- A
Defense in depth
Why wrong: Defense in depth involves multiple layers of security controls, but the scenario specifically describes eliminating implicit trust and continuous verification, which is the core of Zero Trust.
- B
Least privilege
Why wrong: Least privilege is about limiting permissions to the minimum required, not about verifying every access request regardless of network location.
- C
Zero Trust
Zero Trust is the correct answer because it is built on the principle of 'never trust, always verify' and assumes no implicit trust based on network location.
- D
Shared responsibility
Why wrong: Shared responsibility is a cloud security model that defines what the provider and customer are responsible for, not a principle for verifying access requests.
Question 1,260 of 1,411
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 has implemented a security model where every access request is fully authenticated, authorized, and encrypted before granting access, regardless of where the request originates (corporate network or internet). The model assumes that no entity is inherently trustworthy and requires continuous verification. This model is known as:
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 described model—requiring full authentication, authorization, and encryption for every access request, treating no entity as inherently trustworthy, and demanding continuous verification—is the core definition of Zero Trust. This aligns with the NIST SP 800-207 standard, which explicitly states that Zero Trust assumes no implicit trust and enforces verification for every request, regardless of network location.
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 involves multiple layers of security controls, but the scenario specifically describes eliminating implicit trust and continuous verification, which is the core of Zero Trust.
When this WOULD be correct
Defense in depth would be correct for a question describing a security strategy that implements multiple layers of defense (e.g., firewalls, antivirus, intrusion detection) to protect against a single point of failure, without emphasizing continuous verification or distrust of all entities.
- ✗
Least privilege
Why it's wrong here
Least privilege is about limiting permissions to the minimum required, not about verifying every access request regardless of network location.
When this WOULD be correct
A question that asks: 'A company wants to ensure users have only the minimum permissions needed to perform their job functions. Which security principle should they apply?' In that context, least privilege would be the correct answer.
- ✓
Zero Trust
Why this is correct
Zero Trust is the correct answer because it is built on the principle of 'never trust, always verify' and assumes no implicit trust based on network location.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Shared responsibility
Why it's wrong here
Shared responsibility is a cloud security model that defines what the provider and customer are responsible for, not a principle for verifying access requests.
When this WOULD be correct
In a question like 'Which model outlines that the cloud provider is responsible for security of the cloud, while the customer is responsible for security in the cloud?', shared responsibility 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 the correct answer because it is built on the principle of 'never trust, always verify' and assumes no implicit trust based on network location.
✗Defense in depthWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Defense in depth is a layered security approach using multiple controls, but it does not inherently assume no entity is trustworthy or require continuous verification; it focuses on redundancy, not the zero-trust principle of 'never trust, always verify.'
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
Defense in depth would be correct for a question describing a security strategy that implements multiple layers of defense (e.g., firewalls, antivirus, intrusion detection) to protect against a single point of failure, without emphasizing continuous verification or distrust of all entities.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse defense in depth with zero trust because both involve multiple security controls, but defense in depth lacks the core zero-trust requirement of continuous verification and implicit distrust of all access requests.
✗Least privilegeWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The question describes a model where no entity is trusted by default and continuous verification is required, which is the definition of Zero Trust. Least privilege is a principle of granting only necessary permissions, not a model for continuous verification and encryption of all access requests.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question that asks: 'A company wants to ensure users have only the minimum permissions needed to perform their job functions. Which security principle should they apply?' 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, but they fail to recognize that Zero Trust is a broader security model encompassing continuous verification, while least privilege is a specific access control principle.
✗Shared responsibilityWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The shared responsibility model describes the division of security tasks between a cloud provider and customer, not the principle of never trusting any entity by default and requiring continuous verification.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a question like 'Which model outlines that the cloud provider is responsible for security of the cloud, while the customer is responsible for security in the cloud?', shared responsibility would be the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse the broad security concept of Zero Trust with the operational division of duties in cloud environments, especially when the question mentions 'security model' without specifying cloud context.
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 often confuse Zero Trust with defense in depth, assuming that multiple security layers inherently imply no trust, but defense in depth does not require per-request authentication, authorization, and encryption from any location.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
Defense in depth involves multiple layers of security controls, but the scenario specifically describes eliminating implicit trust and continuous verification, which is the core of Zero Trust.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Zero Trust enforces policies using micro-segmentation and per-request access tokens, often leveraging technologies like Azure AD Conditional Access, which evaluates signals (user, device, location, risk) in real time before issuing a token. A subtle behavior is that Zero Trust does not rely on a VPN for trust; instead, it uses technologies like Azure AD Application Proxy or Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps to broker access, ensuring encryption (TLS 1.2+) and continuous validation via session policies that can revoke access mid-session if risk changes.
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
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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 described model—requiring full authentication, authorization, and encryption for every access request, treating no entity as inherently trustworthy, and demanding continuous verification—is the core definition of Zero Trust. This aligns with the NIST SP 800-207 standard, which explicitly states that Zero Trust assumes no implicit trust and enforces verification for every request, regardless of network location.
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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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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