- A
Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps
Why wrong: Incorrect. Defender for Cloud Apps is a Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) that monitors and controls cloud app usage. It does not manage endpoints or provide device isolation or file rollback.
- B
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Correct. Defender for Endpoint provides endpoint detection and response (EDR), including automated investigation, device isolation, and the ability to roll back files modified by ransomware using cloud-delivered protection and continuous monitoring.
- C
Microsoft Defender for Office 365
Why wrong: Incorrect. Defender for Office 365 protects against threats in email, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams. It does not have endpoint isolation or file rollback capabilities for servers and desktops.
- D
Microsoft Defender for Identity
Why wrong: Incorrect. Defender for Identity is an identity-based security solution that monitors on-premises Active Directory for malicious behavior. It does not provide endpoint device isolation or file rollback.
Quick Answer
The answer is Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. This solution is correct because it combines endpoint detection and response (EDR) with automated investigation and remediation, enabling ransomware detection and automatic response with device isolation and file rollback directly from the security console. When a ransomware attack is detected, Defender for Endpoint can automatically isolate the affected device from the network to contain the threat, then use its built-in recovery feature to roll back files modified by ransomware, often leveraging Volume Shadow Copy or its own restoration mechanism. On the SC-900 exam, this question tests your understanding of Microsoft 365 Defender’s workload-specific protections—specifically that Defender for Endpoint handles device-level threats, while Defender for Office 365 handles email and collaboration threats. A common trap is confusing Defender for Endpoint with Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps or Azure Sentinel; remember that only MDE provides native network containment and file rollback at the endpoint level. A helpful memory tip: think “MDE = Machine Defense & Endpoint rollback” to link device isolation and file restoration directly to this solution.
SC-900 Practice Question: Describe the capabilities of Microsoft security solutions
This SC-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe the capabilities of microsoft security solutions. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 security team needs to detect and automatically respond to ransomware attacks on Windows servers and desktops. They require the solution to automatically isolate affected devices from the network and, if necessary, roll back files that have been modified by ransomware using a built-in recovery feature. Which Microsoft security solution provides these specific capabilities?
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 Defender for Endpoint
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (MDE) provides automated investigation and remediation capabilities that include network containment (isolating a device from the network) and rollback of files modified by ransomware using its built-in recovery feature. This is achieved through MDE's endpoint detection and response (EDR) and automated investigation capabilities, which can trigger device isolation and file restoration from Volume Shadow Copy or MDE's own rollback mechanism.
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.
- ✗
Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Defender for Cloud Apps is a Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) that monitors and controls cloud app usage. It does not manage endpoints or provide device isolation or file rollback.
- ✓
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Why this is correct
Correct. Defender for Endpoint provides endpoint detection and response (EDR), including automated investigation, device isolation, and the ability to roll back files modified by ransomware using cloud-delivered protection and continuous monitoring.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Microsoft Defender for Office 365
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Defender for Office 365 protects against threats in email, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams. It does not have endpoint isolation or file rollback capabilities for servers and desktops.
- ✗
Microsoft Defender for Identity
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Defender for Identity is an identity-based security solution that monitors on-premises Active Directory for malicious behavior. It does not provide endpoint device isolation or file rollback.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps (a CASB) with endpoint protection, or assume that Defender for Office 365 covers all ransomware scenarios, when in fact only Defender for Endpoint provides the specific combination of device isolation and file rollback on Windows endpoints.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
MDE's automated investigation uses a set of playbooks that can trigger 'contain device' action, which isolates the device from the network by applying a firewall rule that blocks all inbound and outbound traffic except for a few allowed services (e.g., Defender for Endpoint cloud connectivity). The file rollback feature leverages Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) snapshots or MDE's own file recovery mechanism to restore files to their pre-ransomware state, which is distinct from simple backup restoration because it is triggered automatically by the detection of ransomware behavior patterns.
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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SC-900 question test?
Describe the capabilities of Microsoft security solutions — This question tests Describe the capabilities of Microsoft security solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint — Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (MDE) provides automated investigation and remediation capabilities that include network containment (isolating a device from the network) and rollback of files modified by ransomware using its built-in recovery feature. This is achieved through MDE's endpoint detection and response (EDR) and automated investigation capabilities, which can trigger device isolation and file restoration from Volume Shadow Copy or MDE's own rollback mechanism.
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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Same concept, more angles
1 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 manufacturing company experiences repeated ransomware attacks targeting their on-premises file servers. They have Microsoft 365 E5 and want to implement a solution to detect and automatically respond to such threats across hybrid environments. What should they deploy?
hard- ✓ A.Microsoft Defender for Identity
- B.Microsoft Purview Communication Compliance
- C.Microsoft Defender for Office 365
- D.Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps
Why A: Option C is correct because Microsoft Defender for Identity is designed to protect on-premises Active Directory and detect attacks like ransomware. Option A is wrong because Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps focuses on SaaS applications. Option B is wrong because Microsoft Defender for Office 365 protects cloud email and collaboration. Option D is wrong because Microsoft Purview is for data governance and compliance.
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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