Quick Answer
The answer is EmailEvents, DeviceProcessEvents, and DeviceRegistryEvents. These three advanced hunting tables map directly to the attack chain: EmailEvents captures the initial phishing email, DeviceProcessEvents logs the script execution from the drive-by download, and DeviceRegistryEvents records the attempted registry run key modification for persistence. On the Microsoft 365 Administrator MS-102 exam, this question tests your ability to trace a multi-stage attack using the correct schema tables in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, a common scenario in incident response simulations. A frequent trap is choosing DeviceNetworkEvents for the download or DeviceFileEvents for the script file, but the chain is best followed by the email, the process that ran the script, and the registry change itself. Remember the mnemonic “Email, Execute, Edit” to recall the three tables in order for a phishing-to-persistence investigation.
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.
Your organization has Microsoft Defender for Endpoint deployed on all devices. You are investigating an incident where a user received a phishing email containing a link that led to a drive-by download. The download executed a script that attempted to modify registry run keys for persistence. Which THREE advanced hunting tables should you use to investigate this attack chain?
DeviceFileEvents
Why wrong: Captures file events, but the download may not be captured if it's in-memory.
EmailEvents
Captures the phishing email event.
DeviceProcessEvents
Captures process creation, including the script execution.
DeviceRegistryEvents
Captures registry modifications, including persistence.
DeviceNetworkEvents
Why wrong: Captures network connections, not the initial email or script execution.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
EmailEvents
Option A (EmailEvents) captures the phishing email. Option C (DeviceProcessEvents) captures the script execution. Option E (DeviceRegistryEvents) captures the registry modification. Option B is wrong because DeviceNetworkEvents might be used but not as directly relevant for the described chain. Option D is wrong because DeviceFileEvents could capture the download, but the chain is better captured by email, process, and registry.
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.
DeviceFileEvents
Why it's wrong here
Captures file events, but the download may not be captured if it's in-memory.
EmailEvents
Why this is correct
Captures the phishing email event.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
DeviceProcessEvents
Why this is correct
Captures process creation, including the script execution.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
DeviceRegistryEvents
Why this is correct
Captures registry modifications, including persistence.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
DeviceNetworkEvents
Why it's wrong here
Captures network connections, not the initial email or script execution.
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 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.
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.
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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: EmailEvents — Option A (EmailEvents) captures the phishing email. Option C (DeviceProcessEvents) captures the script execution. Option E (DeviceRegistryEvents) captures the registry modification. Option B is wrong because DeviceNetworkEvents might be used but not as directly relevant for the described chain. Option D is wrong because DeviceFileEvents could capture the download, but the chain is better captured by email, process, and registry.
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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
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