Microsoft SC-900 Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals Exam Dumps and Practice Test Questions Set 10 Q136-150
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Question 136
An organization wants to control access to Microsoft 365 apps based on a user’s location, device compliance, and sign-in risk. Which Microsoft solution should they implement?
A) Microsoft Entra Conditional Access
B) Microsoft Sentinel
C) Microsoft Purview Information Protection
D) Microsoft Intune
Correct Answer: A) Microsoft Entra Conditional Access
Explanation
Microsoft Entra Conditional Access is a core security capability that allows organizations to enforce adaptive access controls for Microsoft 365 applications by evaluating a wide range of signals. This feature provides organizations with the ability to dynamically adjust access permissions based on the specific context of each login attempt, ensuring that only authorized users and secure devices can access sensitive corporate resources. Conditional Access policies are highly versatile, enabling administrators to create rules that consider multiple factors, including the user’s location, the status of their device, and the perceived risk associated with the sign-in attempt.
Location-based policies are a critical aspect of Conditional Access. Administrators can configure these policies to allow or deny access based on geographic locations, IP address ranges, or country codes. This capability helps prevent unauthorized access from locations that are unexpected or considered high risk. For example, if an account is normally accessed from a particular country, any login attempt originating from another country can be flagged as suspicious or blocked entirely. By incorporating location-based signals, Conditional Access reduces the likelihood of compromise from attacks that originate in regions where the organization does not operate or expects no legitimate user activity.
Device compliance is another important signal used by Conditional Access, provided through Microsoft Intune. Intune monitors whether devices meet the organization’s security standards, such as having encryption enabled, running the latest operating system updates, and maintaining active antivirus software. Conditional Access leverages this information to ensure that only devices deemed secure and compliant are permitted to access corporate resources. For example, a laptop that lacks current security patches or does not meet encryption requirements can be automatically restricted from signing into Microsoft 365 applications. This approach enforces security at the device level, complementing user authentication and further protecting sensitive data.
Conditional Access also integrates with Azure AD Identity Protection to assess the risk associated with each sign-in. This integration allows the system to evaluate patterns such as anomalous login behavior, impossible travel scenarios, and potentially compromised credentials. By analyzing these risk indicators, Conditional Access can automatically enforce additional safeguards, such as requiring multi-factor authentication, blocking access, or triggering alerts for investigation. This risk-aware approach ensures that the organization can respond proactively to potential threats, rather than simply reacting after a security incident occurs.
It is important to understand how Conditional Access differs from other Microsoft security solutions. Microsoft Sentinel, for example, is a cloud-native security information and event management (SIEM) solution that excels in threat detection, incident response, and security analytics. Sentinel collects and analyzes logs and events from across the environment to identify potential security threats. While it provides comprehensive visibility and response capabilities, it does not enforce real-time access restrictions based on device status or geographic location. Similarly, Microsoft Purview Information Protection focuses on classifying and protecting sensitive content using labels, encryption, and access policies. While Purview safeguards the data itself, it does not dynamically adjust access permissions based on contextual factors like device compliance or sign-in location.
Microsoft Intune is another complementary solution, providing device management and compliance monitoring. Intune ensures that devices meet organizational security policies, but it does not independently evaluate access conditions across applications or enforce session-level access rules. Instead, Intune serves as a source of device compliance signals for Conditional Access, which then applies access policies accordingly. By combining Intune’s device management capabilities with Conditional Access, organizations can create a robust security framework that considers both the user and the device during every sign-in attempt.
Implementing Conditional Access allows organizations to establish adaptive security controls that protect resources without disrupting legitimate user activity. Policies can be customized at a granular level, targeting specific users, groups, applications, or risk levels. Conditional Access supports multi-factor authentication requirements under high-risk conditions, enforces the use of compliant devices, and restricts sign-ins from untrusted locations. By combining these signals, organizations ensure that only authorized and secure users gain access to Microsoft 365 applications, effectively reducing the likelihood of account compromise, data exfiltration, and unauthorized access.
Conditional Access provides a scalable and centralized approach to identity and access management. By integrating multiple signals—such as location, device compliance, and sign-in risk—into a single, adaptive policy framework, it enhances security posture while maintaining operational efficiency. Organizations can achieve strong, consistent protection for their Microsoft 365 environment while ensuring that legitimate users can remain productive without unnecessary friction. This balance of security and usability makes Conditional Access an essential component of modern enterprise identity and access management strategies.
Question 137
An organization wants to detect and respond to insider threats and anomalous activities across Microsoft 365. Which solution is most appropriate?
A) Microsoft Sentinel
B) Microsoft Purview Information Protection
C) Microsoft Intune
D) Microsoft Entra Conditional Access
Correct Answer: A) Microsoft Sentinel
Explanation
Microsoft Sentinel is a cloud-native Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system that collects logs and telemetry from Microsoft 365, Azure, and other connected systems. It uses analytics, machine learning, and built-in threat intelligence to detect suspicious behaviors, including insider threats, compromised accounts, and unusual file access patterns. Sentinel provides automated responses through playbooks, allowing immediate mitigation actions.
Microsoft Purview Information Protection secures sensitive data by classifying, labeling, and encrypting documents or emails. While it reduces the risk of accidental leaks, it does not proactively detect anomalous user behavior or insider threats.
Microsoft Intune manages device compliance and security configurations, such as antivirus installation, encryption, and patching. Intune does not analyze user activities or detect anomalous behaviors across applications.
Microsoft Entra Conditional Access enforces access policies based on user identity, device compliance, and sign-in risk,, but cannot detect or respond to anomalous activities post-access.
By implementing Sentinel, organizations can correlate events across multiple sources, detect patterns indicative of insider threats, and trigger automated responses. Sentinel’s dashboards, workbooks, and alerting mechanisms provide real-time visibility into security incidents. Integration with Microsoft 365 enables comprehensive monitoring of user and administrative actions, ensuring organizations can proactively identify and mitigate threats before they escalate. Sentinel enhances security posture, ensures compliance, and provides actionable intelligence to security teams for timely intervention.
Question 138
An organization needs to ensure all devices accessing corporate cloud apps meet security requirements such as having encryption, firewall enabled, and antivirus installed. Which solution is most suitable?
A) Microsoft Intune
B) Microsoft Sentinel
C) Microsoft Purview Information Protection
D) Microsoft Entra Conditional Access
Correct Answer: A) Microsoft Intune
Explanation
Microsoft Intune provides endpoint management for devices accessing corporate resources. Administrators can define compliance policies requiring disk encryption, firewall activation, antivirus software, and OS updates. Intune continuously monitors compliance and reports devices that fail policies. These signals can feed into Conditional Access to dynamically allow or block access to applications.
Microsoft Sentinel focuses on detecting and responding to threats using logs and analytics, but it does not enforce device compliance policies directly.
Microsoft Purview Information Protection protects sensitive data with labels, encryption, and usage restrictions but does not monitor or enforce device-level configurations.
Microsoft Entra Conditional Access enforces access rules based on signals such as device compliance, but it relies on Intune to provide device compliance status. Conditional Access alone cannot verify antivirus, encryption, or patching on devices.
By using Intune, organizations ensure that only compliant devices can access corporate apps. Integration with Conditional Access enhances security by enforcing access policies dynamically, reducing the risk of malware infection, unauthorized access, and data breaches. Intune provides centralized management, reporting, and remediation capabilities, ensuring all devices meet security standards before accessing sensitive resources. This approach protects corporate data while maintaining a seamless user experience, supporting compliance requirements, and mitigating security risks.
Question 139
An organization wants to automatically classify emails and documents based on sensitivity and enforce encryption when sensitive information is detected. Which Microsoft solution should they implement?
A) Microsoft Purview Information Protection
B) Microsoft Sentinel
C) Microsoft Intune
D) Microsoft Entra Conditional Access
Correct Answer: A) Microsoft Purview Information Protection
Explanation
Microsoft Purview Information Protection is a comprehensive data protection solution that enables organizations to safeguard sensitive information across Microsoft 365 by applying automated classification, labeling, and protection policies. In today’s environment, where data breaches, accidental disclosures, and regulatory noncompliance can have severe consequences, organizations need robust mechanisms to ensure that sensitive data is consistently protected. Purview Information Protection provides this capability by allowing administrators to define sensitivity labels that classify and secure content based on specific rules, patterns, or regulatory identifiers. By automating this process, the solution reduces reliance on manual interventions, lowers the risk of human error, and ensures that data protection policies are consistently enforced throughout the organization.
At the core of Purview Information Protection is its ability to create and deploy sensitivity labels. These labels can be configured to classify content automatically, semi-automatically, or manually. Automatic classification uses advanced pattern recognition, keywords, and regulatory identifiers to identify sensitive data such as personally identifiable information (PII), financial records, health information, or confidential corporate documents. Semi-automatic classification prompts users with recommendations based on detected patterns, allowing them to confirm the classification. Manual classification provides flexibility for scenarios where user judgment is required. This multi-layered approach ensures that sensitive content is consistently identified and protected without impeding day-to-day productivity.
Once content is classified, sensitivity labels can enforce a variety of protection actions. These actions include encryption, which ensures that only authorized users can access the content; access restrictions, which limit sharing and collaboration to designated individuals or groups; and usage rights, which can control copying, printing, or forwarding of emails and documents. For example, a document labeled as highly confidential can be automatically encrypted, restricted to certain internal teams, and prevented from being forwarded externally. This granular control allows organizations to implement security policies that are aligned with business requirements while ensuring regulatory compliance.
Purview Information Protection integrates seamlessly with Microsoft 365 applications such as Outlook, Word, Excel, SharePoint, and Teams. This integration ensures that protection policies are applied consistently across all collaboration and communication channels. Users can continue to work within familiar applications while the system enforces classification and protection in the background. This balance between security and usability helps maintain productivity without compromising the integrity of sensitive data. Additionally, audit and reporting capabilities allow administrators to monitor policy enforcement, track access and sharing activities, and generate compliance reports. These capabilities are particularly important for organizations that need to adhere to regulatory frameworks such as GDPR, HIPAA, or industry-specific compliance standards.
It is important to contrast Purview Information Protection with other Microsoft security solutions to understand its unique focus. Microsoft Sentinel, for instance, is designed for security monitoring, threat detection, and incident response. While Sentinel excels at collecting security events, identifying threats, and orchestrating automated responses, it does not classify, label, or encrypt content. Sentinel focuses on reactive threat management rather than proactive data protection.
Similarly, Microsoft Intune provides device management, configuration enforcement, and compliance monitoring. Intune ensures that devices meet organizational security standards and can enforce endpoint protection policies. However, it does not have the ability to inspect documents or emails for sensitive content, nor can it automatically apply classification or protection based on detected data patterns. Intune secures devices but does not directly protect organizational content.
Microsoft Entra Conditional Access, on the other hand, enforces access control based on identity, device compliance, location, or sign-in risk. Conditional Access ensures that only authorized users can access Microsoft 365 resources and that access policies adapt to contextual signals. However, Conditional Access does not inspect the content of documents or emails, nor does it apply encryption or control usage rights for sensitive information. Its scope is focused on securing access rather than securing the data itself.
By implementing Purview Information Protection, organizations achieve a unified and proactive approach to data security. Automated classification and labeling significantly reduce the risk of human error, ensuring that sensitive content is consistently protected regardless of who creates, modifies, or shares it. Encryption and access controls prevent unauthorized access, mitigating the risk of data leaks or accidental disclosure. Integration with Microsoft 365 applications allows employees to collaborate and communicate securely without additional complexity, supporting productivity while maintaining enterprise-level security. The solution also enables organizations to meet compliance requirements by providing detailed audit trails, reporting, and insights into how sensitive data is handled and shared across the organization.
Microsoft Purview Information Protection is a purpose-built solution for protecting sensitive information in Microsoft 365. Its ability to automatically classify, label, and enforce protection policies ensures that data remains secure, regulatory requirements are met, and organizational risk is minimized. Unlike Microsoft Sentinel, Intune, or Conditional Access, Purview Information Protection focuses directly on content security, providing organizations with the tools necessary to maintain consistent, automated, and enterprise-grade data protection while enabling seamless collaboration and user productivity.
Question 140
An organization wants to prevent external users from accessing Microsoft 365 documents unless they authenticate through a trusted identity provider. Which solution is most appropriate?
A) Microsoft Entra Conditional Access
B) Microsoft Purview Information Protection
C) Microsoft Intune
D) Microsoft Sentinel
Correct Answer: A) Microsoft Entra Conditional Access
Explanation
Microsoft Entra Conditional Access allows administrators to enforce access policies for external users. Policies can require authentication through a trusted identity provider, multi-factor authentication, or device compliance checks before granting access to Microsoft 365 documents. Conditional Access integrates with Azure AD B2B collaboration, ensuring that only authorized external users can access resources based on identity and risk signals.
Microsoft Purview Information Protection encrypts and protects content but does not control external user access or authentication methods.
Microsoft Intune enforces device compliance for internal or external devices but does not control authentication for external users accessing content.
Microsoft Sentinel detects suspicious activities and threats but cannot restrict access based on authentication methods for external users.
By using Conditional Access, organizations maintain secure collaboration with external partners while enforcing strong authentication and access controls. This approach mitigates the risk of unauthorized access, ensures regulatory compliance, and provides a balance between security and productivity. Conditional Access policies are flexible, allowing granular control per user, group, application, or risk level, ensuring that only trusted users can access sensitive resources.
Question 141
Which Microsoft Purview feature is primarily designed to prevent sensitive information from leaving Microsoft 365 via emails or files?
A) Data Loss Prevention
B) Audit
C) eDiscovery
D) Compliance Manager
Answer: A
Explanation
Data Loss Prevention is engineered to detect and control the movement of sensitive information such as financial records, personal data, and health details within Microsoft 365 services like Exchange Online, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams. It uses policies and rules to identify patterns including credit card formats, national identifiers, and custom labeling, then applies actions like blocking sharing, warning users, requiring justification, or encrypting content. This is prevention-focused: the system monitors content flows and intervenes to stop inadvertent or malicious leaks before they occur, aligning with regulatory obligations and organizational policy.
Audit provides detailed logs of activities across Microsoft 365, enabling investigators and compliance teams to trace who did what and when. It supports forensics, incident response, and compliance reporting by capturing events such as file access, sharing changes, mailbox operations, and configuration updates. While crucial for visibility and accountability, it does not actively stop sensitive information from leaving the tenant in real time. Audit is retrospective, revealing actions after they happen, not proactively preventing disclosures.
eDiscovery centers on identifying, preserving, and exporting content for legal or investigative purposes. It includes case management, legal holds, and workflows to search, review, and produce documents relevant to litigation or regulatory inquiry. Although it controls how content is handled for legal defensibility and maintains integrity through holds, it is not designed to interrupt outgoing emails or external sharing on the basis of detected sensitivity patterns. Its purpose is discoverability and preservation, not live prevention of data exfiltration.
Compliance Manager helps map controls, assess posture, and manage improvement actions against frameworks such as GDPR, ISO, and regional standards. It provides templates, scores, and workflow to track implementation tasks and control gaps. While it strengthens governance posture and operational readiness, it does not monitor content flows or apply policy enforcement to prevent sensitive data departures. It is a management utility rather than a data path control.
Preventing leakage of sensitive content requires a system that recognizes patterns, classifies data contextually, and acts at the moment of transmission or sharing. Data Loss Prevention fulfills this requirement by scanning messages and documents, evaluating recipients and destinations, and applying rule-based enforcement. It integrates with sensitivity labels and can present user education prompts, reducing friction while maintaining protection. The capability becomes especially powerful when aligned with regulatory needs like protecting personally identifiable information and with business policies defining acceptable sharing boundaries. Combining detection accuracy with user-friendly prompts fosters a culture of safe handling without overwhelming everyday workflows. The other features support governance, investigation, and auditing, but they do not provide the preventive controls on the path of data leaving Microsoft 365 services. For direct, real-time prevention of sensitive information exfiltration via emails or files, the correct selection is the preventive policy engine that evaluates and acts, which is Data Loss Prevention.
Question 142
In the Microsoft Zero Trust model, which control best enforces per-request verification of user, device, and session conditions before granting access?
A) Conditional Access
B) Defender for Cloud Apps
C) Microsoft Sentinel
D) BitLocker
Answer: A
Explanation:
Conditional Access enforces granular, policy-based decisions at the time of authentication and token issuance. It evaluates signals such as user risk, sign-in risk, device compliance, location, application sensitivity, and session context. Policies can require multi-factor authentication, demand compliant or hybrid-joined devices, restrict legacy authentication, or block access under specific conditions. This is the core enforcement point of Zero Trust in Microsoft cloud identity, ensuring every request is explicitly verified against dynamic conditions before access is granted.
Defender for Cloud Apps provides cloud access security broker capabilities including discovery, session control, and visibility into third-party applications. It can apply real-time session inspections for certain applications, control downloads, and monitor risky behavior. While it augments Zero Trust by inspecting and governing app sessions, it typically builds on identity signals and policies already enforced at sign-in. It is powerful for inline activity controls and shadow IT discovery but is not the primary gate for initial per-request verification of identity and device conditions before access is issued.
Microsoft Sentinel is a cloud-native SIEM and SOAR that ingests telemetry, detects threats, and orchestrates response. It correlates signals, applies analytics, and can trigger automation to contain incidents. Although it is essential for threat detection and incident response at scale, it is not an access enforcement plane. It observes and reacts rather than evaluates every access attempt to decide whether to grant or deny based on user, device, and session conditions. Its role complements enforcement by providing context and response workflows.
BitLocker encrypts disks on Windows devices, protecting data at rest from physical theft or offline tampering. Encryption strengthens device posture and contributes to compliance with data protection standards. Despite its importance for endpoint security, it does not perform identity-based verification at access time to cloud resources. It is a control on local storage rather than a dynamic gate for session-based access decisions.
Zero Trust principles require explicit verification, least privilege, and assume breach. Enforcing per-request verification means evaluating the who, what, where, and risk each time a session is initiated. Conditional Access is designed precisely for that purpose, serving as the policy engine in the identity plane that applies real-time controls based on contextual signals. It can integrate with device compliance from endpoint management to ensure only healthy devices are used, demand stronger authentication when risk is elevated, and enforce restrictions tailored to application sensitivity. Other tools enrich overall security posture through monitoring, inspection, and encryption, yet they do not serve as the primary gatekeeper of access decisions. The correct selection is the control that verifies every request against defined conditions and dynamically permits, challenges, or blocks, which is Conditional Access.
Question 143
Which Microsoft Entra capability allows organizations to manage external identities securely while enabling collaboration?
A) External Identities
B) Conditional Access
C) Privileged Identity Management
D) Identity Protection
Answer: A
Explanation:
External Identities in Microsoft Entra ID allow organizations to invite and manage users from outside the organization, such as partners, suppliers, and customers. It supports collaboration scenarios by enabling guest accounts to access resources securely while applying policies to protect organizational data. External Identities leverage federation, social identity providers, and email-based invitations to onboard external users. Administrators can apply conditional policies, enforce multi-factor authentication, and restrict access based on risk signals. This capability ensures that collaboration is secure, controlled, and aligned with organizational governance requirements.
Conditional Access enforces policies at the time of authentication, requiring additional verification or blocking access based on signals such as device compliance, location, and risk. While it is critical for enforcing Zero Trust principles, its scope is broader and applies to all users, internal and external. It does not specifically provide the onboarding and management framework for external identities. Instead, it complements external identity management by enforcing policies once those identities are established.
Privileged Identity Management governs the activation of elevated roles within Microsoft Entra ID. It reduces standing privileges by requiring just-in-time activation, approval workflows, and access reviews for privileged roles. While it secures administrative access, it does not provide the mechanisms to invite, onboard, and manage external users for collaboration. Its focus is on privileged role governance rather than external identity management.
Identity Protection detects and responds to risky sign-ins and compromised accounts using signals such as atypical travel and leaked credentials. It enforces policies to mitigate risk by requiring additional authentication or blocking access. While it strengthens identity security, it does not provide the framework for managing external identities or enabling collaboration scenarios. Its role is risk detection and mitigation, not external identity onboarding.
Managing external identities securely requires a capability that supports onboarding, federation, and collaboration while applying security policies. External Identities in Microsoft Entra ID fulfill this requirement by allowing organizations to invite external users, manage their access, and enforce policies to protect data. It integrates with Conditional Access and Identity Protection to ensure that external collaboration is secure and compliant. The other capabilities contribute to identity security and governance but do not provide the external identity management framework. Therefore, the correct selection is External Identities.
Question 144
Which Microsoft Defender solution provides endpoint detection and response capabilities to identify and remediate advanced threats?
A) Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
B) Microsoft Defender for Office 365
C) Microsoft Defender for Identity
D) Microsoft Defender for Cloud
Answer: A
Explanation:
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint delivers endpoint detection and response capabilities, combining behavioral analytics, threat intelligence, and automated investigation to identify and remediate advanced threats. It monitors endpoint activities, detects suspicious behavior, and provides security teams with detailed alerts and investigation tools. Defender for Endpoint integrates with Microsoft 365 security ecosystem, enabling automated response actions such as isolating devices, killing malicious processes, and collecting forensic evidence. Its design focuses on protecting endpoints against sophisticated attacks, making it the solution best suited for endpoint detection and response.
Microsoft Defender for Office 365 protects email and collaboration tools against phishing, malware, and business email compromise. It provides features such as Safe Links, Safe Attachments, and anti-phishing policies. While it is critical for securing communication channels, it does not provide endpoint detection and response capabilities. Its scope is email and collaboration security, not endpoint monitoring and remediation.
Microsoft Defender for Identity monitors Active Directory signals to detect identity-based attacks such as pass-the-ticket, credential theft, and lateral movement. It provides visibility into suspicious activities targeting domain controllers and privileged accounts. While it strengthens identity security, it does not provide endpoint detection and response capabilities. Its focus is on identity-based attack detection rather than endpoint monitoring.
Microsoft Defender for Cloud provides cloud workload protection and security posture management for Azure and hybrid environments. It helps organizations assess compliance, detect misconfigurations, and protect workloads against threats. While it is essential for cloud security, it does not provide endpoint detection and response capabilities. Its scope is cloud workloads, not endpoint devices.
Endpoint detection and response requires a solution that monitors endpoint activities, detects advanced threats, and enables remediation. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint fulfills this requirement by providing behavioral analytics, automated investigation, and response actions. It integrates with other Microsoft Defender solutions to provide a comprehensive security ecosystem. The other solutions protect email, identities, or cloud workloads but do not provide endpoint detection and response. Therefore, the correct selection is Microsoft Defender for Endpoint.
Question 145
A company needs a tool that provides a centralized dashboard of their security posture across Microsoft 365 and gives actionable recommendations to improve it. Which tool should they choose?
A) Microsoft Secure Score
B) Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps
C) Microsoft Purview eDiscovery
D) Microsoft Entra Workload ID
Correct Answer: A) Microsoft Secure Score
Explanation
Microsoft Secure Score is a powerful and purpose-built tool designed to evaluate, monitor, and enhance an organization’s security posture across Microsoft 365. In today’s digital environment, where cyber threats are increasingly complex and regulatory requirements continue to grow, organizations need a comprehensive method to assess the effectiveness of their security controls. Secure Score provides exactly this by offering a centralized dashboard that aggregates security insights, highlights improvement opportunities, prioritizes actions, and estimates the potential impact of risks. By consolidating data from multiple Microsoft 365 services, Secure Score allows administrators to gain visibility into security gaps, implement best practices, and continuously measure progress over time.
At the core of Secure Score is its ability to analyze configurations across a wide array of Microsoft 365 services. These include Exchange Online, SharePoint, Teams, Entra ID, Microsoft Defender services, and device management configurations. For each service, Secure Score evaluates current security settings against Microsoft’s recommended practices. Actions such as enabling multi-factor authentication, configuring data loss prevention policies, activating auditing, securing administrative accounts, and deploying endpoint protection are assessed, and each recommendation is assigned weighted points. These points reflect the relative importance of the action in reducing security risk, allowing organizations to focus on the measures that provide the greatest improvement to their security posture.
Secure Score not only identifies gaps but also provides actionable guidance for closing them. Administrators can view a prioritized list of recommended actions, along with details on why each action is important, how to implement it, and what risk it mitigates. This guidance helps ensure that security efforts are both effective and aligned with organizational priorities. For example, enabling MFA for all users or protecting high-privilege accounts are recommendations that carry significant weight because they substantially reduce the likelihood of account compromise. By following these recommendations, organizations can systematically strengthen their security posture and reduce exposure to potential threats.
One of the key benefits of Secure Score is its ability to track progress over time. Organizations can monitor improvements as they implement recommended actions, providing a historical view of security initiatives and their outcomes. Secure Score also enables benchmarking against other organizations of similar size or industry, helping administrators understand where their security posture stands in comparison to peers. This benchmarking capability is particularly valuable for demonstrating progress to leadership and justifying investments in security tools, processes, and training. By providing a quantifiable and visual representation of security improvements, Secure Score makes it easier to communicate the value of cybersecurity initiatives across the organization.
While Microsoft Secure Score focuses on assessing and improving overall security posture, other Microsoft tools offer complementary capabilities but do not provide the same centralized, scoring-based approach. Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps, for instance, functions as a cloud access security broker that monitors cloud application usage, enforces session controls, detects threats, and provides governance capabilities. Although Defender for Cloud Apps is effective for monitoring and controlling cloud applications, it does not produce a unified security posture score across Microsoft 365 or provide prioritized recommendations for improving overall organizational security.
Microsoft Purview eDiscovery is another tool within the Microsoft ecosystem, designed to support legal investigations, audits, and compliance requests. It allows organizations to locate, preserve, and retrieve data as needed for regulatory or legal purposes. While Purview eDiscovery is crucial for managing data in compliance scenarios, it does not evaluate security configurations, assess risk, or generate actionable improvement recommendations. Its focus is on information retrieval and governance, not on measuring and improving security posture.
Microsoft Entra Workload ID manages identities for applications and services rather than human users. It helps secure application credentials, manage service principals, and enable secure authentication between workloads. While essential for application identity and workload security, Entra Workload ID does not provide an organization-wide assessment of security settings, nor does it offer scoring, dashboards, or improvement recommendations. Its scope is limited to service and application identities rather than the broader security posture of Microsoft 365.
In contrast, Microsoft Secure Score provides a comprehensive and centralized approach to measuring, managing, and improving security. By evaluating multiple services, assigning weighted scores to recommended actions, and providing detailed guidance for remediation, it enables organizations to systematically reduce risk. Administrators can track progress, compare performance to benchmarks, and clearly communicate improvements to executives, making it an indispensable tool for maintaining a strong security posture.
Microsoft Secure Score is the only solution purpose-built to measure and improve an organization’s Microsoft 365 security posture. Its centralized dashboard, actionable recommendations, risk prioritization, and progress tracking capabilities provide organizations with the insight and tools needed to strengthen defenses, reduce vulnerabilities, and align security practices with industry best practices. Unlike Defender for Cloud Apps, Purview eDiscovery, or Entra Workload ID, Secure Score offers a holistic, scoring-based approach that allows organizations to proactively manage security and demonstrate measurable improvements over time, ultimately minimizing risk and enhancing overall organizational resilience.
Question 146
A company needs to automatically detect risky OAuth app consent grants and block malicious applications from accessing user data in Microsoft 365. Which solution should they use?
A) Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps
B) Microsoft Entra Conditional Access
C) Microsoft Purview Insider Risk Management
D) Microsoft Intune
Correct Answer: A) Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps
Explanation
Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps is a critical solution for securing Microsoft 365 environments against risks posed by OAuth applications. OAuth, a widely used authorization protocol, allows users to grant third-party and internal applications access to their Microsoft 365 data without sharing passwords. While this capability enhances productivity and integration, it also introduces potential security risks if applications request excessive permissions or behave maliciously. Defender for Cloud Apps addresses these risks by providing continuous monitoring, risk assessment, and automated governance specifically for OAuth-enabled applications, helping organizations protect sensitive information and prevent unauthorized access.
One of the key strengths of Defender for Cloud Apps is its ability to continuously scan all applications that users authorize through OAuth consent. This includes both third-party applications, which may be developed outside the organization, and internally developed apps that employees integrate into their workflows. The system evaluates these applications to determine whether their permissions, requested scopes, or behaviors pose a potential security threat. For instance, if an application suddenly requests broad access to emails, SharePoint files, or user management functions, this could indicate that the app is compromised or is attempting malicious activity. Defender for Cloud Apps identifies these anomalies in real time and applies automated governance actions to mitigate risk.
Defender for Cloud Apps uses advanced behavioral analytics and anomaly detection to identify suspicious activity. By analyzing typical application behavior, the platform can detect deviations, such as an app suddenly accessing unusually large volumes of sensitive data or performing operations inconsistent with its intended functionality. Additionally, the solution leverages Microsoft’s threat intelligence signals to enhance detection accuracy, helping to identify malicious applications or compromised OAuth tokens before significant damage occurs. When a high-risk application is detected, the platform can automatically block access, revoke the associated tokens, alert administrators, and prevent the app from being used across the organization. This automated approach ensures that risks are addressed quickly and consistently, reducing reliance on manual intervention and minimizing the window of exposure.
A particularly important use case for Defender for Cloud Apps is protection against consent phishing attacks. In these scenarios, attackers trick users into granting OAuth permissions to malicious applications. Once granted, these apps may gain access to sensitive emails, files, or other corporate resources. Defender for Cloud Apps mitigates this risk by continuously evaluating OAuth consents and identifying applications that request permissions beyond what is necessary for their function. The platform’s ability to detect abnormal behavior and enforce automated governance makes it an essential tool for defending against this increasingly common attack vector.
It is important to distinguish Defender for Cloud Apps from other Microsoft security solutions, as their focuses are different. Microsoft Entra Conditional Access, for example, is designed to enforce authentication policies based on conditions such as device compliance, location, application type, and sign-in risk. Conditional Access is highly effective for implementing Zero Trust security principles, requiring multi-factor authentication, and controlling access under risky conditions. However, it does not inspect OAuth permissions, nor can it detect malicious application behavior. Conditional Access cannot evaluate whether an application requests excessive privileges or behaves inconsistently with its intended purpose.
Similarly, Microsoft Purview Insider Risk Management focuses on detecting and mitigating internal threats, such as data theft, sabotage, or policy violations. It monitors signals like unusual file downloads, email exfiltration, or HR-related events. While effective for insider risk scenarios, it does not provide visibility into OAuth application permissions or consent flows, meaning it cannot analyze or block malicious third-party or internal apps.
Microsoft Intune, another complementary tool, manages devices, enforces compliance policies, configures endpoints, and ensures organizational security settings are applied across desktops and mobile devices. While Intune is essential for device security and management, it does not monitor OAuth consents or evaluate the behavior of applications integrated into Microsoft 365. It cannot detect or respond to suspicious OAuth activity, nor can it prevent unauthorized applications from accessing sensitive data.
Because of its unique focus on OAuth application security, Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps is the only solution among these options that provides automated detection, analysis, and mitigation of risky OAuth applications. By continuously scanning permissions, monitoring behavioral anomalies, leveraging threat intelligence, and taking automated action, it ensures that only trusted applications operate within the Microsoft 365 environment. Organizations using Defender for Cloud Apps benefit from enhanced protection against malicious apps, compromised accounts, and consent phishing attacks, safeguarding sensitive corporate data and maintaining regulatory compliance.
Defender for Cloud Apps is the most suitable solution for organizations seeking to monitor and govern OAuth applications in Microsoft 365. Its advanced detection capabilities, real-time monitoring, and automated remediation provide a proactive defense against application-level threats, making it an essential component of modern cloud security strategies. By focusing specifically on OAuth permissions and app behavior, it fills a critical gap in Microsoft 365 security that other tools cannot address, ensuring that sensitive data remains protected while enabling secure productivity for users.
Question 147
An organization wants to enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all users accessing Microsoft 365 services from unmanaged devices. Which solution should they implement?
A) Microsoft Entra Conditional Access
B) Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps
C) Microsoft Intune Compliance Policies
D) Microsoft Purview Information Protection
Correct Answer: A) Microsoft Entra Conditional Access
Explanation
Microsoft Entra Conditional Access is the correct solution because it provides policy-based controls to enforce authentication requirements such as MFA depending on specific conditions. Conditional Access evaluates signals like device state, location, user risk, and application to determine whether additional authentication is required. In this case, unmanaged devices represent a higher risk since they do not have the organization’s compliance or management policies applied. By creating a Conditional Access policy that targets unmanaged devices, administrators can require users to perform MFA before accessing Microsoft 365 resources, effectively mitigating the risk of unauthorized access. Conditional Access also integrates with risk-based signals from Microsoft Entra Identity Protection, allowing organizations to dynamically enforce security requirements based on user behavior or threat intelligence.
Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps is designed to monitor, detect, and govern activity within cloud applications. While it can enforce app-level policies and block risky apps, it does not directly enforce MFA for authentication based on device management or conditional rules. It focuses on application governance, risk assessment, and anomaly detection rather than access control at the sign-in level.
Microsoft Intune Compliance Policies manage device configurations, security requirements, and compliance states for endpoints. While Intune can mark devices as compliant or non-compliant and integrate with Conditional Access to control access, Intune by itself cannot enforce MFA. It provides the underlying compliance signals but requires Conditional Access to translate those signals into access restrictions and authentication requirements.
Microsoft Purview Information Protection focuses on data classification, labeling, and protection. While it is essential for preventing data leaks and applying encryption or sensitivity labels, it does not control how users authenticate or access Microsoft 365 services. It cannot enforce MFA or evaluate device trust.
Therefore, Microsoft Entra Conditional Access is the correct solution because it allows organizations to create granular policies that require MFA for specific conditions, such as accessing services from unmanaged devices. This approach provides both security and flexibility, ensuring that only authorized users can access sensitive resources while maintaining a seamless experience for trusted devices.
Question 148
An organization needs to monitor and detect suspicious sign-ins, such as impossible travel or sign-ins from unfamiliar locations, in Microsoft 365. Which service should they use?
A) Microsoft Entra Identity Protection
B) Microsoft Intune
C) Microsoft Purview Information Protection
D) Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps
Correct Answer: A) Microsoft Entra Identity Protection
Explanation
Microsoft Entra Identity Protection is a comprehensive solution designed to monitor, detect, and respond to identity-related risks across Microsoft 365. It plays a crucial role in securing organizational resources by providing detailed insights into user sign-in behavior and activity patterns, enabling administrators to proactively identify potential threats before they escalate into security incidents. Unlike other tools that focus primarily on device management, data protection, or application monitoring, Identity Protection is specifically tailored to safeguard identities and ensure that only trusted users can access organizational resources.
At the core of Identity Protection is its ability to detect anomalies in user behavior. The system continuously analyzes sign-in attempts and user activities, identifying patterns that deviate from normal usage. One example of this is impossible travel, where a user’s account appears to sign in from two geographically distant locations within a short time frame—something that is highly unlikely to be legitimate. The platform also tracks sign-ins from unfamiliar locations, unusual devices, and atypical usage patterns that might indicate compromised credentials or malicious activity. By monitoring these signals in real time, Identity Protection provides organizations with early warnings of potential account compromise.
Identity Protection uses a sophisticated risk scoring system to evaluate each sign-in event or user account. Each activity is assigned a risk level categorized as low, medium, or high, based on factors such as location, device, and sign-in behavior. This scoring enables organizations to prioritize responses and implement targeted security measures. Administrators can configure automated actions based on these risk levels. For example, high-risk sign-ins can trigger immediate requirements for multi-factor authentication, password resets, or even temporary account blocks. Medium-risk events might prompt additional verification steps or generate alerts for further investigation, while low-risk activity may continue without interruption. This flexibility ensures that security measures are applied proportionally, reducing disruption to legitimate users while maintaining a strong security posture.
The integration of Identity Protection with Conditional Access enhances its effectiveness significantly. Conditional Access policies use the risk signals provided by Identity Protection to enforce adaptive security controls, ensuring that only trusted users and compliant devices can access critical resources. This integration allows organizations to create policies that dynamically adjust based on real-time risk assessments. For instance, a sign-in from an unusual location on a non-compliant device could be blocked or subjected to additional verification, while routine activity from a trusted location might proceed seamlessly. By combining Identity Protection with Conditional Access, organizations achieve a proactive, automated approach to identity security that balances protection with user productivity.
While Identity Protection focuses on identity security, other Microsoft tools serve complementary but distinct purposes. Microsoft Intune, for example, is a device management solution that ensures devices comply with organizational policies and security requirements. It can enforce endpoint protection settings, monitor device health, and report compliance status. However, Intune does not analyze user sign-in behavior, detect unusual locations, or identify suspicious authentication patterns. Its primary focus is on device and application management rather than proactive identity threat detection.
Microsoft Purview Information Protection provides a different layer of security by classifying, labeling, and protecting sensitive data. Purview helps prevent accidental or intentional data leaks and enforces governance policies to ensure that organizational content is handled appropriately. Although it safeguards data, it does not detect unusual sign-in activity or evaluate the risk associated with user authentication. Purview is data-centric, focusing on content protection rather than identity risk management.
Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps is another complementary tool, designed to monitor cloud application usage, detect risky apps, and apply conditional access at the application level. While it can identify anomalous activity within cloud applications, it does not provide detailed risk scoring for individual sign-ins or identify identity-related anomalies such as impossible travel or unfamiliar locations. Defender for Cloud Apps is primarily focused on application-level behavior rather than user authentication and identity threats.
Overall, Microsoft Entra Identity Protection is the most suitable solution for monitoring and mitigating suspicious sign-ins within Microsoft 365. It offers automated risk detection, actionable alerts, and integration with Conditional Access to enforce adaptive security measures. By evaluating sign-in behavior, user activity, and contextual signals, Identity Protection ensures that only legitimate users can access resources under secure conditions. It provides organizations with a proactive, scalable, and centralized approach to identity security, reducing the risk of account compromise, unauthorized access, and potential data breaches. For organizations seeking to protect their Microsoft 365 environment effectively, Identity Protection delivers the tools necessary to monitor, respond to, and mitigate identity-related threats while maintaining a seamless user experience.
Question 149
An organization wants to prevent accidental sharing of sensitive documents stored in Microsoft 365 with external users. Which solution should they implement?
A) Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
B) Microsoft Entra Conditional Access
C) Microsoft Intune Compliance Policies
D) Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Correct Answer: A) Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
Explanation
Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention (DLP) is the correct solution because it is designed to identify, monitor, and protect sensitive information within Microsoft 365 services such as SharePoint Online, OneDrive, and Exchange Online. DLP policies allow organizations to define rules that detect sensitive data types such as credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, or confidential business information. Once detected, DLP can prevent actions like sharing externally, copying, printing, or emailing sensitive content without authorization. DLP also provides real-time policy tips and notifications to end users, educating them about data protection and preventing accidental exposure. The solution ensures compliance with regulatory requirements and internal security policies, mitigating the risk of data leakage.
Microsoft Entra Conditional Access primarily manages authentication and access based on conditions such as location, device compliance, and user risk. While Conditional Access helps secure access to resources, it does not inspect the content of documents or prevent sensitive data from being shared externally. It focuses on identity and access rather than data governance.
Microsoft Intune Compliance Policies manage the configuration, security, and compliance of devices within the organization. Intune can enforce encryption, password requirements, or OS version compliance on devices accessing corporate resources, but it cannot detect or prevent the sharing of sensitive documents stored in Microsoft 365 services. Its function is device-focused rather than content-focused.
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint provides endpoint detection and response capabilities, including threat detection, attack surface reduction, and remediation of compromised devices. While it enhances endpoint security, it does not monitor document sharing, enforce content protection, or prevent sensitive information from being exposed through collaboration tools. Its scope is primarily endpoint threats rather than data governance within Microsoft 365.
Therefore, Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention is the most suitable solution for preventing accidental sharing of sensitive documents. It directly inspects content, applies policies to control sharing, and provides visibility and compliance reporting. DLP ensures that sensitive information is safeguarded, reducing the risk of accidental leaks and maintaining organizational and regulatory compliance.
Question 150
An organization wants to ensure that only compliant and managed devices can access Microsoft 365 apps, while blocking access from unmanaged or non-compliant devices. Which solution should they implement?
A) Microsoft Entra Conditional Access
B) Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention
C) Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps
D) Microsoft Intune Device Compliance Policies
Correct Answer: A) Microsoft Entra Conditional Access
Explanation
Microsoft Entra Conditional Access is the correct solution because it enables organizations to enforce access control policies based on a variety of conditions, including device compliance. By integrating with Microsoft Intune, Conditional Access can evaluate whether a device is compliant with the organization’s security policies—such as encryption, password requirements, and OS version—before granting access to Microsoft 365 applications. If the device is non-compliant or unmanaged, Conditional Access can block access or require additional authentication methods like multi-factor authentication (MFA) to reduce security risks. This approach ensures that only trusted devices access organizational resources, maintaining a strong security posture without disrupting productivity for compliant users.
Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention (DLP) focuses on protecting sensitive data by detecting, monitoring, and preventing unauthorized sharing. While DLP is essential for data protection, it does not control which devices or endpoints can access Microsoft 365 apps. Its primary function is content governance rather than access enforcement based on device compliance.
Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps is a cloud access security broker (CASB) that provides monitoring, risk detection, and control over cloud app usage. While it can identify risky app behavior and enforce session policies, it does not natively enforce device compliance checks before granting access to Microsoft 365 applications. Defender for Cloud Apps complements Conditional Access by providing additional visibility and control over cloud applications but is not sufficient alone for restricting access based on device state.
Microsoft Intune Device Compliance Policies define rules for devices, such as requiring encryption, setting minimum OS versions, or enforcing password complexity. While Intune assesses and marks devices as compliant or non-compliant, it does not directly control access to Microsoft 365 apps. It requires integration with Conditional Access to translate compliance status into access decisions.
Therefore, Microsoft Entra Conditional Access is the optimal solution. By leveraging compliance signals from Intune, it ensures that only devices meeting organizational security requirements can access Microsoft 365 apps. This strategy combines real-time policy enforcement with security intelligence, reducing the risk of unauthorized access and ensuring that organizational data is protected while maintaining a seamless user experience for trusted devices.