What Are the Topics for SC-900?

 

SC-900 Exam

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.
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
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.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Enhancing Data Security with Artificial Intelligence

Ethical Hacking: Balancing Security and Ethics in the Digital Age

The Impact of Robotics on Society: Examining the Social and Economic Implications of Automation