- A
Zero Trust
Why wrong: Zero Trust is a model that assumes no implicit trust and verifies every access request, but the scenario describes multiple layers, not just a verification framework.
- B
Defense in depth
Correct. Defense in depth is the practice of layering diverse security controls to protect against threats, so that a failure in one control does not lead to a complete breach.
- C
Least privilege
Why wrong: Least privilege means granting users only the permissions they need to perform their tasks; it is not about multiple layers of security.
- D
Shared responsibility
Why wrong: Shared responsibility is a cloud computing model that defines which security tasks are handled by the provider versus the customer, not a layered defense approach.
Question 707 of 1,411
SC-900 Defense in depth Practice Question
This SC-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe the concepts of security, compliance, and identity. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. A key principle to apply: defense in depth. 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 multiple layers of security controls including a firewall, an intrusion detection system (IDS), antivirus software on endpoints, and regular security awareness training for employees. This approach is an example of which security concept?
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
✓
Defense in depth
Defense in depth is the correct answer because the company is implementing multiple layers of security controls (firewall, IDS, antivirus, and security awareness training) to protect assets. This layered approach ensures that if one control fails, another control is in place to mitigate the threat, which is the core principle of defense in depth.
Key principle: Defense in depth
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Zero Trust
Why it's wrong here
Zero Trust is a model that assumes no implicit trust and verifies every access request, but the scenario describes multiple layers, not just a verification framework.
When this WOULD be correct
A question that asks: 'A company requires all users to authenticate and be authorized for every access attempt, regardless of whether they are inside or outside the network. This approach is an example of which security concept?' would make Zero Trust the correct answer.
- ✓
Defense in depth
Why this is correct
Correct. Defense in depth is the practice of layering diverse security controls to protect against threats, so that a failure in one control does not lead to a complete breach.
Related concept
Defense in depth
- ✗
Least privilege
Why it's wrong here
Least privilege means granting users only the permissions they need to perform their tasks; it is not about multiple layers of security.
When this WOULD be correct
A question that asks: 'A company configures user accounts so that employees can only access files required for their job roles. This approach is an example of which security concept?' would make least privilege the correct answer.
- ✗
Shared responsibility
Why it's wrong here
Shared responsibility is a cloud computing model that defines which security tasks are handled by the provider versus the customer, not a layered defense approach.
When this WOULD be correct
In a scenario where a company uses a cloud service provider and the question asks who is responsible for securing the operating system, data, or physical infrastructure, shared responsibility would be the correct answer. For example: 'A company uses Azure IaaS. Who is responsible for patching the guest OS?'
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The SC-900 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓Defense in depthCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
Correct. Defense in depth is the practice of layering diverse security controls to protect against threats, so that a failure in one control does not lead to a complete breach.
✗Zero TrustWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Zero Trust is a security model that assumes no implicit trust and requires continuous verification for every access request, but the question describes multiple layers of security controls, which is the definition of defense in depth, not Zero Trust.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question that asks: 'A company requires all users to authenticate and be authorized for every access attempt, regardless of whether they are inside or outside the network. This approach is an example of which security concept?' would make Zero Trust the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse Zero Trust with defense in depth because both involve multiple security measures, but Zero Trust specifically focuses on eliminating implicit trust and verifying every access, not just layering controls.
✗Least privilegeWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The question describes multiple layers of security controls (firewall, IDS, antivirus, training), which is the definition of defense in depth, not least privilege. Least privilege restricts user access rights to only what is necessary, which is not illustrated here.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question that asks: 'A company configures user accounts so that employees can only access files required for their job roles. This approach is an example of which security concept?' would make least privilege the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse the layered approach with the principle of least privilege because both involve multiple security measures, but least privilege specifically focuses on minimal access rights, not layered defenses.
✗Shared responsibilityWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The question describes multiple security layers (firewall, IDS, antivirus, training), which is the definition of defense in depth. Shared responsibility is a cloud model where the provider and customer share security duties, not a multi-layered on-premises approach.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a scenario where a company uses a cloud service provider and the question asks who is responsible for securing the operating system, data, or physical infrastructure, shared responsibility would be the correct answer. For example: 'A company uses Azure IaaS. Who is responsible for patching the guest OS?'
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse the idea of multiple security layers with the concept of dividing security tasks between parties, especially if they recall that 'defense in depth' involves layers and mistakenly think 'shared responsibility' also implies layers.
Analysis generated from the official SC-900blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse defense in depth with Zero Trust because both involve multiple controls, but Zero Trust specifically focuses on identity verification and least-privilege access, not just layered defenses.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
Zero Trust is a model that assumes no implicit trust and verifies every access request, but the scenario describes multiple layers, not just a verification framework.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Defense in depth leverages a combination of preventive, detective, and corrective controls across physical, technical, and administrative domains. For example, a firewall (network layer) blocks unauthorized traffic, an IDS (network/detective) alerts on suspicious patterns, antivirus (endpoint) scans for malware, and security awareness training (administrative) reduces human error. In a real-world scenario, if an attacker bypasses the firewall via a phishing email, the antivirus and user training provide additional layers of defense.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Defense in depth
- Layered security
- Zero Trust
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
Defense in depth
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review defense in depth, 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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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 — Defense in depth.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Defense in depth — Defense in depth is the correct answer because the company is implementing multiple layers of security controls (firewall, IDS, antivirus, and security awareness training) to protect assets. This layered approach ensures that if one control fails, another control is in place to mitigate the threat, which is the core principle of defense in depth.
What should I do if I get this SC-900 question wrong?
Review defense in depth, then practise related SC-900 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Defense in depth
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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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