The answer is Automated Investigation and Response (AIR). This Microsoft Defender XDR feature is correct because it uses predefined playbooks to automatically evaluate high-severity alerts and execute remediation actions like device isolation without requiring any manual intervention, directly fulfilling the zero-touch requirement. On the MS-102 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how AIR differs from manual response options or simple alert suppression—a common trap is confusing AIR with basic alert policies or automation rules that only notify but do not act. Remember that AIR is the only built-in mechanism in Defender XDR that can autonomously isolate a device when triggered by a high-severity alert, making it the precise tool for automated investigation and response. A useful memory tip: think “AIR = Auto-Isolate Response” to link the feature directly to the isolation action.
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. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 administrator wants to automatically isolate a device in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint whenever a high-severity alert is triggered. The isolation should occur without manual intervention. Which Microsoft Defender XDR feature should be configured?
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
Automated Investigation and Response (AIR) in Microsoft Defender XDR is designed to automatically respond to threats by running playbooks that can take remediation actions, such as isolating a device, without manual intervention. When a high-severity alert triggers, AIR evaluates the alert and, if configured, executes the isolation action as part of its automated response, meeting the requirement for zero-touch isolation.
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.
✗
Attack surface reduction rules
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. ASR rules prevent exploitation of common attack vectors but do not automatically isolate devices.
✓
Automated investigation and response
Why this is correct
Correct. AIR automates investigation and can take response actions like device isolation based on alert severity.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Threat analytics
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Threat analytics provides reports on active threats and vulnerabilities, not automated response.
✗
Vulnerability management
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Vulnerability management identifies and remediates software weaknesses but does not automatically isolate devices.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse proactive prevention features (like ASR rules) with automated post-breach response capabilities, assuming any security feature that 'blocks' something can also isolate a device automatically.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Automated Investigation and Response leverages built-in playbooks that use the Microsoft Graph Security API to orchestrate actions like device isolation via the Defender for Endpoint sensor. The isolation action uses a network-level block that drops all traffic except to the Defender cloud service, ensuring the device cannot communicate laterally while still receiving policy updates. In a real-world scenario, if a high-severity alert like 'Behavior:Win32/FilelessAttack' fires, AIR can automatically isolate the endpoint within seconds, containing the threat before manual analysis begins.
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 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.
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: Automated investigation and response — Automated Investigation and Response (AIR) in Microsoft Defender XDR is designed to automatically respond to threats by running playbooks that can take remediation actions, such as isolating a device, without manual intervention. When a high-severity alert triggers, AIR evaluates the alert and, if configured, executes the isolation action as part of its automated response, meeting the requirement for zero-touch isolation.
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 →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A security administrator is configuring Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (MDE) to automatically remediate threats. The administrator wants to ensure that when a high-severity alert is triggered, the affected device is isolated from the network. Which three components must be configured to achieve this? (Choose three.)
hard
✓ A.Alert severity
✓ B.Automation level
C.Device tag
D.Indicator of compromise (IoC)
✓ E.Device isolation action
Why A: Options B, C, and D are correct. Automation levels define the response action. Device isolation is an action that can be automated. Alert severity sets the trigger. Option A is wrong because indicator of compromise (IoC) is for blocking, not automation. Option E is wrong because a tag is for grouping, not automation.
Variation 2. You are a security administrator for a multinational company that uses Microsoft Defender XDR. You have deployed Microsoft Defender for Endpoint on all devices. The company has a strict policy that any device with a high-severity alert must be isolated from the network immediately. You need to configure an automated response that isolates the device as soon as a high-severity alert is generated. What should you do?
medium
A.Enable 'Automatically investigate alerts' in the Microsoft Defender portal.
B.Use the Action Center to manually isolate devices as alerts come in.
C.Create a device group for high-severity alerts and configure a conditional access policy to block network access.
✓ D.In Microsoft Defender XDR, navigate to Settings > Endpoints > Automated investigation and response, and configure the automation level for high-severity alerts to 'Full - remediate threats automatically'.
Why D: Option B is correct because automation levels in incident response rules allow automatic isolation for high-severity alerts. Option A is wrong because device groups are not directly linked to automatic isolation. Option C is wrong because action center is for manual actions. Option D is wrong because that setting controls automatic investigation, not isolation.
Variation 3. You are a security administrator for a company that uses Microsoft Defender XDR. You need to configure a policy to automatically remediate high-severity incidents involving ransomware on Windows 10 devices. The solution must minimize manual intervention. Which automation level should you configure in the automated investigation and response (AIR) capabilities?
medium
✓ A.Automatically remediate threats
B.Full - automatically remediate threats
C.Semi - require approval for any remediation
D.No automated response
Why A: Option C is correct because 'Automatically remediate threats' is the highest automation level that allows Defender XDR to take automatic remediation actions without human approval, which matches the requirement to minimize manual intervention. Option A is wrong because 'Full - automatically remediate threats' is the same as option C; note that the correct term is 'Automatically remediate threats' or 'Full automation' depending on the UI. Option B is wrong because 'Semi - require approval for any remediation' requires manual approval, which does not minimize manual intervention. Option D is wrong because 'No automated response' disables automation entirely.
Variation 4. You are a security administrator for a company that uses Microsoft Defender XDR. You need to configure an automated investigation and response (AIR) policy to automatically remediate threats on devices. Which two actions can be taken automatically without requiring administrator approval? (Choose two.)
medium
✓ A.Quarantine file
B.Block URL
C.Run antivirus scan
✓ D.Isolate device
E.Collect investigation package
Why A: Options A and C are correct because 'Quarantine file' and 'Isolate device' are both remediation actions that can be set to run automatically depending on the automation level. Option B is wrong because 'Run antivirus scan' is typically an investigation action, not a remediation action. Option D is wrong because 'Collect investigation package' is an investigation action. Option E is wrong because 'Block URL' is a remediation action but often requires approval.
Variation 5. You are a security administrator for a company that uses Microsoft Defender XDR. You need to configure automated investigation and response (AIR) to automatically remediate threats. Which two actions should you take?
easy
A.Create a device group for automatic remediation.
B.Assign the Security Administrator role to all users.
✓ C.Configure action center settings to allow automatic remediation.
✓ D.Turn on automated investigation in the Microsoft Defender portal.
E.Set the automation level to 'Full - remediate threats automatically' globally.
Why C: To enable automated investigation and response (AIR) in Microsoft Defender XDR, you must first enable the feature in the Microsoft Defender portal, and then configure action settings to allow automatic remediation. Option D is incorrect because automation levels are set per policy, not globally. Option E is incorrect because creating a device group is not required; AIR can be enabled for all devices.
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.
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.