Microsoft SC-401  Administering Information Security in Microsoft 365 Exam Dumps and Practice Test Questions Set 5 Q81-100

Visit here for our full Microsoft SC-401 exam dumps and practice test questions.

Question 81

Your organization is migrating critical workloads to a hybrid environment that includes Azure and AWS. You need to design a unified identity and access management solution that ensures consistent policy enforcement across both clouds. Which Microsoft solution would best support this requirement?

A)Azure AD B2B + Conditional Access
B)Azure AD Connect + Privileged Identity Management
C)Microsoft Cloud App Security + Conditional Access
D)Azure AD Domain Services + Microsoft Intune

Answer: C)Microsoft Cloud App Security + Conditional Access

Explanation 

In hybrid and multi-cloud environments, identity and access management (IAM) becomes one of the central pillars of cybersecurity architecture, because inconsistent IAM policies can create vulnerabilities. Migrating workloads across Azure and AWS introduces challenges such as differing identity stores, inconsistent authentication methods, and multiple access control models. The goal is to maintain consistent access policies, enforce conditional access, and reduce the risk of unauthorized access across all cloud platforms.

Conditional Access in Azure AD allows organizations to enforce access policies based on signals like user identity, device compliance, risk level, and location. While Conditional Access is highly effective within Azure AD-integrated applications, it doesn’t provide visibility into non-Azure cloud workloads, such as AWS-hosted services. This is where Microsoft Cloud App Security (MCAS) becomes critical. MCAS provides cross-cloud monitoring, real-time risk analytics, policy enforcement, and alerting for multiple SaaS and IaaS platforms. By integrating MCAS with Conditional Access, administrators can extend context-aware access controls beyond Azure, ensuring that only compliant users on managed devices can access hybrid workloads, regardless of cloud platform.

MCAS also identifies shadow IT and unsanctioned app usage, which is common when employees adopt services outside approved IT controls. It assigns risk scores to apps based on compliance, user activity, and security posture, enabling security teams to block or restrict access dynamically. Additionally, MCAS can generate alerts for unusual behavior, such as impossible travel or unusual file downloads, which are key indicators of compromised accounts or insider threats.

Alternative options are less suitable:

• Azure AD B2B primarily facilitates external collaboration and doesn’t enforce cross-cloud conditional access.

• Azure AD Connect + PIM addresses identity synchronization and privileged access, but not multi-cloud access control and risk assessment.

• Azure AD Domain Services + Intune primarily addresses legacy applications and device management, lacking cloud-native access control capabilities.

By combining MCAS with Conditional Access, the organization can achieve:

1. Centralized visibility across Azure and AWS workloads.

2. Dynamic access policies based on risk, device compliance, and location.

3. Mitigation of shadow IT risks and enforcement of approved SaaS/IaaS use.

4. Integration with Microsoft Sentinel for centralized incident response.

This architecture aligns with Microsoft’s Zero Trust principles, emphasizing continuous verification, least privilege, and risk-based adaptive access across multi-cloud environments. Organizations using this approach reduce attack surfaces, limit potential lateral movement, and ensure consistent security posture for hybrid workloads.

Question 82

Your company wants to implement a Zero Trust model for administrative accounts. Administrators should only have time-limited access, approval workflows, MFA enforcement, and activity logging. Which Microsoft solution combination supports this requirement?

A)Azure AD Privileged Identity Management (PIM) + Azure AD Conditional Access
B)Microsoft Intune + Microsoft Purview
C)Azure Firewall + Network Security Groups
D)Microsoft Sentinel + Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

Answer: A)Azure AD Privileged Identity Management (PIM) + Azure AD Conditional Access

Explanation 

Zero Trust is a security framework that assumes no user, device, or application is inherently trusted, even if it resides within the corporate network perimeter. Administrative accounts represent the highest-value targets in any organization due to their ability to access and modify critical systems and sensitive datA)The goal is to minimize the risk associated with these accounts by enforcing least privilege, just-in-time access, multi-factor authentication, and continuous monitoring.

Privileged Identity Management (PIM) allows organizations to implement just-in-time privileged access, where administrators request elevation only for the time needed to perform specific tasks. PIM enforces approval workflows, so elevated access is reviewed and authorized by designated personnel. It also supports MFA enforcement, ensuring that administrators are verified before being granted privileged access. Activity logging within PIM captures details about who activated a role, for how long, and which actions were performed, enabling auditability and regulatory compliance.

Conditional Access complements PIM by adding context-aware policies. It evaluates risk signals, device compliance, location, and other factors before granting access. For example, if an administrator attempts to access resources from an untrusted location or a non-compliant device, Conditional Access can require additional authentication or block the session entirely. Together, PIM and Conditional Access enforce a Zero Trust principle where access is continually verified, not assumed.

Alternative options are less effective:

• Microsoft Intune + Purview focuses on device management and data governance, not privileged access control.

• Azure Firewall + NSGs control network traffic, but do not provide identity-based access policies for privileged roles.

• Sentinel + Defender for Endpoint offers monitoring, threat detection, and response, but they don’t govern access permissions for administrative accounts.

The combination of PIM and Conditional Access ensures:

1. Time-limited, just-in-time administrative access.

2. Context-aware risk-based enforcement through Conditional Access policies.

3. Audit trails and compliance for regulatory and internal security requirements.

4. Alignment with Zero Trust principles, emphasizing least privilege, verification, and continuous monitoring.
   

Implementing this approach reduces exposure to compromised administrative credentials, limits the potential damage of insider threats, and enforces operational accountability for all privileged activities across Azure, Microsoft 365, and hybrid resources.

Question 83

Your company is concerned about insider threats and needs real-time monitoring of user and entity behavior across on-premises Active Directory and Azure AD.Which solution should you deploy?

A)Microsoft Defender for Identity
B)Azure Key Vault
C)Microsoft Intune
D)Microsoft Sentinel

Answer: A)Microsoft Defender for Identity

Explanation 

Insider threats are a critical concern because legitimate users or compromised accounts can misuse privileges to exfiltrate data, escalate privileges, or move laterally within an organization’s IT environment. Monitoring these threats requires visibility into user behavior, analysis of activity patterns, and alerts for anomalies.

Microsoft Defender for Identity provides behavioral analytics and real-time monitoring across on-premises Active Directory (AD) and Azure AD.It uses machine learning to establish baseline user behavior and detect deviations, such as unusual login times, abnormal access to sensitive resources, or privilege escalation. Defender for Identity can identify suspicious activity such as lateral movement, domain dominance attacks, and compromised credential use, which traditional security tools may miss.

The solution integrates seamlessly with Azure AD and hybrid environments, correlating identity signals with events detected by Microsoft Sentinel or other SIEM solutions. By providing actionable alerts, security teams can quickly investigate potential insider threats, validate the risk, and initiate automated or manual responses. Defender for Identity also includes investigation tools and dashboards to map entity relationships, track historical activity, and assess threat impact across the organization.

Alternative options are insufficient:

• Azure Key Vault secures keys and secrets but does not monitor user behavior.

• Microsoft Intune manages devices but cannot detect insider threats.

• Microsoft Sentinel is a SIEM and can correlate logs, but without Defender for Identity, it lacks specific behavioral analytics for hybrid AD users.
  

Defender for Identity enables organizations to:

1. Detect and respond to compromised accounts quickly.

2. Understand lateral movement and privilege escalation within the network.

3. Integrate identity signals with broader SIEM monitoring for comprehensive security operations.

4. Meet regulatory compliance by auditing user activity and potential security incidents.
   

By deploying Defender for Identity, organizations gain a proactive security posture for insider threat detection, leveraging machine learning to reduce false positives while enhancing visibility across hybrid identity environments. This aligns with Microsoft’s Zero Trust principle of continuous verification, ensuring that no user or entity is automatically trusted.

Question 84

Your organization wants to implement adaptive access control that dynamically enforces multi-factor authentication (MFA) or blocks access based on sign-in risk, device compliance, and location. Which Microsoft solution combination best supports this requirement?

A)Azure AD Conditional Access + Identity Protection
B)Microsoft Intune + Microsoft Purview
C)Azure Firewall + Network Security Groups
D)Microsoft Sentinel + Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

Answer: A)Azure AD Conditional Access + Identity Protection

Explanation 

Adaptive access is a core principle of the Zero Trust security model, where access decisions are based on real-time evaluation of contextual risk signals rather than static permissions. Traditional static access models assume trust once a user is authenticated, which leaves organizations vulnerable to credential compromise or insider threats. To enforce adaptive access, organizations must combine risk-based sign-in evaluation with policy enforcement, which is exactly what Azure AD Conditional Access and Identity Protection provide together.

Azure AD Conditional Access allows administrators to define policies that consider multiple signals before granting access. Signals include user identity, group membership, device compliance, IP location, risk score, and application sensitivity. For example, a user accessing from a trusted corporate network may receive seamless access, while the same user signing in from an unusual geographic location or a non-compliant device might be required to perform MFA or could be blocked.

Identity Protection uses machine learning to detect risky sign-ins and compromised accounts. It evaluates each authentication attempt for anomalies such as impossible travel, leaked credentials, or unusual behavior patterns. When integrated with Conditional Access, detected risk can trigger automated responses, such as requiring MFA, blocking access, or forcing a password reset.

The combination of these two solutions allows organizations to implement dynamic, risk-based access policies that align with Zero Trust principles: verify explicitly, use least privilege access, and assume breach. Adaptive access also provides audit trails and compliance reporting, supporting regulatory requirements such as ISO 27001, NIST, and GDPR.

Alternative options do not provide the same adaptive capabilities:

• Intune + Purview primarily focuses on device management and data governance, not risk-based adaptive access.

• Azure Firewall + NSGs enforce network-level rules but cannot evaluate user or device risk.

• Sentinel + Defender for Endpoint provides monitoring and detection, but does not control access decisions in real-time.
  

In practical terms, using Conditional Access + Identity Protection enables organizations to:

1. Continuously evaluate the risk of every access attempt.

2. Enforce step-up authentication (MFA) or block high-risk sign-ins.

3. Ensure devices are compliant before allowing access.

4. Integrate with SIEM solutions for centralized reporting and investigation.
   

This approach strengthens security posture by reducing the attack surface, limiting the potential for compromised accounts to gain unauthorized access, and enforcing context-aware access policies across cloud and hybrid environments.

Question 85

Your organization is concerned about shadow IT and wants to monitor all cloud applications used by employees, assign risk scores, and enforce policies on unsanctioned apps. Which solution should you deploy?

A)Microsoft Cloud App Security (MCAS)
B)Azure AD Identity Protection
C)Microsoft Intune
D)Azure Key Vault

Answer: A)Microsoft Cloud App Security (MCAS)

Explanation 

Shadow IT occurs when employees use unsanctioned cloud applications outside the IT department’s awareness, often to improve productivity. While these applications can accelerate workflows, they introduce significant security, compliance, and data leakage risks. Detecting and mitigating shadow IT requires a solution that provides visibility, analytics, and policy enforcement across cloud environments.

Microsoft Cloud App Security (MCAS) is a Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) that allows organizations to discover all cloud applications in use, including unsanctioned apps, by monitoring network traffic logs, API connections, and user behavior. MCAS assigns risk scores to applications based on criteria such as compliance, security certifications, encryption, and industry reputation. This risk-based scoring helps prioritize which apps require remediation or access restrictions.

MCAS also enables real-time monitoring and policy enforcement. For example, it can block file downloads from high-risk applications, enforce MFA, or prevent uploads of sensitive data to unsanctioned apps. When integrated with Azure AD Conditional Access, MCAS provides dynamic enforcement of access policies based on risk, ensuring that only authorized and compliant users can access cloud applications.

Alternative options are insufficient:

• Azure AD Identity Protection focuses on user and sign-in risk, not unsanctioned cloud application monitoring.

• Microsoft Intune manages devices but cannot monitor cloud app usage.

• Azure Key Vault protects secrets and certificates, but does not provide shadow IT discovery or risk scoring.
  

By deploying MCAS, organizations can:

1. Identify all cloud applications being used within the enterprise.

2. Classify applications based on risk and compliance posture.

3. Enforce granular policies on high-risk apps to prevent data leakage or unauthorized access.

4. Integrate with SIEM solutions like Sentinel to correlate cloud app activity with security alerts.

5. Align with Zero Trust principles by continuously verifying app and user behavior, rather than assuming trust.
   

In summary, MCAS provides a comprehensive solution for shadow IT discovery, risk assessment, and enforcement, enabling organizations to secure cloud usage while maintaining productivity.

Question 86

Your organization wants to protect sensitive files across SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams by automatically applying encryption, access restrictions, and labeling. Which solution should you implement?

A)Microsoft Information Protection (MIP)
B)Azure Firewall
C)Microsoft Sentinel
D)Microsoft Intune

Answer: A)Microsoft Information Protection (MIP)

Explanation 

Data leakage and unauthorized access to sensitive information are among the most common security challenges in modern organizations. Protecting data in collaboration platforms like SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams requires classification, labeling, and enforcement mechanisms that operate across multiple workloads and automatically protect files and emails based on content sensitivity.

Microsoft Information Protection (MIP) allows organizations to define sensitivity labels that classify data such as Confidential, Highly Confidential, or Public. Labels can be applied manually by users or automatically using content inspection and machine learning. Once applied, labels enforce encryption, access restrictions, and rights management. For example, highly confidential files can be restricted to specific groups, blocked from external sharing, and encrypted to prevent unauthorized access.

MIP integrates with Microsoft 365 workloads, ensuring consistent data protection across SharePoint, Teams, and OneDrive. It also supports automatic classification based on content, such as detecting credit card numbers, social security numbers, or other regulated information. This reduces the risk of human error and ensures continuous compliance with regulatory frameworks like GDPR, HIPAA, or ISO 27001.

Alternative options do not provide this level of protection:

• Azure Firewall controls network traffic but cannot classify or encrypt files.

• Microsoft Sentinel provides SIEM monitoring but does not enforce data classification.

• Microsoft Intune manages devices but does not protect or classify files directly.
  

Deploying MIP provides multiple benefits:

1. Automatic protection for sensitive content across collaboration platforms.

2. Encryption and access control ensure that only authorized users can view or edit files.

3. Regulatory compliance by preventing accidental sharing of sensitive data.

4. Integration with DLP policies enhances enterprise-wide information protection.

5. Support for hybrid environments, extending protection beyond cloud-only platforms.
   

In conclusion, MIP enables organizations to classify, label, and protect sensitive files automatically, reducing the risk of data breaches, supporting regulatory compliance, and enforcing Zero Trust principles of least privilege and data-centric security.

Question 87

Your company wants to detect lateral movement and privilege escalation in on-premises Active Directory and hybrid Azure AD environments. Which solution is most suitable?

A)Microsoft Defender for Identity
B)Azure Firewall
C)Microsoft Intune
D)Microsoft Purview

Answer: A)Microsoft Defender for Identity

Explanation 

Lateral movement and privilege escalation are common techniques used by attackers to expand control within an environment after initial compromise. Detecting these threats in on-premises Active Directory (AD) and hybrid Azure AD environments is crucial to protecting sensitive assets and reducing dwell time.

Microsoft Defender for Identity monitors user and entity behavior by analyzing authentication requests, LDAP queries, Kerberos tickets, and other directory activities. It uses behavioral analytics and machine learning to establish baselines for normal user and device behavior. Deviations from these baselines, such as accessing unexpected resources, creating new admin accounts, or unusual replication requests, trigger alerts for potential lateral movement or privilege escalation attempts.

Defender for Identity is particularly effective in hybrid environments, where on-premises AD and Azure AD coexist. It correlates signals across both environments, providing a unified view of suspicious activity. Alerts can be integrated with Microsoft Sentinel for centralized monitoring and automated response, ensuring that security teams can investigate and remediate threats efficiently.

Alternative options are insufficient:

• Azure Firewall enforces network-level policies but does not analyze user behavior or detect lateral movement.

• Microsoft Intune manages devices but cannot detect privilege escalation or unusual AD activity.

• Microsoft Purview provides data governance but does not monitor or detect lateral movement.
  

Benefits of deploying Defender for Identity include:

1. Real-time detection of suspicious activity in hybrid AD environments.

2. Identification of compromised accounts and insider threats.

3. Integration with SIEM and automation tools for rapid response.

4. Regulatory compliance by providing detailed audit trails of directory activity.

5. Support for Zero Trust principles by monitoring every entity continuously and verifying behavior.
   

Defender for Identity enables organizations to proactively detect, investigate, and mitigate attacks, minimizing the impact of compromised accounts and ensuring the security of both on-premises and cloud directories.

Question 88

Your company needs to implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) for Windows and macOS devices, with automated investigation and remediation of detected threats. Which solution is appropriate?

A)Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
B)Azure Key Vault
C)Microsoft Purview
D)Azure Firewall

Answer: A)Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

Explanation 

Endpoints are often the primary targets for attackers because they provide access to corporate networks and sensitive datA)To mitigate risks such as malware, ransomware, and credential theft, organizations require endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions that go beyond traditional antivirus.

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint provides a comprehensive EDR platform that detects, investigates, and automatically remediates threats across Windows, macOS, Linux, and mobile devices. Defender for Endpoint leverages behavioral analytics, threat intelligence, and machine learning to identify suspicious processes, malicious file activity, and anomalous network connections.

Automated investigation capabilities allow the platform to analyze alerts, determine severity, and perform remediation actions, such as isolating infected devices, terminating malicious processes, and removing unauthorized registry changes. Integration with Microsoft Sentinel and other SIEM tools enables centralized monitoring and correlation of endpoint events with broader threat activity.

Alternative options are not suitable:

• Azure Key Vault protects secrets and certificates, but does not monitor or remediate endpoint threats.

• Microsoft Purview focuses on data governance and compliance, not endpoint security.

• Azure Firewall enforces network traffic rules but cannot detect malware or remediate threats on endpoints.
  

Benefits of deploying Defender for Endpoint include:

1. Cross-platform threat detection for Windows, macOS, Linux, and mobile devices.

2. Automated investigation and response, reducing time to remediation.

3. Integration with threat intelligence feeds to identify emerging threats.

4. Support for Zero Trust principles by continuously monitoring endpoint behavior and verifying device health.

5. Compliance and reporting capabilities aid in regulatory adherence and security audits.
   

Defender for Endpoint ensures that organizations can detect and respond to threats in real time, minimizing operational impact while protecting endpoints against modern, sophisticated attacks.

Question 89

Your organization wants to ensure that all cloud workloads meet security best practices and continuously receive recommendations for misconfigurations, vulnerabilities, and threat mitigation. Which solution is most suitable?

A)Microsoft Defender for Cloud
B)Azure Firewall
C)Microsoft Intune
D)Microsoft Purview

Answer: A)Microsoft Defender for Cloud

Explanation 

As organizations increasingly adopt cloud infrastructure, maintaining a security posture and compliance across workloads is a key challenge. Manual monitoring is inefficient and error-prone, leaving workloads vulnerable to misconfigurations, unpatched software, or exposure to threats. Microsoft provides Defender for Cloud, a comprehensive Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) and workload protection solution, to address these challenges.

Defender for Cloud continuously assesses the security posture of Azure, hybrid, and multi-cloud resources, including IaaS, PaaS, and serverless workloads. It evaluates configurations against industry benchmarks such as CIS, NIST, and ISO, detecting deviations and recommending remediation. Examples include unencrypted storage accounts, insecure network configurations, and missing security controls. By providing actionable recommendations, Defender for Cloud enables security teams to proactively mitigate vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.

In addition to CSPM, Defender for Cloud offers threat protection capabilities. Using behavioral analytics and threat intelligence, it can detect malware activity, suspicious login attempts, or anomalous access patterns within cloud workloads. Alerts are prioritized based on risk, allowing teams to focus on the most critical issues. The solution also supports integration with Microsoft Sentinel, enabling centralized monitoring, correlation, and automated response workflows.

Alternative options are limited:

• Azure Firewall protects network traffic but does not provide workload posture assessment or vulnerability recommendations.

• Microsoft Intune manages devices but cannot assess cloud workload configurations.

• Microsoft Purview focuses on data governance, classification, and compliance, not cloud security posture or threat detection.
  

Benefits of Defender for Cloud include:

1. Continuous security posture assessment across cloud and hybrid environments.

2. Actionable recommendations to remediate misconfigurations and vulnerabilities.

3. Integrated threat detection leveraging Microsoft threat intelligence.

4. Compliance support through audit-ready reporting and benchmark alignment.

5. Centralized monitoring and automation via integration with Sentinel and workflow playbooks.
   

Deploying Defender for Cloud aligns with Zero Trust principles by ensuring workloads are secure by design, continuously monitored, and automatically protected against threats. It reduces the attack surface, strengthens security posture, and provides operational visibility into cloud environments.

Question 90

Your organization wants to enforce device compliance before allowing access to corporate applications. Devices must meet security standards, including OS patch level, encryption, and antivirus protection. Which solution combination supports this requirement?

A)Microsoft Intune + Azure AD Conditional Access
B)Azure Firewall + Network Security Groups
C)Microsoft Purview + Microsoft Sentinel
D)Azure Key Vault + Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

Answer: A)Microsoft Intune + Azure AD Conditional Access

Explanation 

In modern enterprise environments, devices act as gateways to corporate applications and data. Allowing access from unmanaged or non-compliant devices significantly increases the risk of data breaches, malware infections, and lateral movement by attackers. To implement Zero Trust device verification, organizations must enforce compliance checks before granting access.

Microsoft Intune enables organizations to define device compliance policies, including operating system version, security patch status, disk encryption, antivirus presence, and configuration baselines. Devices that meet these criteria are considered compliant, while non-compliant devices can be restricted from accessing sensitive resources. Compliance checks can cover Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android devices, providing comprehensive coverage across an organization’s device ecosystem.

Azure AD Conditional Access complements Intune by enforcing access policies based on device compliance, user risk, location, and application sensitivity. For example, a user attempting to access Microsoft 365 from a non-compliant device could be blocked or prompted to enroll in Intune and remediate compliance issues. This ensures that only verified and secure devices can access corporate resources, reducing the attack surface.

Alternative options are insufficient:

• Azure Firewall + NSGs control network traffic, but cannot enforce device compliance for user authentication.

• Purview + Sentinel focus on data governance and SIEM monitoring, not access enforcement based on device state.

• Azure Key Vault + Defender for Endpoint manages secrets and endpoint protection, but does not integrate device compliance with access enforcement.
  

The combination of Intune and Conditional Access enables organizations to:

1. Verify device health before granting access to critical apps.

2. Enforce encryption, antivirus, and OS patching requirements consistently across platforms.

3. Implement automated remediation workflows for non-compliant devices.

4. Integrate device signals into broader risk-based access policies for Zero Trust compliance.

5. Maintain audit trails for regulatory compliance reporting.
   

By enforcing device compliance as part of a Zero Trust model, organizations reduce the risk of compromised endpoints and ensure that only trusted devices can access corporate applications. This approach protects sensitive data, maintains operational continuity, and supports regulatory requirements.

Question 91

Your organization wants to detect and respond to ransomware attacks on endpoints, including isolation, file protection, and automated remediation. Which solution provides these capabilities?

A)Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
B)Azure Key Vault
C)Microsoft Purview
D)Azure Firewall

Answer: A)Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

Explanation 

Ransomware remains one of the most critical threats to organizations because it can encrypt sensitive data, disrupt operations, and demand ransom payments. Traditional antivirus solutions are often insufficient to detect and remediate sophisticated ransomware attacks. Modern endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions are designed to provide real-time monitoring, behavioral analytics, and automated remediation.

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint combines behavioral-based detection, threat intelligence, and machine learning to identify ransomware and other malicious activity on endpoints. It can detect suspicious process execution, unusual file encryption activity, and network communications with known malicious infrastructure. When ransomware is detected, Defender for Endpoint can isolate the device from the network, terminate malicious processes, and recover affected files where possible.

Defender for Endpoint integrates with Microsoft Sentinel, allowing organizations to correlate endpoint alerts with network and identity signals for holistic threat analysis. It also supports automated response playbooks, reducing the time between detection and remediation and minimizing operational disruption.

Alternative options do not provide comprehensive ransomware protection:

• Azure Key Vault secures secrets but cannot detect ransomware activity.

• Microsoft Purview focuses on data governance, classification, and compliance, not active endpoint threat response.

• Azure Firewall controls traffic at the network layer but cannot detect or remediate ransomware on endpoints.
  

Benefits of deploying Defender for Endpoint include:

1. Real-time ransomware detection using advanced analytics.

2. Automated remediation, including device isolation and process termination.

3. Behavioral analytics and threat intelligence for proactive defense.

4. Integration with SIEM and security orchestration platforms for centralized monitoring and response.

5. Support for multi-platform environments, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.
   

This solution aligns with Zero Trust principles, continuously verifying device health and behavior, minimizing risk exposure, and ensuring rapid containment of security incidents.

Question 92

Your organization wants to enforce sensitivity labels on documents and emails that automatically apply encryption and restrict access based on content classification. Which solution supports this?

A)Microsoft Information Protection (MIP)
B)Azure Firewall
C)Microsoft Sentinel
D)Microsoft Intune

Answer: A)Microsoft Information Protection (MIP)

Explanation 

Protecting sensitive information in the modern workplace requires a data-centric security approach. Simply securing the perimeter or controlling access to devices is insufficient; sensitive documents must be classified, labeled, and protected wherever they reside or travel.

Microsoft Information Protection (MIP) allows organizations to define sensitivity labels for content such as confidential, highly confidential, or public. Labels can be applied manually by users or automatically based on content inspection and machine learning. Once applied, labels enforce encryption, rights management, and access restrictions. For example, a highly confidential document may only be accessible to a specific group of users and cannot be forwarded outside the organization.

MIP integrates seamlessly with Microsoft 365 workloads, including SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, and Exchange. Automated classification ensures continuous protection, reducing reliance on users to correctly label sensitive datA)Policies can include watermarking, access revocation, and automatic encryption based on classification, ensuring regulatory compliance and data security.

Alternative options are not suitable:

• Azure Firewall protects network traffic but does not classify or encrypt files.

• Microsoft Sentinel monitors and responds to security events but does not enforce content protection.

• Microsoft Intune manages devices but does not provide data labeling or encryption.
  

Benefits of MIP include:

1. Automatic protection of sensitive content across collaboration platforms.

2. Encryption and access control based on content classification.

3. Compliance support for GDPR, HIPAA, and ISO 27001.

4. Integration with DLP policies enhances enterprise-wide data security.

5. Support for hybrid environments, protecting both cloud and on-premises content.
   

Deploying MIP ensures that sensitive information is protected by default, preventing accidental or intentional data leakage and supporting Zero Trust principles of data-centric security.

Question 93

Your organization wants to detect and investigate suspicious Azure AD sign-ins, such as impossible travel or unfamiliar locations. Which solution provides this capability?

A)Azure AD Identity Protection
B)Microsoft Sentinel
C)Microsoft Intune
D)Azure Firewall

Answer: A)Azure AD Identity Protection

Explanation 

Organizations face constant risk from compromised credentials, phishing, and brute-force attacks. Detecting suspicious sign-ins is critical to preventing account compromise and data breaches. However, manual monitoring is not scalable; organizations need automated detection and risk assessment.

Azure AD Identity Protection is designed to identify risky sign-ins and user accounts using machine learning and behavioral analytics. Examples include:

• Impossible travel: detecting logins from geographically distant locations within a timeframe that is impossible for the same user.

• Sign-ins from unfamiliar devices or locations indicate potential account compromise.

• Leaked credentials, where user passwords appear in external breach databases.
  

Once a risky sign-in is detected, Identity Protection can trigger automated responses such as forcing MFA, requiring password resets, or blocking access entirely. Risk levels can be calculated per user or per sign-in, providing granular control over security enforcement.

Alternative options do not provide the same automated risk assessment:

• Microsoft Sentinel provides centralized SIEM and alert correlation, but does not specifically calculate sign-in risk scores or automate responses.

• Microsoft Intune focuses on device compliance, not sign-in behavior.

• Azure Firewall protects network traffic but does not analyze authentication activity.
  

Benefits of Azure AD Identity Protection include:

1. Automated risk detection for compromised credentials and abnormal sign-ins.

2. Integration with Conditional Access to enforce adaptive security policies.

3. Continuous monitoring of all Azure AD sign-ins with detailed risk analytics.

4. Support for compliance and audit reporting by logging risky activity and remediation actions.

5. Alignment with Zero Trust principles, continuously verifying identity rather than assuming trust.
   

Identity Protection ensures that high-risk sign-ins are identified and mitigated automatically, reducing the likelihood of account compromise and data breaches. It enables organizations to implement adaptive, risk-based authentication policies at scale, strengthening overall identity security posture.

Question 94

Your organization wants to implement just-in-time (JIT) access for administrative roles in Azure and ensure that all elevated sessions are time-limited, require approval, and are logged for auditing purposes. Which solution should you deploy?

A)Azure AD Privileged Identity Management (PIM)
B)Azure Firewall
C)Microsoft Intune
D)Microsoft Sentinel

Answer: A)Azure AD Privileged Identity Management (PIM)

Explanation 

Privileged accounts are prime targets for attackers because they allow access to sensitive systems, configuration changes, and confidential datA)Traditional static administrative access increases attack surfaces, as credentials may remain active indefinitely. To mitigate this, organizations are adopting just-in-time (JIT) access as part of a Zero Trust security model.

Azure AD Privileged Identity Management (PIM) enables JIT access for Azure AD and Azure resources. PIM allows administrators to request temporary activation of privileged roles only when needed. Elevated access can require approval workflows, ensuring that a second party validates the request before granting permissions. PIM also enforces time-bound sessions, automatically revoking privileges after a defined period. This reduces the window of opportunity for attackers if credentials are compromised.

Logging and auditing are key features of PIM. Every activation request, approval, and action performed during an elevated session is recorded in audit logs. These logs are crucial for regulatory compliance (e.g., SOC 2, ISO 27001) and for post-incident investigations. PIM also integrates with Azure AD Conditional Access, allowing organizations to enforce additional security checks, such as MFA, compliant devices, and trusted locations, before granting elevated access.

Alternative solutions are not suitable:

• Azure Firewall protects network traffic but does not manage role-based access.

• Microsoft Intune manages devices and compliance, but does not provide privileged role activation.

• Microsoft Sentinel offers SIEM and monitoring, but cannot enforce JIT access or manage approvals.
  

Benefits of deploying PIM include:

1. Reduced attack surface by limiting the duration of administrative access.

2. Approval workflows provide oversight for elevated privileges.

3. Automatic revocation ensures least privilege is maintained.

4. Auditability supports compliance and forensic investigations.

5. Integration with Conditional Access enhances security for high-value roles.
   

Implementing PIM is essential in a Zero Trust model, ensuring that privileged access is verified, controlled, and time-bound, protecting the organization against insider threats and credential compromise.

Question 95

Your organization wants to monitor all activities on sensitive documents, including access, sharing, and downloads, to detect potential data leakage. Which solution provides this capability?

A)Microsoft Purview
B)Azure Firewall
C)Microsoft Sentinel
D)Microsoft Intune

Answer: A)Microsoft Purview

Explanation 

Data leakage is a significant risk in organizations handling sensitive information, as unauthorized access or sharing can result in financial loss, reputational damage, and regulatory penalties. Monitoring user activity on sensitive documents is crucial to detecting and preventing data exfiltration.

Microsoft Purview is a data governance and compliance solution designed to classify, track, and protect sensitive information across Microsoft 365 and hybrid environments. Purview provides activity monitoring for documents and emails, allowing organizations to see who accessed, shared, or downloaded sensitive files, and under what context. Alerts can be triggered for suspicious activity, such as large downloads of confidential documents or sharing with external users.

Purview also integrates with sensitivity labels from Microsoft Information Protection (MIP). Labels applied to content enforce access restrictions, encryption, and usage controls, while Purview tracks interactions with that content. For example, an attempt to download a “Highly Confidential” document to a personal device would be logged and could trigger a security alert.

Alternative solutions are limited:

• Azure Firewall secures network traffic but cannot monitor file-level activity.

• Microsoft Sentinel collects and analyzes logs, but cannot inherently classify or track document interactions without additional integration.

• Microsoft Intune manages device compliance but does not track content-level access.
  

Benefits of using Purview for monitoring sensitive content include:

1. Comprehensive visibility into user interactions with critical data.

2. Risk detection and alerting for potential data leakage incidents.

3. Integration with sensitivity labels to enforce encryption and access restrictions.

4. Regulatory compliance reporting for GDPR, HIPAA, and other frameworks.

5. Support for Zero Trust principles by continuously verifying how sensitive data is accessed and shared.
   

By deploying Purview, organizations gain the ability to detect, investigate, and mitigate data leakage risks proactively, strengthening their overall security and compliance posture.

Question 96

Your company wants to identify and block risky sign-ins, such as those using leaked credentials or from unfamiliar locations, while automating responses like MFA or password reset. Which solution is most suitable?

A)Azure AD Identity Protection
B)Microsoft Intune
C)Azure Firewall
D)Microsoft Purview

Answer: A)Azure AD Identity Protection

Explanation 

Compromised user credentials are a primary vector for cyberattacks, allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to critical systems and sensitive data. Organizations need solutions that detect risky sign-ins in real-time and respond automatically to mitigate potential breaches.

Azure AD Identity Protection evaluates sign-ins and user accounts using machine learning and behavior analytics. Risk indicators include:

• Impossible travel, where a user signs in from geographically distant locations in a short time.

• Leaked credentials, detected from breached data sources.

• Sign-ins from unfamiliar devices or IPs signaling potential account compromise.
  

Identity Protection calculates risk levels per user and per sign-in. These risk assessments integrate with Azure AD Conditional Access, enabling automated actions such as enforcing MFA, blocking sign-ins, or prompting password changes. This ensures a proactive, automated response to account compromise while minimizing disruption to legitimate users.

Alternative solutions are insufficient:

• Intune ensures device compliance, but cannot evaluate sign-in risk.

• Azure Firewall protects network traffic but does not analyze authentication events.

• Microsoft Purview tracks document and data access, not sign-in behavior.
  

Benefits include:

1. Real-time detection of risky sign-ins across cloud and hybrid environments.

2. Automated remediation and policy enforcement, reducing manual intervention.

3. Granular risk scoring for users and sign-ins, supporting adaptive access decisions.

4. Compliance reporting for auditing and regulatory requirements.

5. Integration with Zero Trust strategies, continuously verifying identity before granting access.
   

Deploying Azure AD Identity Protection allows organizations to reduce the risk of account compromise, strengthen identity security, and enforce risk-based access controls at scale.

Question 97

Your organization wants to discover all cloud applications in use, assess their security posture, and enforce policies on unsanctioned apps to prevent shadow IT. Which solution should you deploy?

A)Microsoft Cloud App Security (MCAS)
B)Azure AD Identity Protection
C)Microsoft Intune
D)Azure Key Vault

Answer: A)Microsoft Cloud App Security (MCAS)

Explanation 

Shadow IT occurs when employees use cloud applications without IT approval, creating risks such as data leakage, non-compliance, and security gaps. Detecting and managing shadow IT requires visibility, risk assessment, and policy enforcement across cloud environments.

MCAS is a Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) that monitors network traffic and API connections to discover all cloud applications in use. MCAS assigns risk scores to applications based on compliance certifications, security controls, and user activity. Applications with high risk or non-compliance can be blocked or restricted through Conditional Access integration.

MCAS also provides real-time monitoring of app activity, including file sharing, downloads, and login anomalies. Alerts can be configured for suspicious behavior, helping security teams proactively mitigate data leakage and insider threats. By enforcing policies on unsanctioned apps, MCAS ensures that only approved services are used, reducing shadow IT exposure.

Alternative solutions do not address shadow IT fully:

• Azure AD Identity Protection focuses on risky sign-ins, not cloud app usage.

• Intune manages devices but cannot monitor cloud applications directly.

• Azure Key Vault secures secrets but does not provide app discovery or risk assessment.
  

Benefits of MCAS:

1. Visibility into all cloud apps, sanctioned and unsanctioned.

2. Risk assessment and scoring for informed policy decisions.

3. Policy enforcement to block or restrict high-risk apps.

4. Real-time monitoring and alerts for anomalous activity.

5. Integration with Zero Trust access policies for continuous verification of app and user behavior.
   

Deploying MCAS strengthens cloud security by identifying shadow IT, enforcing policy compliance, and reducing the attack surface in multi-cloud environments.

Question 98

Your organization wants to continuously monitor cloud workloads for misconfigurations, identify vulnerabilities, and provide actionable recommendations for remediation. Which solution is most suitable?

A)Microsoft Defender for Cloud
B)Azure Firewall
C)Microsoft Purview
D)Microsoft Intune

Answer: A)Microsoft Defender for Cloud

Explanation 

Cloud environments are dynamic, and misconfigurations can occur due to rapid deployment, human error, or inadequate governance. Misconfigured resources increase exposure to data breaches, privilege escalation, and ransomware attacks. Continuous assessment is critical for maintaining a secure cloud posture.

Microsoft Defender for Cloud provides Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) and workload protection capabilities. It continuously assesses Azure, hybrid, and multi-cloud workloads, checking configurations against security best practices and industry standards like CIS benchmarks, NIST, and ISO. Recommendations include enabling encryption, securing storage accounts, patching vulnerable systems, and restricting network access.

Defender for Cloud also includes threat protection, detecting suspicious activity such as lateral movement, malware deployment, and anomalous logins. Alerts are prioritized, enabling security teams to focus on the most critical issues. Integration with Microsoft Sentinel allows centralization of logs, correlation of events, and automation of remediation via playbooks.

Alternative options are less effective:

• Azure Firewall secures network traffic but does not assess workload configurations.

• Purview focuses on data governance and compliance, not security misconfigurations.

• Intune manages devices but cannot monitor cloud resource configurations.
  

Benefits of Defender for Cloud:

1. Continuous monitoring of cloud workloads for misconfigurations.

2. Actionable recommendations for remediation of vulnerabilities.

3. Integrated threat detection leveraging Microsoft threat intelligence.

4. Compliance reporting and alignment with industry standards.

5. Automation capabilities through integration with SIEM and orchestration tools.
   

By deploying Defender for Cloud, organizations can reduce misconfiguration risks, improve cloud security posture, and align with Zero Trust principles by continuously verifying the security state of every cloud resource.

Question 99

Your organization wants to analyze and respond to security incidents across identity, endpoints, and cloud workloads from a centralized platform, using automated playbooks and threat intelligence integration. Which solution should you deploy?

A)Microsoft Sentinel
B)Microsoft Intune
C)Azure Firewall
D)Microsoft Purview

Answer: A)Microsoft Sentinel

Explanation 

In modern enterprise environments, security incidents are increasingly multi-dimensional, spanning identity compromise, endpoint malware, cloud misconfigurations, and network anomalies. Detecting and responding to these threats requires centralized visibility, correlation, and automated response capabilities. Microsoft Sentinel, a cloud-native SIEM and Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) solution, fulfills this need.

Microsoft Sentinel collects and analyzes security logs and events from diverse sources, including Azure AD, Microsoft 365, Defender for Endpoint, Microsoft Defender for Cloud, and third-party services. It correlates these signals to detect patterns of attack, such as lateral movement, privilege escalation, or coordinated threats. Sentinel leverages built-in analytics rules and AI-driven insights to reduce false positives and prioritize incidents based on severity.

A key feature of Sentinel is automation through playbooks. Security teams can define workflows that automatically investigate alerts, isolate compromised devices, block risky accounts, or notify stakeholders. This reduces the time-to-respond, which is critical in minimizing damage during attacks. Sentinel also integrates threat intelligence feeds, enriching alerts with known Indicators of Compromise (IoCs) and enabling proactive threat hunting.

Alternative solutions lack the breadth of Sentinel:

• Microsoft Intune manages device compliance but does not correlate multi-source security events.

• Azure Firewall controls traffic at the network layer but cannot investigate or automate responses across identity, endpoints, and workloads.

• Microsoft Purview focuses on data governance and compliance, not security incident management.
  

Benefits of Microsoft Sentinel include:

1. Centralized visibility across identity, endpoints, cloud workloads, and network devices.

2. Automated investigation and response through customizable playbooks.

3. Threat intelligence integration for proactive detection.

4. Correlation of events to detect sophisticated multi-stage attacks.

5. Scalability and cloud-native architecture, supporting hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
   

By deploying Sentinel, organizations adopt a proactive, intelligence-driven security operations model, aligned with Zero Trust principles of continuous monitoring, verification, and rapid response. It empowers security teams to detect, analyze, and respond to threats efficiently, ensuring resilience across complex environments.

Question 100

Your company wants to secure hybrid identities, including on-premises Active Directory and Azure AD, by detecting suspicious activity, compromised accounts, and lateral movement. Which solution should you implement?

A)Microsoft Defender for Identity
B)Azure Firewall
C)Microsoft Intune
D)Microsoft Purview

Answer: A)Microsoft Defender for Identity

Explanation 

Hybrid identity environments, where on-premises Active Directory (AD) is integrated with Azure AD, introduce significant security challenges. Compromised accounts, lateral movement, and privilege escalation are common attack vectors exploited by attackers to gain access to sensitive resources. Organizations need solutions that detect suspicious activity, provide alerts, and support proactive remediation.

Microsoft Defender for Identity (formerly Azure Advanced Threat Protection) is specifically designed to protect hybrid identity environments. It monitors authentication requests, LDAP queries, Kerberos tickets, and other directory activities to detect abnormal behavior. Using behavioral analytics and machine learning, Defender for Identity establishes baselines for normal activity and triggers alerts for deviations, such as unusual access patterns, suspicious group modifications, or attempts at privilege escalation.

Defender for Identity also detects lateral movement, where attackers attempt to pivot from one compromised account to higher-privileged accounts. Alerts include detailed information about affected users, devices, and risk pathways, enabling rapid investigation and mitigation. Integration with Microsoft Sentinel allows organizations to correlate identity alerts with endpoint and cloud events, providing a comprehensive view of security incidents.

Alternative solutions are less suitable:

• Azure Firewall controls network traffic but cannot monitor identity behavior or detect compromise.

• Microsoft Intune manages device compliance but does not detect risky sign-ins or lateral movement.

• Microsoft Purview focuses on data classification and governance, not identity security.
  

Benefits of deploying Defender for Identity include:

1. Real-time detection of risky behavior in hybrid AD and Azure AD environments.

2. Detection of compromised accounts, lateral movement, and privilege escalation.

3. Integration with SIEM and automation tools for centralized monitoring and rapid response.

4. Detailed alerts and investigation tools, supporting security operations teams.

5. Compliance support through audit logs of all critical directory events.
   

By implementing Defender for Identity, organizations achieve continuous verification of identity behavior, a key Zero Trust principle, and strengthen protection against insider threats and advanced persistent threats. It ensures that hybrid identity environments are actively monitored, threats are promptly identified, and mitigation actions are applied quickly, minimizing organizational risk.