Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect Exam Ref (SC)

Lesson 1 • The Cybersecurity Architect Role

Defines responsibilities, scope, and stakeholder interactions of a security architect. Anchors the entire course by framing every subsequent topic within real job expectations.

Lesson 2 • Security Frameworks and Standards

Surveys NIST CSF, ISO 27001, CIS Controls, and MITRE ATT&CK as design references. Provides the vocabulary and structure used throughout all subsequent chapters.

Lesson 3 • Risk Management Fundamentals

Covers threat modeling, risk quantification, and risk treatment options. Connects risk decisions to architecture trade-offs explored in later chapters.

Lesson 4 • Microsoft Security Ecosystem Overview

Maps Microsoft Defender, Sentinel, Entra, Purview, and Intune to security domains. Gives students a product-to-function reference used throughout the entire course.

Lesson 1 • Identity Governance and Lifecycle

Covers entitlement management, access packages, and lifecycle workflows. Ensures identities are provisioned and deprovisioned consistently across the enterprise.

Lesson 2 • Microsoft Entra ID Architecture

Covers tenant design, directory synchronization, and federation models. Establishes the identity foundation required for all access and governance topics ahead.

Lesson 3 • Hybrid and External Identity Scenarios

Designs cross-tenant access, external collaboration, and on-premises integration. Prepares students for complex enterprise environments common in exam scenarios.

Lesson 4 • Privileged Identity Management

Addresses just-in-time access, role activation workflows, and access reviews. Reduces standing privilege exposure, a core Zero Trust requirement.

Lesson 1 • Storage and Database Security

Applies encryption, private endpoints, and access controls to Azure storage and databases. Protects data at rest and in transit across all infrastructure tiers.

Lesson 2 • Azure Landing Zone Security Design

Covers management group hierarchy, policy inheritance, and subscription segmentation. Provides the governance scaffold on which all cloud workload security is built.

Lesson 3 • Defender for Cloud Posture Management

Uses Secure Score, regulatory compliance dashboards, and recommendations to drive improvement. Translates infrastructure risk into measurable, actionable security posture.

Lesson 4 • Network Security Architecture

Designs hub-and-spoke topologies, Azure Firewall, NSGs, and DDoS protection. Network controls are the perimeter layer supporting identity-centric Zero Trust.

Lesson 1 • Microsoft Purview Governance

Uses data map, data catalog, and data estate insights for enterprise governance. Connects data discovery to compliance reporting and risk reduction.

Lesson 2 • Data Loss Prevention Strategy

Designs DLP policies across endpoints, cloud apps, and communication channels. Prevents unauthorized data exfiltration while minimizing business disruption.

Lesson 3 • Compliance and Retention Architecture

Designs retention policies, eDiscovery workflows, and communication compliance. Satisfies legal hold and audit requirements embedded in enterprise compliance programs.

Lesson 4 • Data Classification and Sensitivity Labels

Designs classification taxonomies and applies sensitivity labels across Microsoft 365 and Azure. Classification is the prerequisite for all downstream protection controls.

Lesson 1 • Threat Detection with Analytics Rules

Creates scheduled, NRT, and fusion analytics rules using KQL and UEBA signals. Translates threat intelligence into automated, high-fidelity alert generation.

Lesson 2 • Incident Investigation and Response

Designs incident workflows, investigation graphs, and playbook automation. Reduces mean time to respond by embedding automation into the SOC process.

Lesson 3 • Microsoft Sentinel Architecture Design

Covers workspace design, data connector selection, and cost optimization strategies. A well-designed Sentinel deployment is the foundation of all detection capabilities.

Lesson 4 • Threat Intelligence and MITRE Mapping

Incorporates threat intelligence feeds, TAXII connectors, and MITRE coverage analysis. Aligns detection coverage to known adversary techniques for gap identification.

Lesson 1 • Microsoft Defender for DevOps

Configures Defender for DevOps to surface code, pipeline, and infrastructure-as-code risks. Provides a unified security view across GitHub and Azure DevOps environments.

Lesson 2 • DevSecOps Pipeline Integration

Embeds static analysis, dependency scanning, and secrets detection into Azure DevOps and GitHub. Shifts security left by automating checks at every pipeline stage.

Lesson 3 • Secure Application Design Principles

Applies threat modeling, secure coding standards, and API security to application architecture. Establishes security requirements before a single line of code is written.

Lesson 4 • Secrets and Key Management

Designs Azure Key Vault access policies, managed identities, and certificate lifecycle management. Eliminates hardcoded credentials and centralizes cryptographic asset control.

Lesson 1 • Endpoint Vulnerability Management

Uses Defender Vulnerability Management to prioritize and remediate endpoint weaknesses. Closes the loop between detection, risk scoring, and remediation tracking.

Lesson 2 • Microsoft Intune Endpoint Management

Designs enrollment profiles, compliance policies, and configuration baselines in Intune. Endpoint compliance is a key signal in Conditional Access and Zero Trust decisions.

Lesson 3 • Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

Configures attack surface reduction, EDR, and automated investigation for managed endpoints. Provides the detection and response layer for all managed device types.

Lesson 4 • Mobile and BYOD Security Design

Applies app protection policies and MAM-without-enrollment to personal devices. Balances employee privacy with corporate data protection requirements.

Lesson 1 • Security Posture Measurement and Reporting

Builds KPIs, dashboards, and executive reporting using Secure Score and Sentinel workbooks. Translates technical metrics into business-relevant risk communication.

Lesson 2 • Enterprise Security Architecture Frameworks

Applies SABSA, TOGAF security extensions, and Microsoft CAF security to architecture decisions. Provides the formal methodology for producing defensible, documented designs.

Lesson 3 • Regulatory and Privacy Compliance Design

Maps privacy regulations, data residency requirements, and audit controls to architecture decisions. Embeds compliance into design rather than treating it as an afterthought.

Lesson 4 • Security Roadmap and Stakeholder Alignment

Produces prioritized security roadmaps and communicates risk trade-offs to executive stakeholders. Culminates the course by connecting all technical skills to strategic leadership.