The answer is to identify the top 10 users who have been targeted by Mimikatz attacks. This is correct because the KQL query uses the `summarize` operator with `count()` to aggregate alerts by `UserPrincipalName`, then sorts the result in descending order and applies `take 10`, directly revealing which users have the highest number of Mimikatz detection events in Microsoft Sentinel. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this tests your ability to read and interpret KQL query logic, specifically how `summarize` with aggregation functions like `count()` groups data and how `sort` and `take` filter for top results. A common trap is confusing this with queries that identify the most frequent alert types or source IPs, but the focus here is on user-targeted counts. Memory tip: remember “SUMmarize, COUNT, SORT, TAKE” as the four-step pipeline for ranking top users in any security event.
SC-100 Practice Question: Design solutions that align with security best practices and priorities
This SC-100 practice question tests your understanding of design solutions that align with security best practices and priorities. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
```kusto
SecurityAlert
| where TimeGenerated > ago(7d)
| where AlertName contains "Mimikatz"
| extend UserName = tostring(parse_json(Entities)[0].AccountName)
| summarize Count = count() by UserName
| top 10 by Count desc
```
Refer to the exhibit. A security analyst runs this KQL query in Microsoft Sentinel. What is the purpose of this query?
Refer to the exhibit.
```kusto
SecurityAlert
| where TimeGenerated > ago(7d)
| where AlertName contains "Mimikatz"
| extend UserName = tostring(parse_json(Entities)[0].AccountName)
| summarize Count = count() by UserName
| top 10 by Count desc
```
A
Identify the top 10 users who have been targeted by Mimikatz attacks
The query counts alerts per user and shows the top 10.
B
Show the severity of Mimikatz alerts for each user
Why wrong: Severity is not included in the query.
C
List all Mimikatz alerts with detailed entity information
Why wrong: The query summarizes counts, not details.
D
Count the total number of Mimikatz alerts in the last 7 days
Why wrong: The query groups by user, not total count.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Identify the top 10 users who have been targeted by Mimikatz attacks
The KQL query uses the `summarize` operator with `count()` to aggregate Mimikatz alerts by `UserPrincipalName`, then sorts the results by count in descending order and limits the output to 10 rows. This directly identifies the top 10 users who have been targeted by Mimikatz attacks, as each alert represents a detection event associated with a specific user.
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.
✓
Identify the top 10 users who have been targeted by Mimikatz attacks
Why this is correct
The query counts alerts per user and shows the top 10.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Show the severity of Mimikatz alerts for each user
Why it's wrong here
Severity is not included in the query.
✗
List all Mimikatz alerts with detailed entity information
Why it's wrong here
The query summarizes counts, not details.
✗
Count the total number of Mimikatz alerts in the last 7 days
Why it's wrong here
The query groups by user, not total count.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Microsoft often tests the distinction between aggregation (count, sum) and attribute display (severity, details), so candidates may mistakenly think a `count()` query shows severity or detailed entity information when it only provides numerical summaries.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `summarize count() by UserPrincipalName` operator in KQL groups all alerts by user identity, effectively performing a hash-based aggregation on the `UserPrincipalName` field. The `top 10 by count_ desc` clause uses a sort-and-limit pattern that is optimized for large datasets, ensuring the query returns only the most targeted users without scanning all results. In a real-world scenario, this query helps prioritize incident response by focusing on users with the highest number of Mimikatz detections, which may indicate credential theft or lateral movement attempts.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this SC-100 question in full detail.
Design solutions that align with security best practices and priorities — This question tests Design solutions that align with security best practices and priorities — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Identify the top 10 users who have been targeted by Mimikatz attacks — The KQL query uses the `summarize` operator with `count()` to aggregate Mimikatz alerts by `UserPrincipalName`, then sorts the results by count in descending order and limits the output to 10 rows. This directly identifies the top 10 users who have been targeted by Mimikatz attacks, as each alert represents a detection event associated with a specific user.
What should I do if I get this SC-100 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.
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