Question 1,074 of 1,411

Describe the concepts of security, compliance, and identity →easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The correct answer is Zero Trust, the security model that operates on the principle of "never trust, always verify." This model explicitly assumes no implicit trust based on network location, meaning every access request—whether from inside the corporate network or from an external source—must be fully authenticated, authorized, and encrypted before granting access. On the Microsoft SC-900 exam, this concept tests your understanding of how Zero Trust eliminates the traditional perimeter-based security mindset, where being inside the network once implied safety. A common trap is confusing Zero Trust with a VPN or firewall, but the key distinction is that Zero Trust requires continuous verification for every request, regardless of origin. For a memory tip, remember the three pillars: verify explicitly, use least privilege, and assume breach—if you see "no automatic trust" in a scenario, Zero Trust is always the answer.

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. 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 company implements a security model where no user or device is automatically trusted, even if they are inside the corporate network. Every access request must be authenticated, authorized, and encrypted before granting access, regardless of the request origin. This model is known as:

Question 1easymultiple choice

Full question →

A
Defense in depth
Why wrong: Defense in depth uses multiple layers of security controls but does not inherently distrust all internal traffic; it focuses on layered protection rather than explicit verification of every request.
B
Perimeter security
Why wrong: Perimeter security relies on a trusted internal network and a secure boundary, which contradicts the scenario's assumption that no user or device is automatically trusted.
C
Zero Trust
Zero Trust is the correct model. It requires explicit verification of every access request, regardless of network location, and enforces least privilege and assumed breach principles.
D
Least privilege
Why wrong: Least privilege is a principle of granting minimal access rights, but it is only one part of a broader security model; it does not encompass the full requirement of authenticating and encrypting every request.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

Option C is correct because Zero Trust is a security model that explicitly assumes no implicit trust based on network location. Every access request must be authenticated, authorized, and encrypted, regardless of whether it originates from inside or outside the corporate network. This aligns with the core Zero Trust principle of '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 distrust all internal traffic; it focuses on layered protection rather than explicit verification of every request.
✗
Perimeter security
Why it's wrong here
Perimeter security relies on a trusted internal network and a secure boundary, which contradicts the scenario's assumption that no user or device is automatically trusted.
✓
Zero Trust
Why this is correct
Zero Trust is the correct model. It requires explicit verification of every access request, regardless of network location, and enforces least privilege and assumed breach principles.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Least privilege
Why it's wrong here
Least privilege is a principle of granting minimal access rights, but it is only one part of a broader security model; it does not encompass the full requirement of authenticating and encrypting every request.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates often confuse Zero Trust with Defense in depth, assuming that multiple layers of security automatically remove implicit trust, but Zero Trust specifically targets the assumption of trust based on network location.

Trap categories for this question

Scenario analysis trap
Perimeter security relies on a trusted internal network and a secure boundary, which contradicts the scenario's assumption that no user or device is automatically trusted.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Zero Trust enforces micro-segmentation and per-request access control, often using technologies like Azure AD Conditional Access, TLS 1.3 for encryption, and token-based authentication (e.g., OAuth 2.0, SAML). Under the hood, it requires continuous validation of user identity, device health, and context (e.g., location, risk score) before granting access, even for internal resources. A real-world scenario is a user accessing an internal SharePoint site from a corporate laptop; Zero Trust would still require re-authentication and device compliance check, unlike traditional perimeter models.

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.

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

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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 — Option C is correct because Zero Trust is a security model that explicitly assumes no implicit trust based on network location. Every access request must be authenticated, authorized, and encrypted, regardless of whether it originates from inside or outside the corporate network. This aligns with the core Zero Trust principle of '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.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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