- A
Authentication and authorization
Correct. Smart card login is authentication; then limiting access to department file shares is authorization.
- B
Identification and accounting
Why wrong: Incorrect. Identification is just claiming an identity, not verifying it; accounting tracks usage, not demonstrated here.
- C
Authorization and non-repudiation
Why wrong: Incorrect. Authorization is shown, but non-repudiation is not demonstrated because no mechanism (e.g., logs, signatures) prevents denial of the login action.
- D
Confidentiality and integrity
Why wrong: Incorrect. Confidentiality (protecting data from unauthorized access) and integrity (ensuring data is not altered) are not directly demonstrated.
Question 1,019 of 1,411
SC-900 Authentication Practice Question
This SC-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe the concepts of security, compliance, and identity. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. A key principle to apply: authentication. 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 company implements a security policy where employees must use a smart card to log into their workstations. After logging in, they can only access file shares that correspond to their department. Which two security concepts are demonstrated in this scenario?
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
✓
Authentication and authorization
The smart card login verifies the user's identity, which is authentication. The subsequent restriction to department-specific file shares controls what resources the user can access, which is authorization. Non-repudiation is not demonstrated because the scenario lacks any mechanism (such as audit logs or digital signatures) that would prevent the user from denying the login action. Therefore, only authentication and authorization are demonstrated, making Option A the sole correct answer.
Key principle: Authentication
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Authentication and authorization
Why this is correct
Correct. Smart card login is authentication; then limiting access to department file shares is authorization.
Related concept
Authentication
- ✗
Identification and accounting
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Identification is just claiming an identity, not verifying it; accounting tracks usage, not demonstrated here.
- ✗
Authorization and non-repudiation
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Authorization is shown, but non-repudiation is not demonstrated because no mechanism (e.g., logs, signatures) prevents denial of the login action.
- ✗
Confidentiality and integrity
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Confidentiality (protecting data from unauthorized access) and integrity (ensuring data is not altered) are not directly demonstrated.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Candidates may mistakenly think that smart cards automatically provide non-repudiation. However, non-repudiation requires additional measures like audit trails or digital signatures, which are not mentioned. The scenario only shows authentication and authorization.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Incorrect. Authorization is shown, but non-repudiation is not demonstrated because no mechanism (e.g., logs, signatures) prevents denial of the login action.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Authentication in this scenario likely uses a smart card with a PKI certificate (X.509) and PIN, where the workstation validates the certificate against a trusted root CA. Authorization is enforced via NTFS permissions or Access Control Lists (ACLs) on file shares, often tied to Active Directory security groups that map to department membership. This separation of authentication and authorization is fundamental to the AAA framework (Authentication, Authorization, Accounting) defined in RFC 2903.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Authentication
- Authorization
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
Authentication
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review authentication, then practise related SC-900 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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Describe the concepts of security, compliance, and identity — study guide chapter
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Describe the concepts of security, compliance, and identity practice questions
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All SC-900 questions
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Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals SC-900 study guide
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SC-900 question test?
Describe the concepts of security, compliance, and identity — This question tests Describe the concepts of security, compliance, and identity — Authentication.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Authentication and authorization — The smart card login verifies the user's identity, which is authentication. The subsequent restriction to department-specific file shares controls what resources the user can access, which is authorization. Non-repudiation is not demonstrated because the scenario lacks any mechanism (such as audit logs or digital signatures) that would prevent the user from denying the login action. Therefore, only authentication and authorization are demonstrated, making Option A the sole correct answer.
What should I do if I get this SC-900 question wrong?
Review authentication, then practise related SC-900 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Authentication
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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