The correct answer is to use the Microsoft Defender for Cloud recommendation 'System updates should be installed on your machines' to identify VMs missing updates, then enable auto-patching for those VMs. This works because Defender for Cloud continuously assesses your Azure resources against security best practices, and this specific recommendation scans all VMs in your subscription—including those not yet registered with Azure Update Manager—to flag any missing system updates. On the SC-900 exam, this tests your understanding of Defender for Cloud’s role as a cloud security posture management (CSPM) tool, distinct from Azure Policy (which enforces rules but doesn’t directly report update status) or Update Manager (which only shows compliance for registered machines). A common trap is assuming security alerts handle patching, but alerts focus on threats, not missing updates. Memory tip: think of Defender for Cloud as the “spotlight” that finds unpatched VMs, then Update Manager as the “fixer” that applies the patches.
SC-900 Practice Question: Describe the capabilities of Microsoft security solutions
This SC-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe the capabilities of microsoft security solutions. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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.
Your organization has implemented Microsoft Defender for Cloud to protect Azure resources. You are responsible for security posture management. You need to ensure that all Azure VMs have the latest security updates installed. You have enabled automatic VM patching via Azure Update Manager. However, some VMs are not receiving updates because they are not registered with the Update Manager. You need to identify which VMs are missing updates and ensure they are patched. What should you do?
Create an Azure Policy to enforce automatic updates on all VMs.
Why wrong: Azure Policy can enforce, but does not identify missing updates on unregistered VMs.
B
Use the Microsoft Defender for Cloud recommendation 'System updates should be installed on your machines' to identify VMs missing updates, then enable auto-patching for those VMs.
This recommendation lists VMs missing updates.
C
Review Microsoft Defender for Cloud security alerts for 'Missing system updates'.
Why wrong: Security alerts are for detected threats, not missing updates.
D
Use Azure Update Manager's compliance view to export a list of VMs with missing updates.
Why wrong: This only shows VMs already registered.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use the Microsoft Defender for Cloud recommendation 'System updates should be installed on your machines' to identify VMs missing updates, then enable auto-patching for those VMs.
Option A is correct because Microsoft Defender for Cloud provides a recommendation 'System updates should be installed on your machines' that identifies VMs missing updates. Option B is wrong because Azure Policy can enforce compliance but does not directly identify missing updates. Option C is wrong because Azure Update Manager's compliance view shows update status, but it may not show unregistered VMs. Option D is wrong because security alerts are for threats, not missing updates.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Create an Azure Policy to enforce automatic updates on all VMs.
Why it's wrong here
Azure Policy can enforce, but does not identify missing updates on unregistered VMs.
✓
Use the Microsoft Defender for Cloud recommendation 'System updates should be installed on your machines' to identify VMs missing updates, then enable auto-patching for those VMs.
Why this is correct
This recommendation lists VMs missing updates.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
Review Microsoft Defender for Cloud security alerts for 'Missing system updates'.
Why it's wrong here
Security alerts are for detected threats, not missing updates.
✗
Use Azure Update Manager's compliance view to export a list of VMs with missing updates.
Why it's wrong here
This only shows VMs already registered.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
This only shows VMs already registered.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this SC-900 question in full detail.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SC-900 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Describe the capabilities of Microsoft security solutions — This question tests Describe the capabilities of Microsoft security solutions — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use the Microsoft Defender for Cloud recommendation 'System updates should be installed on your machines' to identify VMs missing updates, then enable auto-patching for those VMs. — Option A is correct because Microsoft Defender for Cloud provides a recommendation 'System updates should be installed on your machines' that identifies VMs missing updates. Option B is wrong because Azure Policy can enforce compliance but does not directly identify missing updates. Option C is wrong because Azure Update Manager's compliance view shows update status, but it may not show unregistered VMs. Option D is wrong because security alerts are for threats, not missing updates.
What should I do if I get this SC-900 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SC-900 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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. Your organization uses Microsoft Defender for Cloud to protect Azure virtual machines. You need to ensure that critical vulnerabilities identified on the VMs are automatically remediated using a just-in-time patching mechanism. What should you configure?
easy
✓ A.Enable adaptive application controls and just-in-time VM access in Defender for Cloud
B.Deploy Microsoft Intune for update management
C.Configure Azure Automation Update Management
D.Enable Azure Update Manager
Why A: Option B is correct because Microsoft Defender for Cloud's adaptive application controls and just-in-time VM access can be combined with update management to automate patching. Option A is wrong because Azure Update Manager does not provide just-in-time patching. Option C is wrong because Azure Automation Update Management requires manual scheduling. Option D is wrong because Microsoft Intune is for endpoint management, not Azure VMs.
Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
Question Discussion
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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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