Quick Answer
The answer is Microsoft Defender for Identity and Microsoft Entra ID Protection. These two solutions work together to detect and respond to identity-based threats by analyzing different attack surfaces: Defender for Identity monitors on-premises Active Directory signals, network traffic, and behavioral patterns to catch advanced attacks like pass-the-hash or Kerberos golden ticket, while Entra ID Protection focuses on cloud-based identity risks such as anomalous sign-ins, leaked credentials, and risky user behaviors. On the SC-900 exam, this question tests your understanding of how Microsoft’s identity security portfolio divides responsibilities between on-premises and cloud environments—a common trap is confusing Defender for Cloud Apps or Azure AD with these two. Remember the memory tip: “Defender for Identity guards the castle (on-prem), Entra ID Protection patrols the cloud (Azure AD).”
This SC-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe the capabilities of microsoft security solutions. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
Which TWO Microsoft security solutions can be used to detect and respond to identity-based threats? (Choose two.)
Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps
Why wrong: Focuses on cloud app security.
Microsoft Purview
Why wrong: Focuses on data governance.
Microsoft Defender for Identity
Detects identity-based attacks.
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Why wrong: Focuses on endpoints, not identity.
Microsoft Entra ID Protection
Detects risky sign-ins and user risk.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Microsoft Defender for Identity
Microsoft Defender for Identity (option C) is a cloud-based security solution that uses on-premises Active Directory signals to identify, detect, and investigate advanced threats, compromised identities, and malicious insider actions. It specifically focuses on identity-based attacks such as pass-the-hash, Kerberos golden ticket, and brute-force attempts by analyzing network traffic and behavior.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps
Why it's wrong here
Focuses on cloud app security.
Microsoft Purview
Why it's wrong here
Focuses on data governance.
Microsoft Defender for Identity
Why this is correct
Detects identity-based attacks.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Why it's wrong here
Focuses on endpoints, not identity.
Microsoft Entra ID Protection
Why this is correct
Detects risky sign-ins and user risk.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps (a CASB) with identity threat detection, but it is primarily for cloud app security, not on-premises identity attacks, while Microsoft Defender for Identity and Entra ID Protection are the two dedicated identity-focused solutions.
Detailed technical explanation
Microsoft Defender for Identity integrates with on-premises Active Directory by deploying sensors on domain controllers to capture network traffic and Windows Event Logs (e.g., Event ID 4625 for failed logons, 4776 for credential validation). It uses machine learning to detect anomalies like abnormal Kerberos ticket requests or DCSync attacks, which are common identity-based threats. Microsoft Entra ID Protection (option E) complements this by analyzing user risk from cloud-based sign-in patterns, such as impossible travel or leaked credentials, using real-time risk detection and conditional access policies.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Describe the capabilities of Microsoft security solutions — This question tests Describe the capabilities of Microsoft security solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Microsoft Defender for Identity — Microsoft Defender for Identity (option C) is a cloud-based security solution that uses on-premises Active Directory signals to identify, detect, and investigate advanced threats, compromised identities, and malicious insider actions. It specifically focuses on identity-based attacks such as pass-the-hash, Kerberos golden ticket, and brute-force attempts by analyzing network traffic and behavior.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
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. Which TWO Microsoft security solutions can be used to detect and respond to threats across email, endpoints, and identities? (Choose two.)
easyWhy D: Microsoft Defender XDR (extended detection and response) and Microsoft Sentinel (SIEM/SOAR) can integrate signals across email, endpoints, and identities. Option A is incorrect because Defender for Cloud Apps focuses on cloud apps. Option C is incorrect because Intune is for management. Option E is incorrect because Purview is for data protection, not threat detection.
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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