SC-900 Practice Question: Describe the concepts of security, compliance, and identity
A company has implemented a security model where every access request is fully authenticated, authorized, and encrypted before granting access, regardless of where the request originates (corporate network or internet). The model assumes that no entity is inherently trustworthy and requires continuous verification. This model is known as:
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse Zero Trust with defense in depth, assuming that multiple security layers inherently imply no trust, but defense in depth does not require per-request authentication, authorization, and encryption from any location.
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
✓
Zero Trust
The described model—requiring full authentication, authorization, and encryption for every access request, treating no entity as inherently trustworthy, and demanding continuous verification—is the core definition of Zero Trust. This aligns with the NIST SP 800-207 standard, which explicitly states that Zero Trust assumes no implicit trust and enforces verification for every request, regardless of network location.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Defense in depth
Why it's wrong here
Defense in depth is a cybersecurity strategy that employs multiple layers of security controls to protect information and systems, ensuring that if one control fails, another is in place to prevent or detect a breach. This layered approach includes physical, technical, and administrative safeguards, but it does not specifically define the continuous, explicit verification of *every* access request as its core mechanism, which is a characteristic of a different security model.
When this WOULD be correct
Defense in depth would be correct for a question describing a security strategy that implements multiple layers of defense (e.g., firewalls, antivirus, intrusion detection) to protect against a single point of failure, without emphasizing continuous verification or distrust of all entities.
- ✗
Least privilege
Why it's wrong here
Least privilege is a security principle that dictates users, applications, and systems should be granted only the minimum necessary permissions to perform their required tasks for the shortest duration possible. While crucial for reducing the attack surface by limiting potential damage from compromised accounts, it does not inherently mandate the continuous, explicit verification of *every* access request, which is a distinct operational model for access control.
When this WOULD be correct
A question that asks: 'A company wants to ensure users have only the minimum permissions needed to perform their job functions. Which security principle should they apply?' In that context, least privilege would be the correct answer.
- ✓
Zero Trust
Why this is correct
Zero Trust is a security model fundamentally built on the principle of 'never trust, always verify,' meaning no user, device, or application is implicitly trusted, regardless of its location inside or outside the network perimeter. Every access request is explicitly authenticated, authorized, and continuously validated based on all available data points, including user identity, device health, service, and data classification. This continuous verification ensures that access is granted only when all conditions are met, eliminating implicit trust.
- ✗
Shared responsibility
Why it's wrong here
The Shared Responsibility Model defines the security obligations between a cloud service provider (CSP) and its customers, delineating what the CSP secures 'of' the cloud versus what the customer secures 'in' the cloud. This model clarifies accountability for different aspects of cloud security, such as infrastructure versus customer data and configurations. However, it is an operational framework for security ownership, not a technical security model dictating how individual access requests are verified or continuously authenticated.
When this WOULD be correct
In a question like 'Which model outlines that the cloud provider is responsible for security of the cloud, while the customer is responsible for security in the cloud?', shared responsibility would be the correct answer.
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.
✓Zero TrustCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
Zero Trust is a security model fundamentally built on the principle of 'never trust, always verify,' meaning no user, device, or application is implicitly trusted, regardless of its location inside or outside the network perimeter. Every access request is explicitly authenticated, authorized, and continuously validated based on all available data points, including user identity, device health, service, and data classification. This continuous verification ensures that access is granted only when all conditions are met, eliminating implicit trust.
✗Defense in depthWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Defense in depth is a layered security approach using multiple controls, but it does not inherently assume no entity is trustworthy or require continuous verification; it focuses on redundancy, not the zero-trust principle of 'never trust, always verify.'
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
Defense in depth would be correct for a question describing a security strategy that implements multiple layers of defense (e.g., firewalls, antivirus, intrusion detection) to protect against a single point of failure, without emphasizing continuous verification or distrust of all entities.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse defense in depth with zero trust because both involve multiple security controls, but defense in depth lacks the core zero-trust requirement of continuous verification and implicit distrust of all access requests.
✗Least privilegeWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The question describes a model where no entity is trusted by default and continuous verification is required, which is the definition of Zero Trust. Least privilege is a principle of granting only necessary permissions, not a model for continuous verification and encryption of all access requests.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question that asks: 'A company wants to ensure users have only the minimum permissions needed to perform their job functions. Which security principle should they apply?' In that context, least privilege would be the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse least privilege with Zero Trust because both involve limiting access, but they fail to recognize that Zero Trust is a broader security model encompassing continuous verification, while least privilege is a specific access control principle.
✗Shared responsibilityWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The shared responsibility model describes the division of security tasks between a cloud provider and customer, not the principle of never trusting any entity by default and requiring continuous verification.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a question like 'Which model outlines that the cloud provider is responsible for security of the cloud, while the customer is responsible for security in the cloud?', shared responsibility would be the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse the broad security concept of Zero Trust with the operational division of duties in cloud environments, especially when the question mentions 'security model' without specifying cloud context.
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?”
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Core Security Concepts
Key term
Security
Security in IT is the practice of protecting systems, networks, and data from unauthorized access, damage, or theft.
Key term
Security model
A security model is a formal framework that defines how subjects (users, processes) can access objects (files, resources) based on rules, ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every SC-900 question from scratch — 1,250 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.