The correct answer is that the KQL query identifies accounts that have experienced more than 10 failed login attempts from the same IP address within an hour. This is because the query uses the `summarize` operator to count EventID 4625 (failed logon) events, grouping by account and IP address, then applies a `where` filter for counts greater than 10 over a 1-hour sliding window. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this scenario tests your ability to interpret KQL for detecting brute force patterns, a common threat detection use case in Sentinel. A frequent trap is confusing this with a distributed brute force attack, which would involve multiple IPs targeting one account—here, the same IP is key. Memory tip: think "Same IP, Same Account, 10 Strikes in 60 Minutes" to recall the three core filters of the query.
SC-100 Practice Question: Design security operations, identity, and compliance capabilities
This SC-100 practice question tests your understanding of design security operations, identity, and compliance capabilities. 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
SecurityEvent
| where EventID == 4625
| where Account !contains "$"
| summarize FailedLogins = count() by Account, IPAddress, bin(TimeGenerated, 1h)
| where FailedLogins > 10
Refer to the exhibit. A security analyst runs this KQL query in Microsoft Sentinel. What is the primary purpose of this query?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Identify accounts that have experienced more than 10 failed login attempts from the same IP address within an hour
The KQL query uses the `summarize` operator to count failed logon events (EventID 4625) grouped by account and IP address, then filters for counts greater than 10 within a 1-hour time window. This directly identifies accounts that have experienced more than 10 failed login attempts from the same IP address within an hour, which is a classic indicator of a brute-force attack targeting a specific account.
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 accounts that have experienced more than 10 failed login attempts from the same IP address within an hour
Why this is correct
The query does exactly that.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Identify IP addresses that have successfully brute-forced an account
Why it's wrong here
It only counts failures, not successes.
✗
Identify users who have logged in from multiple IPs in a short time
Identify accounts that have been disabled due to multiple failures
Why it's wrong here
The query does not check account status.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Microsoft often tests the distinction between identifying brute-force attempts (failed logins) and confirming successful brute-force attacks (failed logins followed by a successful login), so candidates may incorrectly choose Option B without checking for a successful logon event.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, EventID 4625 (An account failed to log on) includes fields like `Account`, `IpAddress`, and `SubStatus` codes that indicate the reason for failure (e.g., bad password vs. account disabled). The `summarize` operator with `bin(TimeGenerated, 1h)` creates hourly buckets, and the `where` clause filters for counts > 10, which is a common threshold for brute-force detection. In real-world scenarios, analysts often combine this with a subsequent query for successful logons from the same IP to confirm a successful brute-force attack.
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 SC-100 question in full detail.
Design security operations, identity, and compliance capabilities — This question tests Design security operations, identity, and compliance capabilities — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Identify accounts that have experienced more than 10 failed login attempts from the same IP address within an hour — The KQL query uses the `summarize` operator to count failed logon events (EventID 4625) grouped by account and IP address, then filters for counts greater than 10 within a 1-hour time window. This directly identifies accounts that have experienced more than 10 failed login attempts from the same IP address within an hour, which is a classic indicator of a brute-force attack targeting a specific account.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
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 →
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 SC-100 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 SC-100 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.