How to Retain SharePoint Documents for 7 Years After Last Modification
Your organization uses Microsoft Purview Data Lifecycle Management to retain data for regulatory compliance. You need to ensure that all documents in a SharePoint site are retained for 7 years after they are last modified. What should you create?
Quick Answer
The answer is an adaptive scope based on last modified date. This is correct because adaptive scopes in Microsoft Purview Data Lifecycle Management dynamically target content based on metadata properties, such as the last modified date, allowing you to retain documents for 7 years after their last modification without needing to specify fixed site locations. On the SC-900 exam, this tests your understanding of how to implement flexible retention rules for regulatory compliance, contrasting with static scopes that lock onto specific sites and cannot adjust to changing content. A common trap is confusing adaptive scopes with auto-labeling policies, which apply sensitivity labels automatically, or DLP policies, which prevent data loss—neither handles time-based retention. Remember the key distinction: adaptive scopes adapt to metadata, while static scopes stay fixed. For a memory tip, think “adaptive = adjustable by date,” linking the scope type directly to the dynamic requirement of retaining documents based on when they were last modified.
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse adaptive scopes with static scopes, assuming a static scope can filter by metadata like last modified date, but static scopes only apply to entire sites or folders without dynamic attribute-based filtering.
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
✓
An adaptive scope based on last modified date
To retain documents in a SharePoint site for 7 years after they are last modified, you need a retention policy with an adaptive scope that uses a query to target items based on the 'Last Modified' date. Adaptive scopes allow dynamic, attribute-based scoping (e.g., last modified date), which is required for this time-based retention trigger. A static scope would apply to all content in the site without the ability to filter by modification date.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
An auto-labeling policy
Why it's wrong here
Auto-labeling policies apply sensitivity or retention labels, but retention is managed via labels with retention periods.
- ✗
A data loss prevention policy
Why it's wrong here
DLP policies protect sensitive data, not manage retention.
- ✓
An adaptive scope based on last modified date
Why this is correct
Adaptive scopes can dynamically include content based on properties like last modified date.
- ✗
A static scope for the SharePoint site
Why it's wrong here
Static scopes target specific locations but do not adapt based on last modified date.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Compliance Concepts
Key term
Organization
An Organization is a top-level container in Google Cloud that represents your company or entities and serves as the root node for all your cloud resources, policies, and access control.
Key term
Data lifecycle management
Data lifecycle management is the process of managing data from its creation to its deletion, ensuring it is stored, used, and disposed of in a way that meets security, compliance, and business needs.
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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 uses Microsoft Purview Data Lifecycle Management. You need to ensure that content in a SharePoint site is retained for 3 years after the last modification date. What should you create?
easy- ✓ A.A static retention policy with a 3-year duration
- B.An auto-labeling policy for sensitive data
- C.A default retention label for the library
- D.An adaptive retention policy based on a custom date property
Why A: A static retention policy can be configured to retain content for a specific duration (e.g., 3 years) and to start the retention period based on the last modification date of the items. This directly fulfills the requirement. Adaptive retention policies are used to dynamically define the scope of the policy (which users, groups, or sites are included) based on attributes, not to define how the retention period is calculated for individual items based on their properties like 'Last Modified Date'. The 'Last Modified Date' as a retention start point is a standard option available when configuring retention settings within both static policies and retention labels.
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.