- A
The user is allowed to delete the document, but a copy is retained in a preservation hold.
Why wrong: This describes the behavior of an eDiscovery hold, not a record label. A record label blocks deletion entirely.
- B
The user receives an access denied error and cannot delete the document.
Correct. A record label makes the item a formal record, preventing users from deleting or modifying it.
- C
The document is deleted and immediately purged from the recycle bin.
Why wrong: Records are never deleted by users. This outcome is incorrect for a record label.
- D
The delete action is allowed but an audit event is generated and the document is still retained for the specified period.
Why wrong: This describes the behavior of a standard (non-record) retention label where the delete is allowed but the item is retained in a secure location. Records block the delete.
Quick Answer
The answer is that the user receives an access denied error and cannot delete the document. This occurs because a retention label configured to mark items as records makes the content immutable and locked, overriding standard SharePoint permissions. In Microsoft Purview, records are protected by a retention policy that enforces compliance by blocking any deletion attempt, even from users who normally have edit or delete rights. On the SC-900 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how retention labels enforce data lifecycle management and the distinction between simple retention and record marking. A common trap is assuming that a user with full control permissions can bypass the restriction, but records are designed to be tamper-proof. Remember the memory tip: “Record equals locked—delete gets blocked.”
SC-900 Practice Question: Describe the capabilities of Microsoft compliance solutions
This SC-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe the capabilities of microsoft compliance solutions. 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 uses Microsoft Purview. A compliance officer applies a retention label to a set of legal documents and configures the label to mark the items as records. After the label is applied, a user attempts to delete one of these documents from SharePoint Online. What will be the outcome?
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
The user receives an access denied error and cannot delete the document.
When a retention label is configured to mark items as records, the items become immutable and locked. In SharePoint Online, records cannot be deleted by users; any attempt to delete a record results in an 'access denied' error because the retention policy overrides standard user permissions to enforce compliance.
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.
- ✗
The user is allowed to delete the document, but a copy is retained in a preservation hold.
Why it's wrong here
This describes the behavior of an eDiscovery hold, not a record label. A record label blocks deletion entirely.
- ✓
The user receives an access denied error and cannot delete the document.
Why this is correct
Correct. A record label makes the item a formal record, preventing users from deleting or modifying it.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The document is deleted and immediately purged from the recycle bin.
Why it's wrong here
Records are never deleted by users. This outcome is incorrect for a record label.
- ✗
The delete action is allowed but an audit event is generated and the document is still retained for the specified period.
Why it's wrong here
This describes the behavior of a standard (non-record) retention label where the delete is allowed but the item is retained in a secure location. Records block the delete.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'records' with 'regulatory records' or assume that retention labels only trigger audit events without blocking actions, but marking as a record strictly prohibits deletion and editing.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, when a retention label marks an item as a record, SharePoint Online applies a system-level lock that prevents any user (including site collection administrators) from deleting or editing the item. This lock is enforced by the Microsoft Purview compliance backend, which overrides SharePoint's native permission model. In a real-world scenario, if a user tries to delete a record, the action is blocked at the application layer, and an audit event is still generated for the attempted deletion, but the item remains intact.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SC-900 question test?
Describe the capabilities of Microsoft compliance solutions — This question tests Describe the capabilities of Microsoft compliance solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The user receives an access denied error and cannot delete the document. — When a retention label is configured to mark items as records, the items become immutable and locked. In SharePoint Online, records cannot be deleted by users; any attempt to delete a record results in an 'access denied' error because the retention policy overrides standard user permissions to enforce compliance.
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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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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