The answer is Cloud Discovery. This feature within Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps is specifically designed to identify shadow IT by analyzing traffic logs to detect unsanctioned cloud apps, and it can then block those apps that exhibit risky behavior. For the SC-900 exam, this tests your understanding of how Cloud Discovery serves as the primary tool for discovering and controlling unsanctioned app usage, distinguishing it from other security controls. A common trap is confusing Cloud Discovery with Conditional Access or DLP; remember that Cloud Discovery focuses on app visibility and blocking, while Conditional Access enforces access policies and DLP protects data. Think of it this way: Cloud Discovery is the radar that finds the rogue apps, while other tools are the shields that protect the data after the app is found.
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. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
Your company is deploying Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps. You need to detect and block the use of unsanctioned cloud apps that exhibit risky behavior. Which feature should you configure?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Cloud Discovery
Option B is correct because Cloud Discovery in Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps identifies shadow IT and can block unsanctioned apps. Option A is wrong because DLP policies are for data protection, not app discovery. Option C is wrong because Conditional Access controls access based on signals, but does not discover or block unsanctioned apps directly. Option D is wrong because Azure Information Protection is for data classification and protection.
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.
✗
Azure Information Protection labels
Why it's wrong here
Azure Information Protection classifies and protects data, not app discovery or blocking.
✗
Conditional Access policies
Why it's wrong here
Conditional Access controls access but does not discover or block unsanctioned apps.
✓
Cloud Discovery
Why this is correct
Cloud Discovery identifies unsanctioned apps and can block them through integration with network appliances.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies
Why it's wrong here
DLP policies protect sensitive data but do not discover or block unsanctioned cloud apps.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this SC-900 question in full detail.
Identify which SC-900 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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: Cloud Discovery — Option B is correct because Cloud Discovery in Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps identifies shadow IT and can block unsanctioned apps. Option A is wrong because DLP policies are for data protection, not app discovery. Option C is wrong because Conditional Access controls access based on signals, but does not discover or block unsanctioned apps directly. Option D is wrong because Azure Information Protection is for data classification and protection.
What should I do if I get this SC-900 question wrong?
Identify which SC-900 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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 company uses Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps to discover shadow IT. The security team wants to automatically block the use of a newly discovered high-risk cloud app across all users. What is the most efficient approach?
hard
A.Create a Conditional Access policy to block the app for all users.
B.Manually add the app to the blocked list in the cloud discovery settings.
✓ C.Create an app discovery policy with governance action to unsanction the app.
D.Configure session controls to monitor app usage.
Why C: Defender for Cloud Apps can generate a governance action to block the app via the API. Option A is incorrect because manual blocking is not automatic. Option C is incorrect because Conditional Access policies block at the identity level, not app level. Option D is incorrect because session controls are for monitoring, not blocking.
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Question Discussion
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