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Microsoft · Cybersecurity · Entry

Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals exam guide

Exam SC-900

SC-900 validates foundational knowledge of security, compliance and identity concepts and the Microsoft solutions that deliver them: Entra, Defender, Sentinel and Purview. It is the entry point to Microsoft's security certification path.

QuestionsSee official page
Time limit45 minutes
Passing score700 (1-1000 scale)
Exam fee$99 USD
Valid forSee official page
DeliveryPearson VUE test center or online proctored

Format: Multiple choice, drag-and-drop and hot area. Fee note: US price; varies by country. Student and Microsoft Learn challenge discounts sometimes available.

Who it's for

Students, career changers, business stakeholders and IT staff new to Microsoft security who need a vocabulary baseline.

What the exam covers

Describe the concepts of security, compliance, and identity (10-15%)—
Describe the capabilities of Microsoft Entra (25-30%)—
Describe the capabilities of Microsoft security solutions (35-40%)—
Describe the capabilities of Microsoft compliance solutions (20-25%)—

A dash means the vendor does not publish a weight for that domain.

Eligibility & prerequisites

Required: None

Recommended: General familiarity with IT and cloud concepts and Microsoft 365/Azure.

Keeping it active

Fundamentals certifications do not expire; no renewal required.

Skills & careers

Skills it validates

  • Zero Trust, shared responsibility and defense in depth concepts
  • Microsoft Entra ID authentication, Conditional Access and identity governance
  • Microsoft Defender XDR and Defender for Cloud capabilities
  • Microsoft Sentinel SIEM/SOAR concepts
  • Microsoft Purview data classification, DLP and compliance tools

Job roles

IT Support SpecialistJunior Security AnalystCompliance AnalystMicrosoft 365 Administrator (entry)Technical Sales Specialist

Where it fits in your path

Planning a degree too? See how this cert earns college credit in the College Credit Navigator.

Build my study plan

  1. Days 1-3: Read the SC-900 study guide and complete the free Microsoft Learn path module 1 (concepts)
  2. Days 4-7: Microsoft Entra module - authentication methods, Conditional Access, PIM, ID Protection
  3. Days 8-11: Security solutions (largest domain) - Defender XDR products, Defender for Cloud, Sentinel
  4. Days 12-14: Purview compliance - sensitivity labels, DLP, eDiscovery, Compliance Manager; take the free practice assessment

Make it yours: pick your exam date and weekly hours. We'll split your time by domain weight and give you a printable plan.

Exam-day tips

  • Security solutions is the largest domain (35-40%) - know which Defender product protects what
  • Questions are mostly 'which tool does X' - build a one-page product-to-capability map
  • Watch name changes: Azure AD is Microsoft Entra ID, Microsoft 365 Defender is Defender XDR
  • Fundamentals exams do not allow Microsoft Learn access during the test

Key terms for this exam

All 26 terms Study with thinQcards™

Commonly confused on this exam

Frequently asked questions

How much is SC-900?

$99 USD in the United States.

Does SC-900 expire?

No. Microsoft fundamentals certifications do not expire.

Is SC-900 worth it?

It is a low-cost first credential for Microsoft security roles, but employers value associate exams like SC-200 or SC-300 more for hiring.

How long to study for SC-900?

About 1-2 weeks for most IT professionals.

SC-900 vs Security+?

SC-900 is Microsoft product fundamentals; Security+ is broader vendor-neutral security and is far more commonly required in job postings.

Official page: learn.microsoft.com. Reviewed November 2026. Vendors change fees and objectives, so confirm with the vendor before you book. Spot something out of date? Tell us.