This SC-100 practice question tests your understanding of design solutions that align with security best practices and priorities. 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 organization uses Microsoft Sentinel for security operations. The SOC team wants to automatically disable a compromised user account in Microsoft Entra ID when a high-severity alert is generated. Which automation method should you use?
An automation rule with a playbook
Automation rules trigger playbooks that can execute actions like disabling a user account.
A workbook
Why wrong: Workbooks provide visual reports, not automation.
A KQL query in a hunting rule
Why wrong: KQL queries are for threat hunting, not automated response.
An analytics rule
Why wrong: Analytics rules create alerts but do not perform remediation actions.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
An automation rule with a playbook
Automation rules in Microsoft Sentinel can trigger a playbook (an Azure Logic Apps workflow) when a high-severity alert fires. The playbook can then execute an action to disable the user account in Microsoft Entra ID via the Microsoft Graph API. This is the correct method because it provides the necessary integration between Sentinel alerts and Entra ID identity remediation.
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.
An automation rule with a playbook
Why this is correct
Automation rules trigger playbooks that can execute actions like disabling a user account.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
A workbook
Why it's wrong here
Workbooks provide visual reports, not automation.
A KQL query in a hunting rule
Why it's wrong here
KQL queries are for threat hunting, not automated response.
An analytics rule
Why it's wrong here
Analytics rules create alerts but do not perform remediation actions.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse analytics rules (which detect and alert) with automation rules (which respond), leading them to select an analytics rule thinking it can directly perform remediation actions.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, the playbook uses the Microsoft Graph API's 'user update' endpoint (PATCH /users/{id}) to set the 'accountEnabled' property to false. The automation rule must be configured with the appropriate trigger (e.g., 'When alert is created') and the playbook must have the correct permissions (e.g., User.ReadWrite.All) delegated to the managed identity or service principal. A subtle behavior is that the playbook runs asynchronously; if the alert is generated faster than the playbook can execute, there is a brief window where the account remains active.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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.
What to study next
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FAQ
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..
The correct answer is: An automation rule with a playbook — Automation rules in Microsoft Sentinel can trigger a playbook (an Azure Logic Apps workflow) when a high-severity alert fires. The playbook can then execute an action to disable the user account in Microsoft Entra ID via the Microsoft Graph API. This is the correct method because it provides the necessary integration between Sentinel alerts and Entra ID identity remediation.
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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