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What Are the Core Functions of Microsoft Defender for Cloud for the SC-900?
Learn the primary role of Microsoft Defender for Cloud for the SC-900 exam. Understand how it delivers cloud security posture management (CSPM) and threat protection for Azure, AWS, and GCP workloads to strengthen your multi-cloud security.
Question
What is the primary role of Microsoft Defender for Cloud within the Microsoft Security Services ecosystem?
A. Provide attack simulation training to users
B. Host antivirus definitions for Microsoft Endpoint Manager
C. Manage subscriptions and cost optimizations
D. Offer cloud-native security posture management and threat protection
Answer
D. Offer cloud-native security posture management and threat protection
Explanation
Defender for Cloud helps monitor cloud security, compliance, and threat responses.
Microsoft Defender for Cloud is a central pillar of Microsoft’s security services, and its primary role is to unify two critical cloud security functions: Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) and Cloud Workload Protection Platform (CWPP). Understanding these two functions is essential for the SC-900 exam.
Core Functions of Defender for Cloud
Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM)
This is the proactive, assessment-focused side of Defender for Cloud. It continuously analyzes your resources across multi-cloud environments (Azure, AWS, and GCP) to identify security misconfigurations and weaknesses. It provides a Secure Score, which is a numerical representation of your security posture, along with prioritized recommendations for remediation. This helps organizations strengthen their defenses by closing security gaps before they can be exploited.
Cloud Workload Protection Platform (CWPP)
This is the threat protection side. Defender for Cloud provides advanced, intelligent protection for your specific cloud workloads. It extends beyond basic infrastructure to protect servers, databases, containers, storage, and more. Using threat intelligence and behavioral analytics, it detects and helps you respond to active threats targeting your cloud resources. The specific protection plans are often named “Defender for X,” such as Defender for Servers or Defender for SQL.
In essence, CSPM helps you secure the “front door” by hardening configurations, while CWPP acts as the security system inside, protecting your valuable workloads from active attacks.
Analysis of Other Options
The other options describe functions performed by different Microsoft services.
A. Provide attack simulation training to users: This is a key feature of Microsoft Defender for Office 365. Attack Simulation Training allows organizations to run benign cyberattack simulations (like phishing campaigns) to educate users and measure their awareness.
B. Host antivirus definitions for Microsoft Endpoint Manager: Antivirus capabilities are provided by Microsoft Defender Antivirus. The management and policy deployment for endpoints, including ensuring they have the latest definitions, is handled by management solutions like Microsoft Intune (part of the Microsoft Endpoint Manager suite).
C. Manage subscriptions and cost optimizations: This is the primary function of Azure Cost Management and Billing. This service provides tools for monitoring spending, setting budgets, and getting recommendations to optimize cloud costs.
SC-900 Microsoft Security, Compliance & Identity Fundamentals certification exam assessment practice question and answer (Q&A) dump including multiple choice questions (MCQ) and objective type questions, with detail explanation and reference available free, helpful to pass the SC-900 Microsoft Security, Compliance & Identity Fundamentals exam and earn SC-900 Microsoft Security, Compliance & Identity Fundamentals certificate.