Quick Answer
The answer is to enable the Microsoft Defender for Cloud data connector and then create an analytics rule. This configuration is correct because the data connector ingests security alerts from Defender for Cloud into Microsoft Sentinel, and the analytics rule uses a rule query to filter for high-severity alerts, with its incident creation setting automatically generating a Sentinel incident. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this tests your understanding of the Sentinel data ingestion pipeline and the distinction between simply connecting a data source versus automating incident generation; a common trap is assuming the connector alone creates incidents, but it only ingests raw alerts. A key memory tip is “connector for data, rule for incidents”—the connector brings alerts in, but only an analytics rule with incident creation enabled turns those alerts into actionable incidents.
This SC-100 practice question tests your understanding of design security operations, identity, and compliance capabilities. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 Sentinel and Microsoft Defender for Cloud. You need to design a solution that automatically creates an incident in Sentinel when a high-severity alert is generated in Defender for Cloud. What should you configure?
Enable the Microsoft Defender for Cloud data connector and create an analytics rule
Data connector ingests alerts; analytics rule creates incidents.
Create a workbook to track alerts
Why wrong: Workbooks are for visualization, not incident creation.
Create a playbook in Microsoft Sentinel
Why wrong: Playbooks respond to incidents, not create them.
Use a watchlist to import alerts
Why wrong: Watchlists are for reference data.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Enable the Microsoft Defender for Cloud data connector and create an analytics rule
The Microsoft Defender for Cloud data connector ingests security alerts from Defender for Cloud into Microsoft Sentinel. Once ingested, you create an analytics rule with a rule query that triggers on high-severity alerts and configures the rule to automatically create an incident. This is the standard method to convert a Defender for Cloud alert into a Sentinel incident without manual intervention.
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.
Enable the Microsoft Defender for Cloud data connector and create an analytics rule
Why this is correct
Data connector ingests alerts; analytics rule creates incidents.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Create a workbook to track alerts
Why it's wrong here
Workbooks are for visualization, not incident creation.
Create a playbook in Microsoft Sentinel
Why it's wrong here
Playbooks respond to incidents, not create them.
Use a watchlist to import alerts
Why it's wrong here
Watchlists are for reference data.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse a playbook (which automates responses) with the analytics rule that actually creates the incident, or they think a workbook or watchlist can trigger incident creation, but only an analytics rule with the proper data connector can automatically generate incidents from ingested alerts.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, the Defender for Cloud data connector uses the Azure Resource Graph to pull security alerts into the 'SecurityAlert' table in Sentinel. An analytics rule with a query like 'SecurityAlert | where AlertSeverity == 'High'' and the 'Create incident from alert' trigger enabled will automatically generate a Sentinel incident for each matching alert. This leverages Sentinel's built-in alert grouping and suppression features to avoid duplicate incidents, which is critical in high-volume environments.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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.
What to study next
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FAQ
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..
The correct answer is: Enable the Microsoft Defender for Cloud data connector and create an analytics rule — The Microsoft Defender for Cloud data connector ingests security alerts from Defender for Cloud into Microsoft Sentinel. Once ingested, you create an analytics rule with a rule query that triggers on high-severity alerts and configures the rule to automatically create an incident. This is the standard method to convert a Defender for Cloud alert into a Sentinel incident without manual intervention.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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