sender, meeting the compliance requirement.
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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