The answer is DeviceProcessEvents, DeviceEvents, and DeviceNetworkEvents. This is correct because multi-event sequence detection with three tables requires capturing three distinct behaviors: a PowerShell process with an encoded command is logged in DeviceProcessEvents, service creation with a random name is recorded in DeviceEvents (which tracks security events like Event ID 4697 for service installs), and the outbound connection to a suspicious IP appears in DeviceNetworkEvents. On the MS-102 exam, this tests your ability to map real-world attack chains to the correct Advanced Hunting schema, a common trap being to confuse DeviceEvents with DeviceFileEvents or DeviceRegistryEvents—remember that service creation is a security event, not a file or registry change. A useful memory tip is to think of the sequence as “Process, Service, Network” and associate each with its table: Process = DeviceProcessEvents, Service = DeviceEvents, Network = DeviceNetworkEvents.
MS-102 Practice Question: Manage security and threats by using Microsoft Defender XDR
This MS-102 practice question tests your understanding of manage security and threats by using microsoft defender xdr. 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.
A security analyst is creating a custom detection rule in Microsoft 365 Defender Advanced Hunting. The rule should fire when a Windows device exhibits this sequence of events within 3 minutes: 1) A PowerShell process runs with an encoded command, 2) A service is created with a random name, and 3) An outbound network connection to a suspicious IP address is observed. Which three Advanced Hunting tables must be joined in the KQL query to create this detection?
Option C is correct because the three required event types — PowerShell process execution, service creation, and outbound network connection — are captured by DeviceProcessEvents (for process creation), DeviceEvents (for service creation events, such as Event ID 4697 or service install events), and DeviceNetworkEvents (for network connections). DeviceEvents specifically includes security-related events like service creation, which is not covered by DeviceRegistryEvents, DeviceFileEvents, or DeviceLogonEvents.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Service creation is not recorded in DeviceLogonEvents.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates mistakenly associate service creation with DeviceRegistryEvents (because services have registry keys) or DeviceFileEvents (because service binaries are files), but Microsoft specifically logs service creation as a security event in DeviceEvents, not in those other tables.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Service creation events in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint are captured under DeviceEvents with ActionType 'ServiceInstalled' (or similar), which corresponds to Windows Security Event ID 4697. The 3-minute time window requires using the `between` operator on timestamps in KQL, and the sequence must be enforced by ordering events by Timestamp and using `join` with a time constraint. In real-world scenarios, attackers often use encoded PowerShell commands to download and install a service that establishes persistence and then connects to a C2 server, making this sequence a classic indicator of a hands-on-keyboard attack.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this MS-102 question in full detail.
Manage security and threats by using Microsoft Defender XDR — This question tests Manage security and threats by using Microsoft Defender XDR — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: DeviceProcessEvents, DeviceRegistryEvents, DeviceNetworkEvents — Option C is correct because the three required event types — PowerShell process execution, service creation, and outbound network connection — are captured by DeviceProcessEvents (for process creation), DeviceEvents (for service creation events, such as Event ID 4697 or service install events), and DeviceNetworkEvents (for network connections). DeviceEvents specifically includes security-related events like service creation, which is not covered by DeviceRegistryEvents, DeviceFileEvents, or DeviceLogonEvents.
What should I do if I get this MS-102 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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