Microsoft Purview: Using Records Management and Data Lifecycle Management Together
A law firm needs to retain client documents for 10 years after case closure, but automatically delete drafts after 30 days. Which two Microsoft Purview solutions should be combined?
Quick Answer
The correct combination is Microsoft Purview Records Management and Data Lifecycle Management. Records Management is designed for high-value content like client documents that must be retained for a fixed period—here, 10 years after case closure—while Data Lifecycle Management handles non-record content such as drafts, applying shorter retention and automatic deletion after 30 days. On the SC-900 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how these two solutions divide responsibilities: Records Management governs records with legal or regulatory hold requirements, whereas Data Lifecycle Management manages routine data cleanup. A common trap is confusing eDiscovery or Audit for retention tasks, but remember that eDiscovery is for search and Audit for logging, not lifecycle control. For a quick memory tip: think “Records for the long haul, Lifecycle for the short haul.”
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse Data Lifecycle Management with Data Loss Prevention or eDiscovery, mistakenly thinking DLP or eDiscovery can enforce retention or deletion policies, when in fact only Records Management and Data Lifecycle Management provide the necessary lifecycle controls.
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 Purview Records Management and Data Lifecycle Management
Microsoft Purview Records Management enables the firm to mark client documents as records and enforce a 10-year retention period after case closure, while Data Lifecycle Management allows automatic deletion of drafts after 30 days. Together, they provide both long-term retention for compliance and short-term cleanup for non-record content, aligning with the firm's specific requirements.
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 Purview Data Loss Prevention and eDiscovery
Why it's wrong here
DLP prevents sharing of sensitive content and eDiscovery identifies material for legal review; neither enforces a 10-year retention period nor a 30-day deletion rule. Retention and deletion labels come from Microsoft Purview Data Lifecycle Management and Records Management. DLP plus eDiscovery fits investigating and preserving data for litigation, not scheduled disposal.
- ✗
Microsoft Purview eDiscovery and Audit
Why it's wrong here
eDiscovery handles legal case identification, hold and review, while Audit records user and admin activity; neither applies retention or deletion labels to documents. It is tempting because both are Purview compliance tools, but they would be correct for litigation response and activity investigation, not lifecycle retention.
- ✗
Microsoft Purview Audit and Data Loss Prevention
Why it's wrong here
Audit records user and admin activity, and DLP blocks sensitive data flows; neither applies retention labels or deletion rules. The stem needs retention and deletion policies, delivered by Microsoft Purview Data Lifecycle Management and Records Management. Audit and DLP would be chosen when the requirement is investigating activity or preventing exfiltration.
- ✓
Microsoft Purview Records Management and Data Lifecycle Management
Why this is correct
Records Management applies retention labels declaring documents as records for the ten-year period after case closure, preventing alteration or premature deletion. Data Lifecycle Management handles the separate 30-day draft deletion, so combining both satisfies the distinct retention requirements.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Data Residency, Sovereignty, and Privacy
Key term
Microsoft Purview
Microsoft Purview is a unified data governance and compliance service that helps organizations discover, manage, and protect their data across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments.
Key term
Records Management
Records management is the systematic control of an organization's records, from creation or receipt through processing, distribution, maintenance, storage, retrieval, and disposal, ensuring integrity, compliance, and availability.
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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. Your organization is required to retain all HR-related documents for 7 years after an employee leaves. After that period, the documents must be permanently deleted. Which two Microsoft Purview features should you use together?
medium- A.eDiscovery and audit logs
- B.DLP policies and sensitivity labels
- C.Sensitivity labels and auto-labeling
- ✓ D.Retention labels and retention policies
Why D: Retention labels and retention policies (option D) are the correct combination because retention labels can be applied to individual HR documents to trigger deletion 7 years after an event such as an employee's departure, while retention policies apply retention and deletion settings broadly across workloads. Together they ensure documents are kept for the required period and then permanently deleted. eDiscovery and audit logs (A) are for investigation and monitoring, not enforcement of retention/deletion. DLP policies and sensitivity labels (B), and sensitivity labels with auto-labeling (C), focus on classification and preventing data loss, not on time-based retention and deletion.
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.