The answer is the Windows Security Events via AMA (Azure Monitor Agent) connector. This is correct because brute-force attacks against Azure VMs are detected by correlating failed sign-in events, specifically Event ID 4625, which is a Windows Security Event collected by the Azure Monitor Agent. Unlike Azure Activity logs or Azure AD sign-in logs, which capture resource management or cloud app sign-ins, only the Windows Security Events connector ingests the local authentication failures from the VM’s security log, enabling Sentinel to detect patterns like multiple failed attempts from different sources. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between data sources for VM-level versus cloud-level threats; a common trap is choosing Azure AD logs, which only cover cloud identities, not local VM logins. Memory tip: think “4625 for local drives” to remember that Event ID 4625 is the key for VM brute-force detection.
SC-100 Design security solutions for infrastructure Practice Question
This SC-100 practice question tests your understanding of design security solutions for infrastructure. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 company uses Microsoft Sentinel for security operations. You need to detect brute-force attacks against Azure VMs by correlating failed sign-in events from multiple sources. Which data connector should you enable?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Windows Security Events via AMA (Azure Monitor Agent) connector.
Option C is correct because Windows Security Events via AMA can collect failed sign-in events (Event ID 4625) from Azure VMs. Option A is wrong because Azure Activity logs do not contain VM sign-in events. Option B is wrong because Azure AD sign-in logs are for cloud applications, not VM sign-ins. Option D is wrong because Syslog is for Linux VMs but the question does not specify OS.
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.
✗
Azure Active Directory (now Microsoft Entra ID) sign-in logs connector.
Why it's wrong here
Entra ID sign-in logs cover cloud app sign-ins, not VM local sign-ins.
✗
Syslog connector.
Why it's wrong here
Syslog is for Linux, not Windows; also not specific to failed sign-in events.
✓
Windows Security Events via AMA (Azure Monitor Agent) connector.
Why this is correct
This connector collects Windows security events including failed logins from VMs.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Azure Activity log connector.
Why it's wrong here
Activity log records resource management events, not OS-level sign-ins.
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
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this SC-100 question in full detail.
Identify which SC-100 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.
Design security solutions for infrastructure — This question tests Design security solutions for infrastructure — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Windows Security Events via AMA (Azure Monitor Agent) connector. — Option C is correct because Windows Security Events via AMA can collect failed sign-in events (Event ID 4625) from Azure VMs. Option A is wrong because Azure Activity logs do not contain VM sign-in events. Option B is wrong because Azure AD sign-in logs are for cloud applications, not VM sign-ins. Option D is wrong because Syslog is for Linux VMs but the question does not specify OS.
What should I do if I get this SC-100 question wrong?
Identify which SC-100 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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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