The answer is managing access controls and authentication for database users. This is correct because in the shared responsibility model for Azure SQL Database, Microsoft secures the physical infrastructure, operating system, and platform patches, while the customer retains ownership of all data and identity management. Specifically, tasks like configuring logins, users, and permissions via T-SQL or Azure Active Directory, as well as enforcing row-level security or dynamic data masking, fall entirely on the customer. On the SC-900 exam, this concept tests your understanding of the boundary between Microsoft’s “security of the cloud” and the customer’s “security in the cloud.” A common trap is assuming Microsoft handles all database security, but the key distinction is that the customer controls who gets in and what they can do. Remember it as: Microsoft locks the doors, but you decide who has the keys.
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. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 is moving its on-premises database to Azure SQL Database. According to the shared responsibility model, which security tasks remain the responsibility of the customer?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Managing access controls and authentication for database users
In the shared responsibility model for Azure SQL Database, Microsoft manages the physical infrastructure, including servers, storage, and network, while the customer is responsible for data and access management. Option B is correct because managing access controls and authentication for database users, such as configuring logins, users, and permissions via T-SQL or Azure Active Directory, falls squarely on the customer. Microsoft ensures the platform is patched and secure, but the customer must control who can access the database and what they can do.
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.
✗
Patching the physical servers hosting the database
Why it's wrong here
Physical server patching is the responsibility of the cloud provider (Microsoft) in a PaaS service like Azure SQL Database.
✓
Managing access controls and authentication for database users
Why this is correct
The customer retains responsibility for managing user identities, permissions, and authentication to the database.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Securing the hypervisor running the virtual machines
Why it's wrong here
Hypervisor security is provided by the cloud provider as part of the underlying infrastructure.
✗
Hardening the network firewalls at the datacenter perimeter
Why it's wrong here
Physical network security is the responsibility of the cloud provider.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse PaaS with IaaS and assume the customer is responsible for patching or hypervisor security, but in Azure SQL Database (PaaS), Microsoft handles all infrastructure layers, leaving the customer only with data and access control responsibilities.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure SQL Database uses a multi-tenant architecture where Microsoft isolates customer databases via SQL Server's containment and Azure's network virtualization; the customer must still manage database-level security using SQL authentication or Azure AD integration, including configuring firewall rules at the Azure SQL server level (not the datacenter). A subtle behavior is that while Microsoft patches the SQL Server engine, the customer must ensure application-level encryption (e.g., Always Encrypted) and manage column-level security if needed. In a real-world scenario, a customer might fail a compliance audit if they neglect to rotate database user passwords or enforce Azure AD conditional access policies, even though the platform is fully patched.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this SC-900 question in full detail.
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: Managing access controls and authentication for database users — In the shared responsibility model for Azure SQL Database, Microsoft manages the physical infrastructure, including servers, storage, and network, while the customer is responsible for data and access management. Option B is correct because managing access controls and authentication for database users, such as configuring logins, users, and permissions via T-SQL or Azure Active Directory, falls squarely on the customer. Microsoft ensures the platform is patched and secure, but the customer must control who can access the database and what they can do.
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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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. A company deploys a virtual machine on Azure IaaS. According to the Microsoft shared responsibility model, which of the following security responsibilities is primarily the customer's responsibility?
medium
A.Physical security of the data centers
✓ B.Patching the guest operating system and applications
C.Ensuring the hypervisor is secured
D.Maintaining the network infrastructure
Why B: In the Microsoft shared responsibility model, the customer is responsible for securing and patching the guest operating system and applications running on an Azure IaaS virtual machine. Microsoft manages the physical infrastructure, hypervisor, and network, while the customer controls the OS, applications, and data.
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Question Discussion
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