Question 1mediummulti select
Full question →Question 389 of 975
Quick Answer
The correct three actions are quarantine a malicious file, disable a compromised user account, and delete a phishing email from a user’s mailbox. Automated investigation and response in Microsoft Defender XDR uses built-in remediation actions to contain threats at the device, identity, and email layers—quarantining a file isolates it from the operating system, disabling a user account through Microsoft Entra ID stops lateral movement, and deleting a phishing email via Exchange Online Protection removes the threat from the mailbox. On the MS-102 exam, this question tests your understanding of which AIR actions are available versus manual or non-remediation steps; a common trap is confusing “soft delete” with “move to junk” or assuming file deletion instead of quarantine. Remember the mnemonic “Q-D-E” for Quarantine file, Disable user, Delete email—these three cover device, identity, and email vectors in a single automated response.
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.
As a security administrator, you are tuning automated investigation and response (AIR) capabilities in Microsoft Defender XDR. You need to ensure that the system can automatically remediate threats while minimizing false positives. Which three of the following actions can be taken by automated investigation and response in Microsoft Defender XDR? (Choose three.)
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Quarantine a file detected as malicious on a device
Automated investigation and response (AIR) in Microsoft Defender XDR can quarantine a file detected as malicious on a device by using built-in remediation actions that isolate the file from the operating system. It can also disable a compromised user account temporarily through integration with Microsoft Entra ID, applying a conditional account disable action to prevent further access. Additionally, AIR can delete an email message from a user's mailbox that was identified as phishing by leveraging Exchange Online Protection (EOP) and Microsoft Defender for Office 365 to perform mailbox-level remediation.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may assume AIR can perform broad administrative actions like modifying Conditional Access policies or resetting passwords, but Microsoft deliberately restricts AIR to only a specific set of remediation actions that are safe for automated execution without causing widespread disruption.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, AIR uses a set of predefined remediation actions defined in the Microsoft 365 Defender portal under 'Automated investigation and response' settings, which include 'Quarantine file', 'Disable user', and 'Soft delete email' (or 'Move to deleted items'). These actions are executed by the Microsoft Defender XDR backend, which orchestrates responses across Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Microsoft Defender for Identity, and Microsoft Defender for Office 365, each with its own action limits and approval workflows. In a real-world scenario, if a phishing email is detected, AIR can automatically delete it from the mailbox and, if the user clicked a link, also quarantine the downloaded malicious file on the endpoint, demonstrating cross-workload coordination.
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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Manage security and threats by using Microsoft Defender XDR — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Manage security and threats by using Microsoft Defender XDR practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All MS-102 questions
975 questions across all exam domains
- →
Microsoft 365 Administrator MS-102 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
MS-102 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related MS-102 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Deploy and manage a Microsoft 365 tenant practice questions
Practise MS-102 questions linked to Deploy and manage a Microsoft 365 tenant.
Implement and manage Microsoft Entra identity and access practice questions
Practise MS-102 questions linked to Implement and manage Microsoft Entra identity and access.
Manage security and threats by using Microsoft Defender XDR practice questions
Practise MS-102 questions linked to Manage security and threats by using Microsoft Defender XDR.
Manage compliance by using Microsoft Purview practice questions
Practise MS-102 questions linked to Manage compliance by using Microsoft Purview.
Manage users, groups, licensing, and support practice questions
Practise MS-102 questions linked to Manage users, groups, licensing, and support.
Implement and manage identity and access in Microsoft Entra ID practice questions
Practise MS-102 questions linked to Implement and manage identity and access in Microsoft Entra ID.
MS-102 fundamentals practice questions
Practise MS-102 questions linked to MS-102 fundamentals.
MS-102 scenario practice questions
Practise MS-102 questions linked to MS-102 scenario.
MS-102 troubleshooting practice questions
Practise MS-102 questions linked to MS-102 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free MS-102 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this MS-102 question test?
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: Quarantine a file detected as malicious on a device — Automated investigation and response (AIR) in Microsoft Defender XDR can quarantine a file detected as malicious on a device by using built-in remediation actions that isolate the file from the operating system. It can also disable a compromised user account temporarily through integration with Microsoft Entra ID, applying a conditional account disable action to prevent further access. Additionally, AIR can delete an email message from a user's mailbox that was identified as phishing by leveraging Exchange Online Protection (EOP) and Microsoft Defender for Office 365 to perform mailbox-level remediation.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This MS-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 MS-102 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.