- A
Availability
Why wrong: Availability ensures systems are accessible when needed, but this scenario focuses on restricting access to specific data, not on uptime.
- B
Least privilege
Correct. Least privilege restricts permissions to only what is necessary for the job, which is exactly what is described in the scenario.
- C
Defense in depth
Why wrong: Defense in depth uses multiple layers of security controls, but the scenario only discusses one access control policy, not a layered approach.
- D
Non-repudiation
Why wrong: Non-repudiation ensures that actions cannot be denied later, typically via digital signatures, which is not relevant here.
Question 480 of 1,411
SC-900 Practice Question: Describe the concepts of security, compliance, and identity
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. 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.
A company has a document management system. The security policy requires that a user in the Sales department can only view documents related to sales and cannot access documents in the Finance or HR folders. Which security principle is being applied?
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
✓
Least privilege
The security policy restricts a Sales user's access to only sales-related documents, explicitly denying access to Finance and HR folders. This aligns with the principle of least privilege, which mandates that users be granted only the minimum permissions necessary to perform their job functions. In Microsoft 365, this is implemented via role-based access control (RBAC) or sensitivity labels that enforce read-only access on specific SharePoint document libraries or folders.
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.
- ✗
Availability
Why it's wrong here
Availability ensures systems are accessible when needed, but this scenario focuses on restricting access to specific data, not on uptime.
When this WOULD be correct
A company's e-commerce platform must guarantee 99.99% uptime during peak shopping season. Which security principle is most critical?
- ✓
Least privilege
Why this is correct
Correct. Least privilege restricts permissions to only what is necessary for the job, which is exactly what is described in the scenario.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Defense in depth
Why it's wrong here
Defense in depth uses multiple layers of security controls, but the scenario only discusses one access control policy, not a layered approach.
When this WOULD be correct
Defense in depth would be correct in a question like: 'A company implements firewalls, antivirus, and intrusion detection to protect its network. Which security principle is being applied?'
- ✗
Non-repudiation
Why it's wrong here
Non-repudiation ensures that actions cannot be denied later, typically via digital signatures, which is not relevant here.
When this WOULD be correct
A company requires that when a sales manager approves a contract, the action is logged with a digital signature so the manager cannot later deny approval. Which security principle is being applied?
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.
✓Least privilegeCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
Correct. Least privilege restricts permissions to only what is necessary for the job, which is exactly what is described in the scenario.
✗AvailabilityWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The question is about restricting access to specific documents based on role, which is a permission control issue, not about ensuring system uptime or data accessibility.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A company's e-commerce platform must guarantee 99.99% uptime during peak shopping season. Which security principle is most critical?
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse 'availability' with 'access control', thinking that restricting access is about making data available only to authorized users, but availability specifically refers to system reliability and uptime.
✗Defense in depthWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Defense in depth is a layered security strategy using multiple controls, not a principle about granting minimal access rights. The question specifically asks about restricting user access to only necessary documents, which is least privilege.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
Defense in depth would be correct in a question like: 'A company implements firewalls, antivirus, and intrusion detection to protect its network. Which security principle is being applied?'
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse defense in depth with least privilege because both involve security controls, but defense in depth focuses on multiple layers rather than access minimization.
✗Non-repudiationWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Non-repudiation ensures that a user cannot deny having performed an action (e.g., signing a document), but the question is about restricting access based on role, not about accountability for actions.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A company requires that when a sales manager approves a contract, the action is logged with a digital signature so the manager cannot later deny approval. Which security principle is being applied?
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse access control with accountability, thinking that restricting access also prevents denial of access, but non-repudiation is about proving actions, not permissions.
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
Microsoft often tests least privilege by contrasting it with defense in depth, but the trap here is that candidates confuse a single access restriction (least privilege) with a multi-layered security strategy (defense in depth).
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
Availability ensures systems are accessible when needed, but this scenario focuses on restricting access to specific data, not on uptime.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Least privilege is enforced in Microsoft Entra ID through directory roles and in SharePoint via permission levels (e.g., 'Read' vs. 'Contribute'). Under the hood, SharePoint uses security trimming in search results: a user querying for 'documents' will only see items where their access token includes the necessary scope claims. In a real-world scenario, a misconfigured permission inheritance (e.g., breaking inheritance on a subfolder) could inadvertently grant broader access, violating least privilege.
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.
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
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.
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
What to study next
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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 — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Least privilege — The security policy restricts a Sales user's access to only sales-related documents, explicitly denying access to Finance and HR folders. This aligns with the principle of least privilege, which mandates that users be granted only the minimum permissions necessary to perform their job functions. In Microsoft 365, this is implemented via role-based access control (RBAC) or sensitivity labels that enforce read-only access on specific SharePoint document libraries or folders.
What should I do if I get this SC-900 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
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