Microsoft Information Security Administrator (SC-401) Practice Test

197 questions available

Build your confidence for Microsoft Information Security Administrator (SC-401). Practice the concepts, understand the answers, and strengthen your knowledge one question at a time.

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Certification exam
40 Exam questions
1 hour 40 minutes Time Limit
Your practice
197 Practice questions
3 hours 17 minutes Practice Time
Try 5 free questions
No account needed. A free account includes 20 questions for this exam.
The bar to clear 700/1000 Published passing score for this certification.
Explore exam topics Official objectives from Microsoft
Microsoft197 practice questions
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Exam overview and details

The Microsoft SC-401: Microsoft Information Security Administrator exam validates the expertise required to implement, manage, and monitor security and compliance solutions for Microsoft 365 and hybrid environments. This exam assesses a candidate's ability to protect information, identities, devices, applications, and infrastructure across the Microsoft ecosystem. It tests practical skills in configuring security controls, responding to threats, and governing data using tools like Microsoft Defender XDR, Microsoft Purview, Microsoft Entra ID, and Microsoft Intune. The target audience includes security administrators, security operations analysts, and IT professionals responsible for their organization's security posture. Successfully passing this exam demonstrates a comprehensive, role-based understanding of securing Microsoft services, a critical competency in modern enterprise IT. It leads to the Microsoft Certified: Information Security Administrator Associate certification, signaling proven capability to prospective employers and clients.

Sample Questions

Choose an answer and explore the explanation to see how practice works.

Implement information protection

A manufacturer uses Power BI workspaces, SharePoint project sites, and Teams for export-controlled designs. Security wants container-level settings that restrict external sharing and privacy regardless of whether every file has been labeled. The same label name should be visible to business owners when they create the workspace or team. What should be configured?

Implement data loss prevention and retention

A security analyst wants to review endpoint activities that matched DLP rules, including attempts to copy files to USB, print, and upload to browsers. The analyst does not need to change policies. Which Purview experience should they use?

Implement data loss prevention and retention

A retention policy keeps Exchange mail for seven years. A user deletes a message after two years. The compliance officer wants to recover it for eDiscovery, but the user mailbox no longer shows it. What should be expected?

Implement information protection

A company wants Office users to choose a sensitivity label before saving any new Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file. The company does not want to auto-label every file because users must make a business judgment. Which policy setting should be configured?

Implement information protection

A healthcare tenant uses built-in sensitive information types for diagnoses and patient identifiers. Compliance administrators want to review where matched items exist and inspect matched files only when they have elevated permissions. A help desk operator should see summary counts but not content. Which Purview capability and permission split should be used?

Career Opportunities & Salary

Median salary: $129,180– Information Security Analysts

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 -- Information Security Analysts (SOC 15-1212), US national. Occupation median, not a certification salary. (2025)

Information Security Analysts

Exam insights and study advice

In today's threat landscape, organizations are increasingly reliant on cloud productivity suites like Microsoft 365, making their security configuration a primary line of defense. A misconfigured identity setting, an unmonitored data exfiltration path, or a delayed response to a sophisticated attack can lead to catastrophic data breaches, operational disruption, and regulatory fines. The SC-401 exam matters because it certifies the precise, hands-on skills needed to prevent these outcomes. It moves beyond theoretical security concepts to the practical application of Microsoft's security tools, ensuring professionals can actively harden environments, detect real attacks in progress, and automate compliance-directly impacting an organization's resilience and risk profile.

What this exam covers

Use the published domain weights to plan your study. Practice results do not predict your certification exam score.

01Implement and manage information protection

35%

02Implement data lifecycle and records management

35%

03Implement and manage data loss prevention

30%

Exam Details SC-401 | $165 USD | 1 hour 40 minutes

Exam Code SC-401
Vendor Microsoft
Exam Cost $165 USD
Passing Score 700/1000
Time Limit 1 hour 40 minutes
Exam questions 40
Question TypesMultiple Choice, Multiple Response, Drag and Drop, Case Study, Build List, Hot Area, Repeated Answer Choices
Retake Policy No waiting period for first retake if score >= 500 on failed attempt. If score < 500: 14-day waiting period before retake. Maximum 5 attempts per exam per year (365 days). Free retake voucher sometimes included in official instructor-led training.
Exam Format Linear
Online Proctoring Available
Available In
EnglishSimplified ChineseTraditional ChineseFrenchGermanJapaneseKoreanPortugueseRussianSpanishArabicIndonesian

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between the older SC-400 and the SC-401 exam?

I have experience with on-premises security but less with Microsoft 365. Can I pass this exam?

How much hands-on experience is recommended before attempting the SC-401?

Are there performance-based lab questions on the exam?

What is the single most important area to focus on for the SC-401?