Any idea what it is? I'm applying for SWE role at Microsoft and this is part of the qualifications.
Is it a security clearance or a background check? Which is it?
No idea what it is, that's why I'm asking here. It says the candidate should pass full security clearance, including but not limited to MS cloud background check. First I thought it's the regular employee background check, but then I noticed the "cloud" in it and I got confused
It's just the normal background check (checking that your resume experience is real). Security clearance is just getting the NDAs signed, unless you're working on a gov contract.
Have you lived in the cloud yet?
Internally, if your role is flagged as one which provides or engineers services consumed as part of the cloud organization, there are contracts where Microsoft turns around and makes commitments X, Y, and Z to customers. They have a "managed" profile for adjudication for those roles which may be a little more strict behind the scenes than for general employment. The process is no different. The HR system is no different. Your experience is no different, other than the word cloud in the form emails. It's just an indicator in the HR system which workflow and adjudication matrix applies.
What?