What Are the Topics for SC-900?
Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals (Complete Guide)
The SC-900 certification provides foundational knowledge of cybersecurity, identity, and compliance, with a particular emphasis on Microsoft-based environments.
As a fundamentals-level examination, SC-900 does not require extensive technical experience.
As a fundamentals-level examination, SC-900 does not require extensive technical experience.
The following provides an exam-aligned overview of all SC-900 topics.
SC-900 Exam Topic Breakdown
The SC-900 syllabus is divided into four major domains.
1. Security Concepts (≈ 25%)
This section addresses foundational cybersecurity principles, focusing exclusively on conceptual understanding rather than specific tools.
Key learning objectives include:
- What cybersecurity is and why it matters
- Threats & attacks (malware, phishing, ransomware)
- Defense concepts (prevention, detection, response)
- Zero Trust model
- Shared Responsibility Model
- Defense-in-depth strategy
Primary focus: Organizational approaches to security
2. Identity & Access Management Concepts (≈ 25%)
Identity serves as a central pillar within the SC-900 framework.
Key learning objectives include:
- What identity means in cloud security
- Authentication vs authorization
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
- Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
- Conditional access (conceptual)
- Identity lifecycle (users, groups, roles)
Primary focus: Determining access rights and underlying rationale
3. Microsoft Security Solutions (≈ 25%)
This section provides a high-level introduction to the Microsoft security ecosystem.
Key learning objectives include:
- Purpose of Microsoft Defender solutions
- Security monitoring & alerts (conceptual)
- Endpoint, identity, and cloud protection basics
- Security posture & risk visibility
- Threat detection vs threat prevention
Primary focus: Microsoft’s methods for system protection
4. Compliance, Risk & Governance Concepts (≈ 25%)
This domain distinguishes SC-900 from many other entry-level certifications.
Key learning objectives include:
- What compliance means in IT
- Difference between compliance, risk, and governance
- Data protection & privacy principles
- Insider risk management (conceptual)
- Data classification & sensitivity labels
- Audit readiness and reporting basics
Primary focus: Organizational strategies for meeting legal and regulatory requirements
What SC-900 Does NOT Cover
The SC-900 examination does not include the following topics:
- Hands-on labs
- Coding or scripting
- Firewall or network configuration
- Penetration testing
- Advanced SOC operations
The exam emphasizes conceptual knowledge rather than practical implementation.
Who Should Study These Topics?
The SC-900 topics are particularly suitable for the following groups:
- Beginners entering cybersecurity
- IT / Helpdesk professionals
- Cloud & Microsoft 365 users
- Compliance & audit professionals
- Sales, pre-sales, and managers in security teams
- Students & career switchers
Difficulty Level of SC-900 Topics
✅ Easy to moderate
✅ No prior security experience required
✅ Mostly scenario-based questions
✅ Conceptual, not technical
✅ No prior security experience required
✅ Mostly scenario-based questions
✅ Conceptual, not technical
A foundational understanding of the importance of security is sufficient to succeed in the SC-900 examination.
How SC-900 Topics Help Your Career
Mastery of these topics can help candidates qualify for the following roles:
- SOC Analyst (Tier 1)
- Junior Security Analyst
- Compliance / GRC roles
- IAM support roles
- Cloud security support roles
Conclusion
The SC-900 curriculum emphasizes the following areas:
- Security fundamentals
- Identity & access basics
- Microsoft security ecosystem
- Compliance & governance
For those seeking a structured introduction to cybersecurity, these topics provide an effective starting point.

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