Quick Answer
The answer is the Automated investigation and response setting in the Microsoft Defender XDR portal. This setting directly controls the configuration of automatic investigation and response (AIR) capabilities for Defender for Endpoint, allowing administrators to enable or disable automated investigations, choose the automation level (full, semi, or no automation), and define which remediation actions are applied automatically to devices. On the MD-102 exam, this question tests your understanding of how to tailor the AIR workflow to an organization’s security requirements without relying on manual intervention. A common trap is confusing this setting with device groups or alert policies, but remember: AIR is the master switch for the entire automated response pipeline. A useful memory tip is to think of AIR as the “autopilot” for incident response—if you want the system to take action on its own, you must adjust this specific setting.
This MD-102 practice question tests your understanding of manage and maintain devices. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
Your organization uses Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. You need to configure automatic investigation and response for devices. Which setting in the Microsoft Defender XDR portal should you adjust?
Automated investigation and response
Correct. This page contains settings for automation.
Threat analytics
Why wrong: Incorrect. Threat analytics provides threat intelligence.
Device inventory
Why wrong: Incorrect. Device inventory lists devices, not automation settings.
Alert queue
Why wrong: Incorrect. Alert queue shows alerts, not settings.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Automated investigation and response
The correct setting is 'Automated investigation and response' because it directly controls the configuration of automatic investigation and response (AIR) capabilities in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. This setting allows administrators to enable or disable automated investigations, set the automation level (e.g., full, semi, or no automation), and define remediation actions for devices. Without adjusting this setting, the automatic investigation and response workflow cannot be tailored to the organization's security requirements.
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.
Automated investigation and response
Why this is correct
Correct. This page contains settings for automation.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Threat analytics
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Threat analytics provides threat intelligence.
Device inventory
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Device inventory lists devices, not automation settings.
Alert queue
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Alert queue shows alerts, not settings.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the 'Automated investigation and response' configuration with the 'Alert queue' or 'Threat analytics' because they all appear under the same XDR portal section, but only the AIR setting directly manages the automation behavior for device-level response actions.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Incorrect. Alert queue shows alerts, not settings.
Detailed technical explanation
Automated investigation and response (AIR) in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint leverages a set of playbooks that run on the backend, using the Microsoft Graph Security API to orchestrate actions like isolating a device, running a virus scan, or blocking a file. The automation level setting (e.g., 'Full - remediate threats automatically') determines whether the system can execute these actions without human approval, which is critical for reducing mean time to respond (MTTR) in high-volume environments. A real-world scenario is a ransomware outbreak where full automation can immediately isolate affected devices, while semi-automation might require an analyst to approve each isolation, slowing containment.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
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FAQ
Manage and maintain devices — This question tests Manage and maintain devices — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Automated investigation and response — The correct setting is 'Automated investigation and response' because it directly controls the configuration of automatic investigation and response (AIR) capabilities in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. This setting allows administrators to enable or disable automated investigations, set the automation level (e.g., full, semi, or no automation), and define remediation actions for devices. Without adjusting this setting, the automatic investigation and response workflow cannot be tailored to the organization's security requirements.
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 24, 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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