The answer is non-repudiation because the logging practice creates an immutable audit trail that ties a specific user to a specific action at a specific time, making it impossible for that user to later deny having accessed the sensitive data. This security goal relies on the technical concept of irrefutable proof—logs must be tamper-proof and include unique identifiers like user IDs and timestamps to ensure accountability. On the Microsoft SC-900 exam, this concept often appears in scenarios about audit logs, digital signatures, or chain-of-custody evidence, and a common trap is confusing non-repudiation with integrity (which focuses on data accuracy) or availability. Remember that non-repudiation is about “who did what and when,” not just “what changed.” For a quick memory tip, think of the phrase “No repudiation, no denial”—if the logs are solid, the user cannot repudiate (deny) their actions.
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's security team implements a system where every access attempt to sensitive data is recorded, including who accessed the data and when. The logs are regularly reviewed to detect unauthorized access and to hold users accountable for their actions. Which security goal is primarily being addressed by this logging practice?
Why wrong: Confidentiality focuses on preventing unauthorized access to data, not on providing a record of actions for accountability.
B
Integrity
Why wrong: Integrity ensures data is accurate and unaltered. Logging access does not directly protect against unauthorized modifications.
C
Availability
Why wrong: Availability ensures data is accessible when needed. Logging does not guarantee uptime or reliability.
D
Non-repudiation
Non-repudiation provides proof of actions taken by users, such as data access. Logs create an audit trail that can be used to hold users accountable and prevent denial of actions.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Non-repudiation
Non-repudiation ensures that a user cannot deny having performed an action. By recording who accessed sensitive data and when, the logging practice creates an audit trail that can prove a specific user accessed the data at a specific time, thereby preventing the user from denying that access. This directly addresses the security goal of non-repudiation.
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.
✗
Confidentiality
Why it's wrong here
Confidentiality focuses on preventing unauthorized access to data, not on providing a record of actions for accountability.
✗
Integrity
Why it's wrong here
Integrity ensures data is accurate and unaltered. Logging access does not directly protect against unauthorized modifications.
✗
Availability
Why it's wrong here
Availability ensures data is accessible when needed. Logging does not guarantee uptime or reliability.
✓
Non-repudiation
Why this is correct
Non-repudiation provides proof of actions taken by users, such as data access. Logs create an audit trail that can be used to hold users accountable and prevent denial of actions.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse logging with confidentiality or integrity, thinking that recording access prevents unauthorized viewing or data modification, when in fact logging is about accountability and non-repudiation.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Non-repudiation relies on mechanisms such as digital signatures (e.g., using RSA or ECDSA) and secure audit logs that are write-once, read-many (WORM) to prevent tampering. In Azure, this is implemented via Azure Monitor and Azure Activity Logs, which capture user actions with timestamps and identity claims from Azure AD, and can be integrated with Azure Sentinel for forensic analysis. A real-world scenario is a financial audit where logs prove a specific administrator accessed a customer database, preventing the administrator from claiming the access was accidental or unauthorized.
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.
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: Non-repudiation — Non-repudiation ensures that a user cannot deny having performed an action. By recording who accessed sensitive data and when, the logging practice creates an audit trail that can prove a specific user accessed the data at a specific time, thereby preventing the user from denying that access. This directly addresses the security goal of non-repudiation.
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.
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Question Discussion
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