Quick Answer
The answer is Suspicious service creation, as this Defender for Identity alert type most directly indicates a reconnaissance attack on domain controllers. Reconnaissance attacks often involve an adversary using a compromised account to probe the network for vulnerabilities, and creating a suspicious service on a domain controller is a common technique to establish persistence or gather information about the environment. On the Microsoft 365 Administrator MS-102 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between alert types tied to different phases of the cyber kill chain, with a common trap being to confuse reconnaissance alerts with those for persistence (Golden Ticket), credential dumping (DCSync), or brute force attacks. Remember that reconnaissance is about discovery, not exploitation—so think of service creation as the attacker setting up a listening post. A useful memory tip is "Recon = Service Creation," linking the initial probing phase to the act of installing a new service.
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.
Contoso has a hybrid identity environment with Microsoft Defender for Identity deployed. They suspect a compromised account is being used to perform reconnaissance against domain controllers. Which Defender for Identity alert type would most likely trigger?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Brute Force attack
Why wrong: Brute Force is for password guessing.
Suspicious service creation
Service creation can be used for reconnaissance.
DCSync attack
Why wrong: DCSync replicates domain credentials.
Golden Ticket activity
Why wrong: Golden Ticket is for Kerberos ticket forgery.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Suspicious service creation
Reconnaissance attacks are often detected by 'Suspicious service creation' or 'Directory services enumeration'. Option A is correct. Option B is wrong because Golden Ticket is for persistence. Option C is wrong because DCSync is for credential dumping. Option D is wrong because Brute Force is for password attacks.
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.
Brute Force attack
Why it's wrong here
Brute Force is for password guessing.
Suspicious service creation
Why this is correct
Service creation can be used for reconnaissance.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
DCSync attack
Why it's wrong here
DCSync replicates domain credentials.
Golden Ticket activity
Why it's wrong here
Golden Ticket is for Kerberos ticket forgery.
Common exam traps
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
Identify which MS-102 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise MS-102 questions linked to Deploy and manage a Microsoft 365 tenant.
Practise MS-102 questions linked to Implement and manage Microsoft Entra identity and access.
Practise MS-102 questions linked to Manage security and threats by using Microsoft Defender XDR.
Practise MS-102 questions linked to Manage compliance by using Microsoft Purview.
Practise MS-102 questions linked to Manage users, groups, licensing, and support.
Practise MS-102 questions linked to Implement and manage identity and access in Microsoft Entra ID.
Practise MS-102 questions linked to MS-102 fundamentals.
Practise MS-102 questions linked to MS-102 scenario.
Practise MS-102 questions linked to MS-102 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
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..
The correct answer is: Suspicious service creation — Reconnaissance attacks are often detected by 'Suspicious service creation' or 'Directory services enumeration'. Option A is correct. Option B is wrong because Golden Ticket is for persistence. Option C is wrong because DCSync is for credential dumping. Option D is wrong because Brute Force is for password attacks.
Identify which MS-102 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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 21, 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.