The correct first step is to contact the user to verify if the activity is legitimate. This approach aligns with Microsoft’s recommended security incident response process, which prioritizes validation before action—especially when Defender for Identity detects failed logon attempts from a non-corporate IP. Jumping to disable the account or reset the password could disrupt a legitimate user, while blocking the IP might be premature without context. On the MS-102 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the “verify, then act” workflow in identity threat response, often appearing as a trap where candidates choose an aggressive remediation step. A common memory tip is “Verify before you modify”—always confirm user intent before changing accounts or blocking access, as the alert itself is a signal, not a verdict.
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.
Your organization uses Microsoft Defender for Identity (MDI) and Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps. You receive an alert about a user who is performing an unusual number of failed logon attempts from a non-corporate IP address. The user is a member of the Finance group. What is the recommended first step?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Contact the user to verify if the activity is legitimate.
Option D is correct because the first step is to verify with the user whether the activity is legitimate before taking any action. Option A is wrong because immediately disabling the account may cause unnecessary disruption. Option B is wrong because resetting password without verification may not be necessary. Option C is wrong because blocking the IP may be premature. Option E is wrong because closing the alert without investigation is not appropriate.
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.
✗
Reset the user's password and require MFA.
Why it's wrong here
Better to first confirm if the user is at fault.
✓
Contact the user to verify if the activity is legitimate.
Why this is correct
User confirmation is the quickest way to determine if it's a false positive.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Disable the user account immediately.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling without confirmation can impact productivity.
✗
Block the IP address in the firewall.
Why it's wrong here
IP may be shared; blocking could affect others.
✗
Close the alert as a false positive.
Why it's wrong here
Should investigate before closing.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
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
How to think about this question
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.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this MS-102 question in full detail.
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 — 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: Contact the user to verify if the activity is legitimate. — Option D is correct because the first step is to verify with the user whether the activity is legitimate before taking any action. Option A is wrong because immediately disabling the account may cause unnecessary disruption. Option B is wrong because resetting password without verification may not be necessary. Option C is wrong because blocking the IP may be premature. Option E is wrong because closing the alert without investigation is not appropriate.
What should I do if I get this MS-102 question wrong?
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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