Microsoft · SC-300
Design, implement, and operate an organization's identity and access management using Microsoft Entra ID, including implementing identity governance and Zero Trust principles.
Practice Questions
489
≈ 9 practice exams
Duration
100 minutes
Passing Score
700/1000
Difficulty
AssociateLast Updated
Jan 2025
Use this SC-300 practice exam to prepare for Microsoft Certified: Identity and Access Administrator Associate (SC-300) with realistic questions, detailed explanations, and focused study modes. The practice bank includes 489 questions for Microsoft SC-300, so you can review the exam steadily instead of relying on one long cram session.
As you practice, pay extra attention to recurring topics such as Implement and manage user identities, Implement authentication and access management, Plan and implement workload identities, and Plan and implement identity governance. Start with short sessions to identify weak areas, then move into timed quizzes once your accuracy is consistent.
The explanations are especially useful when you want to connect exam wording to the responsibilities and scenarios described in the official certification guidance. Use the free preview first, then unlock the full question bank when you are ready to build a complete study routine.
The Microsoft Certified: Identity and Access Administrator Associate (SC-300) validates the ability to design, implement, and operate an organization's identity and access management using Microsoft Entra ID. Certified professionals configure and manage identities throughout their full lifecycles — covering users, devices, Azure resources, and applications — while enforcing Zero Trust principles across all identity and access solutions. The exam was last updated on November 7, 2025, reflecting current tooling including Microsoft Entra Cloud Sync, Global Secure Access, and Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps integration.
The certification spans four core competency areas: managing user identities and hybrid identity configurations (including Microsoft Entra Connect Sync and pass-through authentication), implementing authentication mechanisms and Conditional Access policies, managing workload and application identities such as managed identities and service principals, and governing access through entitlement management, Privileged Identity Management (PIM), and access reviews. Proficiency with PowerShell, Kusto Query Language (KQL), and Microsoft Entra admin center tooling is expected.
This certification is designed for IT professionals working as Identity Administrators, Security Engineers, or Enterprise Security Specialists who are responsible for identity infrastructure in Microsoft-centric environments. Candidates typically have hands-on experience administering Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD), Microsoft 365, and Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS), and work closely with security, network, and application teams.
It is also well-suited for cloud architects or security professionals looking to formalize their expertise in identity governance, hybrid identity solutions, and Zero Trust implementation. Those aiming to progress toward advanced certifications such as the Cybersecurity Architect Expert (SC-100) or Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500) often pursue SC-300 as a foundational step.
Microsoft does not enforce formal prerequisites for SC-300, but candidates are expected to have practical experience with Microsoft Entra ID, Azure services, and Microsoft 365 workloads. Familiarity with Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) and core identity concepts — such as authentication protocols, federation, and directory synchronization — is strongly recommended before attempting the exam.
Candidates should also be comfortable using PowerShell for automation tasks and Kusto Query Language (KQL) for querying Azure Monitor and Log Analytics. Hands-on experience configuring Conditional Access policies, MFA, and identity governance features will significantly aid exam performance. Microsoft's free SC-300 learning path on Microsoft Learn and the official instructor-led course SC-300T00-A are the primary recommended preparation resources.
Exam SC-300 is a proctored assessment with a 100-minute time limit, delivered through Pearson VUE either online or at a testing center. The exam contains approximately 40–60 questions, which may include multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, case studies, and interactive lab-style components. Microsoft does not publicly disclose exact question counts, but community reports typically cite around 45–55 scored questions.
The passing score is 700 out of 1000. Scoring is not simply a percentage of correct answers — Microsoft uses a scaled scoring model. The exam is available in English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Chinese (Simplified), and Chinese (Traditional). Candidates who test in a non-English language may request 30 additional minutes. The exam costs $165 USD (pricing varies by country/region). Microsoft offers a free Practice Assessment on Microsoft Learn (assessment ID 60) to help candidates gauge readiness before scheduling.
The SC-300 certification is directly applicable to Identity Administrator, Cloud Security Engineer, and IAM Specialist roles in organizations running Microsoft cloud or hybrid environments. According to PayScale data for 2026, IAM Administrators in the United States earn between $56,000 and $112,000 annually, with an average around $82,000. Job postings requiring SC-300 or equivalent Entra ID expertise frequently list salaries ranging from $79,600 to $143,300 depending on seniority, employer, and location. The certification is increasingly required or strongly preferred in enterprise security job postings, particularly in regulated industries such as finance, healthcare, and government.
SC-300 also serves as a natural stepping stone within the Microsoft security certification stack. It complements the Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500) and Microsoft 365 Security Administrator Associate (MS-500), and is frequently cited as prerequisite experience for the Cybersecurity Architect Expert (SC-100). As organizations accelerate Zero Trust adoption and Microsoft Entra ID deployments, demand for certified identity professionals continues to grow — making this one of the more career-relevant associate-level security certifications in the Microsoft ecosystem.
5 sample questions with answers and explanations. The full bank has 489 questions, enough for 9 full-length practice exams.
Preview — answers shown1. HealthcarePlus needs to implement identity protection for their patient data systems. They want to detect and respond to suspicious activities like impossible travel, password spray attacks, and leaked credentials while minimizing false positives that could disrupt healthcare delivery. What comprehensive identity protection strategy should be implemented?
Explanation
A balanced approach using risk policies with carefully configured thresholds and self-remediation options provides strong security while minimizing healthcare delivery disruption. Setting appropriate risk thresholds (such as high risk for automatic blocking) reduces false positives while catching genuine threats. Enabling self-remediation through MFA challenges allows legitimate users to quickly regain access during false positive scenarios. Automatic blocking for all risk levels would create too many disruptions in healthcare environments. Manual-only investigation doesn't provide rapid response needed for identity threats. Focusing only on sign-in risks misses compromised accounts that might not trigger sign-in anomalies.
2. What is the recommended high availability configuration for a remote network connection at a branch office?
Explanation
The documentation for remote network connectivity states, 'For optimal performance, Microsoft recommends configuring at least two IPsec tunnels per location for high availability.'
3. A user wants to prove their university graduation status to a potential employer without the university having to be directly involved in every verification request. The user leverages a system where they hold a digitally signed, verifiable credential on their own device, which they can present to the employer. The employer can trust the credential because it is cryptographically secured and rooted in a system like a blockchain. What type of identity model does this represent?
Explanation
This represents a Decentralized Identity model. In this model, the user creates, owns, and controls their own identity and credentials, independent of any single organization. They use a user agent (like a wallet app) to manage their Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) and Verifiable Credentials. This empowers the user to share proof of their identity attributes without relying on the original issuer to be available for every transaction. Centralized Identity is when a single organization like a company or government controls the identity. Federated Identity involves a trust relationship between different centralized providers.
4. DataGovernance Inc. uses Microsoft Entra ID for managing access to resources and has growing concerns about outdated permissions for both internal employees and external partners accessing their systems. The security team needs an automated solution that regularly evaluates and updates user access permissions to ensure they remain appropriate and current. What solution should be implemented?
Explanation
Microsoft Entra ID Access Reviews with auto-apply results provides automated evaluation and updating of user access permissions. This feature can be configured to automatically remove access when reviewers don't respond or when specific criteria are met, ensuring permissions remain current without manual intervention. The system regularly reviews access across applications, groups, and roles, then applies the results automatically. Dynamic group membership rules automate group membership but don't review or validate access appropriateness. Privileged Identity Management provides time-limited access but doesn't automatically review ongoing permissions. Conditional Access policies enforce access controls but don't review or update existing permissions.
5. A user from 'Company A' needs to access a web application hosted by 'Company B'. The user signs into their own company's network. When they navigate to Company B's application, they are granted access without being asked for a password again. This is accomplished because Company B's application trusts the identity assertions provided by Company A's identity system, which are sent via an XML-based security token. Which open standard authentication protocol is being described?
Explanation
This scenario describes Security Assertion Markup Language, or SAML. SAML is an open standard, XML-based protocol for exchanging authentication and authorization data between parties, specifically between an identity provider (Company A) and a service provider (Company B). It is a well-established protocol for enabling web-based single sign-on (SSO) and federated identity scenarios. OIDC is a newer standard built on OAuth 2.0 and uses JSON-based tokens (JWTs). OAuth 2.0 is an authorization framework, not an authentication protocol itself. Kerberos is typically used for on-premises network authentication.
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