Quick Answer
The answer is to use the Get-Service -Name Sense cmdlet to verify the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint sensor is running. This is correct because the Defender for Endpoint sensor operates as a Windows service named 'Sense' (display name: Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection Service), and checking its status with Get-Service directly confirms the service is installed and actively running after onboarding. On the MD-102 exam, this question tests your ability to perform post-deployment verification for Windows 10 devices managed by Intune, often appearing as a straightforward service-check scenario where candidates mistakenly look for a different service name like 'WinDefend' or try a process-based cmdlet. The key trap is remembering that the sensor service is uniquely named 'Sense', not 'Defender' or 'MDE'. A helpful memory tip: think of the sensor as having a "sixth sense" for threats, so you check the service named Sense.
This MD-102 practice question tests your understanding of manage, maintain, and protect devices. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
You are deploying Microsoft Defender for Endpoint to Windows 10 devices managed by Microsoft Intune. After onboarding, you need to verify that the sensor is running. Which cmdlet should you use on the device?
Get-Service -Name WinDefend
Why wrong: This is the Windows Defender Antivirus service.
Get-DefenderEndpoint
Why wrong: This cmdlet does not exist.
Get-MpComputerStatus
Why wrong: This shows antivirus status, not the sensor.
Get-Service -Name Sense
The Defender for Endpoint sensor service is named 'Sense'.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Get-Service -Name Sense
The correct cmdlet is Get-Service -Name Sense because the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint sensor runs as a Windows service named 'Sense' (Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection Service). Checking this service confirms the sensor is installed and running, which is the standard verification step after onboarding devices to Defender for Endpoint.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Get-Service -Name WinDefend
Why it's wrong here
This is the Windows Defender Antivirus service.
Get-DefenderEndpoint
Why it's wrong here
This cmdlet does not exist.
Get-MpComputerStatus
Why it's wrong here
This shows antivirus status, not the sensor.
Get-Service -Name Sense
Why this is correct
The Defender for Endpoint sensor service is named 'Sense'.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse the Defender for Endpoint sensor service (Sense) with the Windows Defender Antivirus service (WinDefend) or mistakenly use a non-existent cmdlet like Get-DefenderEndpoint, leading them to choose an incorrect verification method.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
This shows antivirus status, not the sensor.
Detailed technical explanation
The Defender for Endpoint sensor (Sense service) is a core component that collects and sends telemetry to the Microsoft 365 Defender portal. After onboarding via Intune, the service must be in a 'Running' state; if it is stopped or disabled, the device will not report to the cloud. Using Get-Service -Name Sense is the quickest method to verify this, while Get-MpComputerStatus is more appropriate for checking antimalware health.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
What to study next
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FAQ
Manage, maintain, and protect devices — This question tests Manage, maintain, and protect devices — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Get-Service -Name Sense — The correct cmdlet is Get-Service -Name Sense because the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint sensor runs as a Windows service named 'Sense' (Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection Service). Checking this service confirms the sensor is installed and running, which is the standard verification step after onboarding devices to Defender for Endpoint.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This MD-102 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the MD-102 exam.
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