Quick Answer
The correct answer is Cloud Discovery. This tool within Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps analyzes traffic logs from your network to identify cloud app usage and assess risk, effectively uncovering shadow IT by mapping which unsanctioned or sanctioned cloud apps are in use. On the SC-900 exam, this question tests your understanding of how Defender for Cloud Apps functions as a cloud access security broker (CASB), with Cloud Discovery being the specific feature for visibility and risk assessment. A common trap is confusing this with Microsoft Purview, which handles data governance, or Intune, which manages devices—neither performs app discovery. Remember the mnemonic: "Cloud Discovery discovers the cloud," linking the tool’s name directly to its purpose of finding and evaluating cloud app risk.
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.
Your company uses Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps. You want to discover which cloud apps are being used in your organization and assess their risk levels. What should you use?
Cloud App Security Catalog
Why wrong: Not a real feature; the catalog is for conditional access app control.
Cloud Discovery
Cloud Discovery analyzes traffic logs to discover apps and assess risk.
Microsoft Purview Data Map
Why wrong: Data Map is for data lineage and discovery, not cloud app usage.
Microsoft Intune app inventory
Why wrong: Intune inventories managed apps, not cloud app usage.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Cloud Discovery
Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps provides Cloud Discovery to analyze traffic logs and identify shadow IT. Option B is correct. Option A is wrong because Defender for Cloud Apps does not have a 'Cloud App Security Catalog' feature. Option C is wrong because Microsoft Intune manages devices, not app discovery. Option D is wrong because Microsoft Purview is for data governance, not app discovery.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Cloud App Security Catalog
Why it's wrong here
Not a real feature; the catalog is for conditional access app control.
Cloud Discovery
Why this is correct
Cloud Discovery analyzes traffic logs to discover apps and assess risk.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Microsoft Purview Data Map
Why it's wrong here
Data Map is for data lineage and discovery, not cloud app usage.
Microsoft Intune app inventory
Why it's wrong here
Intune inventories managed apps, not cloud app usage.
Common exam traps
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
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
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.
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FAQ
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..
The correct answer is: Cloud Discovery — Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps provides Cloud Discovery to analyze traffic logs and identify shadow IT. Option B is correct. Option A is wrong because Defender for Cloud Apps does not have a 'Cloud App Security Catalog' feature. Option C is wrong because Microsoft Intune manages devices, not app discovery. Option D is wrong because Microsoft Purview is for data governance, not app discovery.
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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 21, 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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