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Explore AB-900 AI-901
SC-401

Information Security Administrator
Associate

The Microsoft Purview information security certification. Sensitivity labels, DLP, retention, insider risk, Adaptive Protection, and DSPM for AI — explained with real-world scenarios.

📖

Study Guide

25 interactive modules

Modules 1-2, 4-5 (Classification + Labels) + 16 practice questions. No account needed.

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✍️

Practice Exam

200 exam-style questions

Study mode with explanations + timed exam simulation. 16 free questions.

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25

Modules

200

Questions

3

Domains

Free

Domain 1 included

📝 Sample Question

An admin deploys Adaptive Protection. A user at "elevated" risk tries to email credit card data externally. The DLP policy is configured to block elevated-risk users. What happens?

A. The email is sent with a warning
B. The email is blocked — elevated risk triggers the strictest enforcement ✓
C. The email is encrypted and sent

📊 What you'll cover

Implement Information Protection (Free) 8 modules
Implement DLP and Retention 8 modules
Manage Risks, Alerts, and Activities 9 modules

What you'll learn

🏷️

Sensitivity Labels

Classify, encrypt, and mark content. Auto-label at scale. Extend to Teams, SharePoint, and third-party apps.

🛡️

DLP & Endpoint Protection

Stop data leaks across email, Teams, devices, and cloud apps. Adaptive Protection scales enforcement with risk.

🔍

Insider Risk & Audit

Detect threats from within. Investigate with Purview Audit, Activity Explorer, and cross-platform alert response.

🤖

DSPM for AI

The newest exam topic. Protect your data from AI amplification with DSPM controls, policies, and monitoring.

Full Curriculum

25 interactive modules across 3 exam domains

1

Implement Information Protection

8 modules

Free

Classify sensitive data with SITs, EDM, and trainable classifiers. Create and manage sensitivity labels with encryption, content marking, and auto-labeling. Extend protection to on-premises with the IP client and scanner.

  1. 1Sensitive Info Types
  2. 2Custom SITs
  3. 3EDM & Fingerprinting
  4. 4Trainable Classifiers
  5. 5Sensitivity Labels: Create
  6. 6Sensitivity Labels: Publish
  7. 7Email Encryption
  8. 8IP Client & Scanner
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2

Implement DLP and Retention

8 modules

Premium

Design and deploy DLP policies across M365 and cloud apps. Configure Endpoint DLP for device-level protection. Plan and implement retention labels and policies with precedence rules.

  1. 1DLP Foundations
  2. 2DLP Policies: Build & Extend
  3. 3DLP: Precedence & Adaptive
  4. 4Endpoint DLP: Setup
  5. 5Endpoint DLP: Advanced Rules
  6. 6Retention: Plan
  7. 7Retention Labels: Publish
  8. 8Retention: Policies & Recovery
Preview Domain
3

Manage Risks, Alerts, and Activities

9 modules

Premium

Implement Insider Risk Management with policies, indicators, and forensic evidence. Configure Adaptive Protection. Investigate with Audit, Activity Explorer, and Content search. Protect AI data with DSPM.

  1. 1Insider Risk: Setup
  2. 2Insider Risk: Policies
  3. 3Insider Risk: Investigate
  4. 4Adaptive Protection
  5. 5Purview Audit
  6. 6Activity Explorer & Search
  7. 7Alert Response
  8. 8DSPM for AI: Setup
  9. 9DSPM for AI: Monitor
Preview Domain

Practice Exam Lab

200 original questions — two study modes

📖

Study Mode

Learn as you go

  • ✓ See explanation after each question
  • ✓ "Why wrong" for every option
  • ✓ Real-world context & exam tips
  • ✓ Microsoft Learn links
⏱️

Exam Mode

Simulate the real thing

  • ✓ 120 minutes timed session
  • ✓ Randomised question order
  • ✓ Score breakdown by domain
  • ✓ Pass/fail against 700 / 1000
1

Implement Information Protection

67 questions · Exam weight: 30-35%

8 Free

18

Easy

33

Medium

16

Hard

Every question includes a scenario, detailed explanation, and a link to Microsoft Learn.

Try Free Questions →
2

Implement DLP and Retention

67 questions · Exam weight: 30-35%

4 Free

16

Easy

35

Medium

16

Hard

Every question includes a scenario, detailed explanation, and a link to Microsoft Learn.

Preview Questions
3

Manage Risks, Alerts, and Activities

66 questions · Exam weight: 30-35%

4 Free

19

Easy

35

Medium

12

Hard

Every question includes a scenario, detailed explanation, and a link to Microsoft Learn.

Preview Questions

🎁 Free tier: 16 questions. No account needed.

Choose your path

Start free. Upgrade when you're ready.

Practice Exam

$14

one-time purchase

  • ✓ 200 exam-style questions
  • ✓ Study mode + Exam mode
  • ✓ Detailed explanations

Study Guide

$19

one-time purchase

  • ✓ 25 interactive modules
  • ✓ Flashcards & ELI5
  • ✓ Progress tracking
Recommended

Complete Bundle

$29

save $4

  • ✓ Everything in both
  • ★ Best value

🎁 Free tier: Modules 1-2, 4-5 (Classification + Labels) + 16 practice questions. No account needed. No account needed.

About the SC-401 Exam

Exam code
SC-401
Duration
120 minutes
Passing score
700 / 1000
Question types
MCQ, multi-select, case studies
Cost
$165 USD

Exam Domains & Weights

D1: Implement Information Protection (30-35%)
D2: Implement DLP and Retention (30-35%)
D3: Manage Risks, Alerts, and Activities (30-35%)
View on Microsoft Learn →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is SC-401?
SC-401 is the Microsoft Information Security Administrator Associate certification — an intermediate exam focused on Microsoft Purview, covering sensitivity labels, DLP, retention, insider risk, and DSPM for AI.
Does SC-401 replace SC-400?
Yes. SC-400 was retired on May 31, 2025. SC-401 is the replacement with updated content including DSPM for AI and Adaptive Protection.
What's in the free tier?
Four study modules covering classification foundations, custom SITs, trainable classifiers, and sensitivity labels — plus 16 practice questions. No account needed.
Do I need admin experience?
SC-401 is an intermediate (associate) exam. You should be familiar with M365 services, PowerShell, and Entra. Every concept still starts with an analogy before the technical depth.
Is this a one-time purchase?
Yes. Pay once, access forever. No subscription or recurring fees.
Can I study on my phone?
Yes — every module is optimised for 10-minute mobile study sessions.

Ready to start?

Try the free tier. Upgrade when you're ready to pass.

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