Certification Overview
To earn the Information Security Administrator Associate certification, candidates must pass one required exam.
📌 Important
- Microsoft lists this as a single-exam certification path.
- There are no mandatory prerequisite exams or certifications required for this certification.
- However, Microsoft recommends experience with Microsoft 365 security, compliance, and information protection technologies.
Track Details & Exam Requirements
🔹 Associate Exam (Required)
SC-400: Administering Information Protection and Compliance in Microsoft 365
This exam measures the ability to implement information protection, data governance, and compliance solutions within Microsoft 365 environments.
Exam Details
- Exam Code: SC-400
- Exam Name: Administering Information Protection and Compliance in Microsoft 365
- Exam Duration: ~120 minutes
- Passing Score: 700 / 1000
- Exam Type: Microsoft role-based certification exam
- Delivery: Pearson VUE (online proctoring or test center)
- Languages: Multiple languages supported by Microsoft
- Certification Level: Associate
What This Certification Validates
With the Information Security Administrator Associate certification, you demonstrate the ability to:
- Implement information protection solutions
- Configure data loss prevention (DLP) policies
- Manage data classification and labeling
- Implement data governance and retention policies
- Protect sensitive information across Microsoft 365 services
- Ensure compliance with regulatory and organizational policies
These skills help organizations protect sensitive information and maintain compliance in cloud environments.
Exam Skills Measured
The SC-400 exam evaluates several major information protection and compliance domains.
1. Implement Information Protection (30–35%)
Candidates must understand how to:
- Configure sensitivity labels and policies
- Implement encryption and protection for sensitive data
- Configure automatic labeling policies
- Protect information across Microsoft 365 workloads
2. Implement Data Loss Prevention (DLP) (25–30%)
Candidates should be able to:
- Create and configure DLP policies
- Monitor sensitive data activity
- Prevent unauthorized data sharing
- Manage DLP alerts and reporting
3. Implement Data Lifecycle Management (20–25%)
This domain focuses on:
- Configure retention policies and retention labels
- Manage records management
- Implement data lifecycle and archiving strategies
4. Monitor and Investigate Compliance Activities (15–20%)
Candidates must understand how to:
- Monitor compliance activities and alerts
- Use audit logs and investigation tools
- Generate compliance reports and insights
- Investigate policy violations and data incidents
Validity & Recertification
Microsoft role-based certifications expire annually.
To renew certification:
- Complete a free renewal assessment on Microsoft Learn before the certification expiration date.
Recommended Experience
Although there are no formal prerequisites, Microsoft recommends candidates have:
- Experience with Microsoft 365 security and compliance solutions
- Knowledge of information protection and governance strategies
- Familiarity with Microsoft Purview compliance features
- Understanding of data classification and regulatory compliance frameworks
This certification is considered an associate-level information security certification.
Who Should Pursue This Certification?
This certification is ideal for professionals such as:
- Information Security Administrators
- Compliance Administrators
- Microsoft 365 Security Administrators
- Data Protection Specialists
- Security and compliance analysts
Career Benefits
- Demonstrates expertise in information protection and compliance management
- Validates skills in data governance and regulatory compliance
- Supports careers in cloud security and compliance administration
- Recognized Microsoft certification for Microsoft 365 security professionals
- Shows employers you can protect sensitive data in enterprise cloud environments
Summary
The Microsoft Certified: Information Security Administrator Associate certification validates a candidate’s ability to implement information protection and compliance solutions using Microsoft technologies.
Key points
- Requires one exam: SC-400
- No prerequisite certification required
- Focuses on information protection, data loss prevention, and compliance management
- Associate-level Microsoft security certification.
