SC-401 Practice Test

The SC-401 Practice Test is a free intermediate-level, 20-minute skill test from Science of Apps. Practice for Microsoft exam SC-401, Administering Information Security in Microsoft 365 (Information Security Administrator Associate) — data classification and sensitivity labels, data loss prevention including Endpoint DLP, retention and records, and insider risk, alerts, audit and protecting data used by AI — written to the official SC-401 study guide (skills updated September 2026) and Microsoft Purview documentation for 2026. Score 70% or more on its 20 questions to earn a verifiable SC-401 Readiness certificate (SOA-S401). Every question is based on published standards and research — including Microsoft Purview documentation (information protection, DLP, data lifecycle, insider risk, audit, DSPM for AI) (Microsoft Learn) — and each answer is explained with its source.

Yes. Science of Apps has a free SC-401 Practice Test built on the current Microsoft exam outline for 2026 and 2027. It covers classification and sensitivity labels, data loss prevention, retention and records and insider risk, alerts, audit and AI, scores you instantly and issues a verifiable certificate.

Read the four skill areas on this page, then take the 20-minute test online — no fee, course or sign-up. You see every answer explained when you finish. Score 70% or more and you get a SC-401 Readiness certificate straight away, on screen, as a PDF and by email, with a credential ID anyone can verify.

Yes. The questions are original scenarios written by Science of Apps, and each one is based on a public source you can read: Microsoft Purview documentation (information protection, DLP, data lifecycle, insider risk, audit, DSPM for AI) (Microsoft Learn). The source is shown under each question and linked in the answer review. Science of Apps doesn't copy questions from other tests.

Four skill areas with five questions each, drawn from a bank of 10 per area so a retake brings new questions: Classification and Sensitivity Labels (Data classification, Sensitivity labels and Label policies and auto-labelling); Data Loss Prevention (DLP policies, Endpoint DLP and Tuning and actions); Retention and Records (Retention policies and labels, Records and Disposition); Insider Risk, Alerts, Audit and AI (Insider Risk Management, Audit and Protecting data used by AI). Every question is an original scenario written to the 2026–2027 standard, with the published source named under it.

Information security administrator, Microsoft 365 compliance or Purview administrator, Data protection or privacy engineer, Security operations analyst and Microsoft 365 consultant. It suits anyone who wants a quick, verifiable way to show SC-401 knowledge in 2026 and 2027, from students and career switchers to experienced professionals.

SC-401 replaced SC-400 and earns Microsoft Certified: Information Security Administrator Associate. It covers implementing information protection, implementing data loss prevention and retention, and managing risks, alerts and activities, including protecting data used by AI services such as Microsoft 365 Copilot.

A retention policy applies retention settings broadly to locations such as mailboxes or sites. A retention label is applied to individual items, can be applied automatically or by users, and can mark content as a record or trigger disposition review.

No. It is an independent practice test written to the publicly available SC-401 content outline for 2026 and 2027, for checking your readiness before you book the real exam. Passing earns a Science of Apps certificate rather than the official credential.

Yes. The test is online, in English and free everywhere — people take it from India, the US, the UK, Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia-Pacific. Your certificate is dated with your own local date and can be verified from anywhere at scienceofapps.com/certification/verify/.

20 questions — 5 from each of 4 skill areas — with a 20-minute limit. You need 70% (14 of 20) to pass and 90% for distinction.

We rate it Intermediate: assumes hands-on experience in the role. It has 20 scenario questions — 5 from each of 4 skill areas — and a 20-minute limit. You need 70% (14 of 20) to pass and 90% for distinction.

Nothing. There is no fee to take a test, to receive the certificate, to have it emailed or to verify it, and no sign-up.

On our server, not in your browser. The answers never reach the page until you submit, so a certificate can only be earned by passing. Each certificate gets a unique credential ID stored by Science of Apps.

You see your score for each area and every question with the correct answer and why, with the published source behind it. You can retake after 30 minutes, and the retake draws questions you haven't seen yet.

No. Every certificate is dated, so it always shows when you passed. Retake a test any time for a newer date or a higher score.

Yes. After you pass, Add to LinkedIn opens the Licenses & certifications form with the certificate name, Science of Apps as the issuer, the issue date, your credential ID and the verification link filled in. You can also download it as a PDF or PNG, and it's emailed to you as a PDF.

Every certificate has a credential ID and a QR code. Scanning it, or entering the ID at scienceofapps.com/certification/verify/, shows the holder's name, the certification, the score and the issue date from our records.

No. They are Science of Apps' own assessments of applied skill. They aren't issued by a university or standards body, and they work best alongside a portfolio that shows the skills in real work.