- A
Defense in depth
Why wrong: Defense in depth uses multiple layers of security controls but does not inherently assume a breach and verify every request.
- B
Zero Trust
Zero Trust is a security model that assumes no implicit trust and requires continuous verification of every access request, even from inside the network.
- C
Shared responsibility
Why wrong: Shared responsibility defines the division of security obligations between cloud provider and customer, not the design of access verification.
- D
Least privilege
Why wrong: Least privilege limits permissions to what is necessary but does not address verification from a breach assumption.
Question 79 of 1,411
Zero Trust Security Model: Never Trust, Always Verify
This SC-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe the concepts of security, compliance, and identity. 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.
A security architect is designing a defense strategy for the organization's network. The architect assumes that an attacker may already have breached the perimeter and is operating inside the network. Therefore, the design does not automatically trust any user or device, even if they are inside the corporate network, and requires continuous verification for every access request. Which security principle does this approach best represent?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
✓
Zero Trust
The Zero Trust security principle is based on the assumption that an attacker may already be inside the network, so no user or device is automatically trusted, regardless of location. This model requires continuous verification for every access request, enforcing strict identity verification and least-privilege access controls at each step. The scenario directly describes the core tenet of Zero Trust: 'never trust, always verify.'
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.
- ✗
Defense in depth
Why it's wrong here
Defense in depth uses multiple layers of security controls but does not inherently assume a breach and verify every request.
When this WOULD be correct
A question asking: 'Which security strategy involves implementing multiple layers of security controls (e.g., firewalls, antivirus, IDS) to protect against threats?' would make Defense in depth the correct answer.
- ✓
Zero Trust
Why this is correct
Zero Trust is a security model that assumes no implicit trust and requires continuous verification of every access request, even from inside the network.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Shared responsibility
Why it's wrong here
Shared responsibility defines the division of security obligations between cloud provider and customer, not the design of access verification.
When this WOULD be correct
In a question asking: 'A company uses a cloud provider for IaaS. Who is responsible for securing the operating system and applications?' Shared responsibility would be correct because it delineates provider vs. customer security duties.
- ✗
Least privilege
Why it's wrong here
Least privilege limits permissions to what is necessary but does not address verification from a breach assumption.
When this WOULD be correct
A question that asks: 'A security architect wants to ensure that users and applications have only the minimum permissions necessary to perform their tasks, reducing the risk of excessive access. Which principle does this represent?' In that context, least privilege would be the correct answer.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The SC-900 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓Zero TrustCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
Zero Trust is a security model that assumes no implicit trust and requires continuous verification of every access request, even from inside the network.
✗Defense in depthWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Defense in depth uses multiple layers of security controls, but it does not inherently assume a breach or require continuous verification of every access request; it focuses on layered defenses rather than the 'never trust, always verify' principle.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question asking: 'Which security strategy involves implementing multiple layers of security controls (e.g., firewalls, antivirus, IDS) to protect against threats?' would make Defense in depth the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse Zero Trust's continuous verification with the layered approach of Defense in depth, as both involve multiple security measures, but they differ in core assumptions about trust.
✗Shared responsibilityWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Shared responsibility is a cloud security model that defines security obligations between provider and customer, not a principle for continuous verification and distrust of internal network traffic.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a question asking: 'A company uses a cloud provider for IaaS. Who is responsible for securing the operating system and applications?' Shared responsibility would be correct because it delineates provider vs. customer security duties.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse 'shared responsibility' with a security strategy that involves multiple layers or parties, but it specifically refers to division of security tasks in cloud environments, not network trust assumptions.
✗Least privilegeWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The question describes a model where no user or device is trusted by default, even inside the network, and every access request is continuously verified. This is the core definition of Zero Trust, not least privilege. Least privilege focuses on granting only the minimum permissions needed, not on continuous verification or assuming breach.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question that asks: 'A security architect wants to ensure that users and applications have only the minimum permissions necessary to perform their tasks, reducing the risk of excessive access. Which principle does this represent?' In that context, least privilege would be the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse least privilege with Zero Trust because both involve limiting access. However, least privilege is about permission levels, while Zero Trust is about continuous verification and assuming breach. The phrase 'does not automatically trust' might be misassociated with limiting permissions rather than verifying every request.
Analysis generated from the official SC-900blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse Zero Trust with defense in depth because both involve multiple security layers, but Zero Trust specifically requires continuous verification and assumes breach, whereas defense in depth does not mandate per-request trust evaluation.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Zero Trust enforces micro-segmentation and per-request authentication, often using technologies like Azure Active Directory Conditional Access, which evaluates signals such as user risk, device compliance, and location in real time. Under the hood, this relies on protocols like OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect for token-based access, and network policies that block lateral movement by default. In a real-world scenario, even a domain-joined machine on the corporate LAN must re-authenticate and pass health checks before accessing a sensitive database.
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 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: Zero Trust — The Zero Trust security principle is based on the assumption that an attacker may already be inside the network, so no user or device is automatically trusted, regardless of location. This model requires continuous verification for every access request, enforcing strict identity verification and least-privilege access controls at each step. The scenario directly describes the core tenet of Zero Trust: 'never trust, always verify.'
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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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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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