SC-900 Practice Question: Describe the concepts of security, compliance, and identity
A security architect is adopting a new security model that assumes breach and verifies every access request. The model eliminates implicit trust and requires continuous validation. Which security model is being implemented?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse Zero Trust with Least Privilege, but Zero Trust is a broader architectural model that includes continuous validation and breach assumption, whereas Least Privilege is only one component of access control.
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
✓
Zero Trust
Zero Trust is the correct model because it explicitly assumes breach, eliminates implicit trust, and requires continuous validation of every access request. This aligns with the core Zero Trust principle of 'never trust, always verify,' which mandates that no user, device, or network is trusted by default, even if they are inside the corporate perimeter.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Defense in Depth
Why it's wrong here
Defense in Depth is a security strategy that employs multiple, layered security controls to protect information and systems. Its objective is to create redundant barriers, so if one control fails, others are in place to prevent or detect a breach. While it includes various security mechanisms, it does not inherently mandate continuous, per-request verification of every access attempt, focusing instead on comprehensive, multi-faceted protection.
When this WOULD be correct
A question asking: 'Which security model uses multiple layers of defense to protect resources, such as firewalls, antivirus, and encryption, to ensure that if one layer fails, others still provide protection?' would make Defense in Depth the correct answer.
- ✓
Zero Trust
Why this is correct
Zero Trust is a modern security model that fundamentally shifts from perimeter-based security to a 'never trust, always verify' approach. It mandates explicit verification for every access request, regardless of whether the request originates inside or outside the traditional network perimeter. This model assumes breach and continuously validates identity, device health, and other contextual factors before granting and maintaining access to resources.
- ✗
Least Privilege
Why it's wrong here
The principle of Least Privilege dictates that users, programs, and processes should be granted only the minimum necessary permissions to perform their required tasks. This fundamental security concept aims to limit the potential damage from a compromise by restricting an entity's access scope. However, Least Privilege is a granular access control principle, not an overarching security architecture model that governs the continuous verification of every access request.
When this WOULD be correct
A question asks: 'Which security principle ensures that users and processes have only the minimum access rights needed to perform their tasks?' In that context, Least Privilege is the correct answer.
- ✗
Shared Responsibility
Why it's wrong here
The Shared Responsibility model defines the division of security obligations between a cloud service provider and its customers. It clarifies who is accountable for different aspects of security, such as physical infrastructure versus customer data and configurations. This model is a governance framework for cloud security accountability, rather than an operational methodology for continuous access validation or authentication.
When this WOULD be correct
A question asking: 'A company is migrating to the cloud and needs to understand which security tasks are handled by the cloud provider versus their own team. Which security model defines these boundaries?' would make Shared Responsibility correct.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The SC-900 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓Zero TrustCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
Zero Trust is a modern security model that fundamentally shifts from perimeter-based security to a 'never trust, always verify' approach. It mandates explicit verification for every access request, regardless of whether the request originates inside or outside the traditional network perimeter. This model assumes breach and continuously validates identity, device health, and other contextual factors before granting and maintaining access to resources.
✗Defense in DepthWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Defense in Depth is a layered security approach using multiple controls, but it does not inherently eliminate implicit trust or require continuous validation of every access request. The question specifically describes assuming breach and verifying every request, which is the core of Zero Trust.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question asking: 'Which security model uses multiple layers of defense to protect resources, such as firewalls, antivirus, and encryption, to ensure that if one layer fails, others still provide protection?' would make Defense in Depth the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse Defense in Depth with Zero Trust because both involve multiple security controls, but they fail to recognize that Zero Trust uniquely focuses on eliminating implicit trust and continuous verification.
✗Least PrivilegeWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Least Privilege is a principle of granting only necessary permissions, but it does not inherently assume breach or require continuous validation of every access request. The question describes Zero Trust's core tenets of eliminating implicit trust and continuous verification.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question asks: 'Which security principle ensures that users and processes have only the minimum access rights needed to perform their tasks?' In that context, Least Privilege is the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse Least Privilege with Zero Trust because both involve restricting access, but they fail to recognize that Zero Trust is a broader model that includes continuous verification and assumes breach, not just permission minimization.
✗Shared ResponsibilityWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The question describes a model that eliminates implicit trust and continuously validates access, which is Zero Trust. Shared Responsibility is a cloud security model that defines security obligations between provider and customer, not a model for access validation.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question asking: 'A company is migrating to the cloud and needs to understand which security tasks are handled by the cloud provider versus their own team. Which security model defines these boundaries?' would make Shared Responsibility correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse Shared Responsibility with Zero Trust because both involve security concepts, but Shared Responsibility is about division of labor, not continuous verification of access requests.
Analysis generated from the official SC-900blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Core Security Concepts
Key term
Zero Trust
Zero Trust is a security framework that assumes no user, device, or network is automatically trusted, requiring verification for every access request regardless of its origin.
Key term
User
A user is any person, system, or device that interacts with an IT service, resource, or identity system, typically authenticated through credentials and authorized to perform specific actions.
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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.