The answer is managing user access and permissions for the application. This is correct because in the shared responsibility model for SaaS, the cloud provider secures the underlying infrastructure, platform, and application code, while the customer retains control over identity and access management (IAM), multi-factor authentication (MFA), and role-based access control (RBAC). On the Microsoft SC-900 exam, this concept tests your understanding of how responsibility shifts across IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS—a common trap is assuming the provider handles everything in SaaS, but the customer must always manage who can log in and what they can do. For a quick memory tip, remember “SaaS = Customer controls the keys, Provider locks the doors.”
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 uses a cloud-based SaaS (Software as a Service) application for customer relationship management. According to the shared responsibility model, which security responsibility is primarily handled by 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 user access and permissions for the application
In a SaaS model like a cloud-based CRM application, the customer is responsible for managing user access and permissions, including identity and access management (IAM), multi-factor authentication (MFA), and role-based access control (RBAC). The cloud provider handles the underlying infrastructure, platform, and application security, but the customer must control who can access the application and what they can do within it.
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.
✗
Physical security of the data center hosting the application
Why it's wrong here
Physical security is always the responsibility of the cloud provider, even in a SaaS model.
✗
Security of the underlying networking infrastructure
Why it's wrong here
The networking infrastructure (e.g., routers, firewalls) is maintained by the cloud provider as part of the platform security.
✓
Managing user access and permissions for the application
Why this is correct
The customer controls who uses the application and with what privileges. This is a customer responsibility regardless of the cloud service model.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Applying security patches to the application's code
Why it's wrong here
In SaaS, the provider is responsible for patching the application code because they own the software.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume the customer is responsible for patching the application code in SaaS, but in reality, the provider handles all code-level patches, while the customer only manages user access and permissions.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the shared responsibility model for SaaS, the provider is responsible for the security of the application code, runtime, and infrastructure (e.g., Azure Active Directory for authentication, network security groups). The customer must implement granular access controls using tools like Azure AD Conditional Access policies, ensuring least-privilege access and proper user lifecycle management. A real-world scenario is a customer failing to revoke access for a terminated employee, leading to data exposure—this is entirely the customer's responsibility.
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: Managing user access and permissions for the application — In a SaaS model like a cloud-based CRM application, the customer is responsible for managing user access and permissions, including identity and access management (IAM), multi-factor authentication (MFA), and role-based access control (RBAC). The cloud provider handles the underlying infrastructure, platform, and application security, but the customer must control who can access the application and what they can do within it.
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 subscribes to a SaaS human resources application hosted by an external provider. The provider is responsible for maintaining the physical data centers, network infrastructure, and the underlying application software. The company is responsible for managing user accounts, configuring user permissions, and classifying the data they upload. Which security model does this arrangement primarily describe?
easy
A.Defense in depth
B.Zero Trust
✓ C.Shared responsibility model
D.CIA triad
Why C: Option C is correct because the scenario explicitly describes a division of security responsibilities between the SaaS provider and the customer. The provider handles physical security, network infrastructure, and application software (security *of* the cloud), while the company manages user accounts, permissions, and data classification (security *in* the cloud). This is the core definition of the shared responsibility model, which is foundational to cloud computing and directly tested in SC-900.
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Question Discussion
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