Microsoft SC-401 Information Security Administrator Exam Prep

What you will be able to do

• Implement sensitivity labels and information protection policies
• Configure and tune data loss prevention across workloads
• Manage the data lifecycle: retention, records, and disposal
• Detect and investigate insider risk and data security incidents
• Monitor and report on the data security posture
• Pass a timed practice exam against the current SC-401 outline

What is inside

4 modules, 16 lessons. Each module ends in a graded quiz.

1. 01

   Classify and Label Sensitive Data with Microsoft Purview

   Covers the SC-401 Implement information protection domain, which carries roughly a third of the exam. You will learn to choose between sensitive information types, exact data match, document fingerprinting, and trainable classifiers, then build sensitivity labels for both items and containers and publish them with label policies. The module finishes with automatic labeling, the content and activity explorers, and the protection of Windows endpoints, on premises file shares, and email.

   4 lessons · 15 quiz questions

2. 02

   Design and Operate Data Loss Prevention

   Covers the SC-401 domain Implement data loss prevention and retention from the DLP side, teaching you to design Microsoft Purview DLP policies, assign least privilege roles, and write rules that survive contact with real users. You will learn how conditions, exceptions, actions, rule priority, and Adaptive Protection combine to produce the final enforcement decision, and how endpoint DLP extends that decision to devices through onboarding, endpoint settings, and just-in-time protection. The module closes with Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps file policies and endpoint activity monitoring so you can choose the right control for each exfiltration path.

   4 lessons · 15 quiz questions

3. 03

   Retention, Lifecycle, and Records Management

   Covers the retention half of the SC-401 domain 'Implement data loss prevention and retention', a domain that carries roughly a third of the exam. You learn how retention labels and retention policies differ, how labels are published and auto applied, how adaptive scopes keep coverage current, and how the four principles of retention resolve every conflict. The module closes with policy lookup, troubleshooting, and the real recovery paths for content the service is still holding.

   4 lessons · 15 quiz questions

4. 04

   Insider Risk, Alert Response, and Securing AI Data

   Covers the SC-401 domain for managing risks, alerts, and activities, which carries roughly a third of the exam. You will configure Microsoft Purview Insider Risk Management end to end, from licensing, role groups, connectors, and indicators through policy templates, alert triage, cases, forensic evidence, and adaptive protection. You will then investigate using Purview Audit, activity and content explorer, DLP alerts in Microsoft Defender XDR, and eDiscovery, and secure generative AI data with Data Security Posture Management for AI.

   4 lessons · 15 quiz questions