- A
Verify that the Microsoft 365 Defender connector is configured to ingest MDE alerts.
Why wrong: The connector ingests all alerts by default; there is no specific configuration for MDE alerts.
- B
Check if the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint data connector is added.
Why wrong: There is no separate MDE data connector; MDE alerts come through the Microsoft 365 Defender connector.
- C
Verify that the ingestion rules in Sentinel are not filtering out MDE alerts.
Why wrong: Ingestion rules are for filtering after data is received; if no data is received, the rule is not the issue.
- D
Check the Microsoft 365 Defender portal to ensure MDE alerts are being generated and forwarded to Microsoft 365 Defender.
If MDE alerts are not in Microsoft 365 Defender, they won't appear in Sentinel.
Quick Answer
The correct step is to check the Microsoft 365 Defender portal to ensure MDE alerts are being generated and forwarded to Microsoft 365 Defender. This is because the Microsoft 365 Defender connector in Sentinel acts as a unified pipeline, pulling in alerts from all Defender products, including Microsoft Defender for Endpoint; if the connector status shows 'Connected' but alerts are missing, the root cause is almost always that the alerts are not being produced or forwarded upstream in the Microsoft 365 Defender environment itself. On the SC-200 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the data flow hierarchy—alerts must first exist in the Defender portal before Sentinel can ingest them via the connector, a common trap where candidates mistakenly check the MDE connector or ingestion rules. A useful memory tip is “Check the source before the sink”—always verify alert generation in Microsoft 365 Defender before troubleshooting Sentinel ingestion.
SC-200 Manage a security operations environment Practice Question
This SC-200 practice question tests your understanding of manage a security operations environment. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
A company uses Microsoft Sentinel with the Microsoft 365 Defender connector. The security team notices that alerts from Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (MDE) are not appearing in Sentinel. The MDE data connector status shows 'Connected'. Which step should you take to troubleshoot this issue?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Check the Microsoft 365 Defender portal to ensure MDE alerts are being generated and forwarded to Microsoft 365 Defender.
Option D is correct because the Microsoft 365 Defender connector brings in alerts from all Defender products, including MDE. If the connector is connected but alerts are missing, the issue is likely that the alerts are not being forwarded to Microsoft 365 Defender. Option A is not correct because MDE alerts are not a separate connector; Option B is not correct because the connector is already 'Connected'; Option C is not correct because ingestion rules filter after ingestion.
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.
- ✗
Verify that the Microsoft 365 Defender connector is configured to ingest MDE alerts.
Why it's wrong here
The connector ingests all alerts by default; there is no specific configuration for MDE alerts.
- ✗
Check if the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint data connector is added.
Why it's wrong here
There is no separate MDE data connector; MDE alerts come through the Microsoft 365 Defender connector.
- ✗
Verify that the ingestion rules in Sentinel are not filtering out MDE alerts.
Why it's wrong here
Ingestion rules are for filtering after data is received; if no data is received, the rule is not the issue.
- ✓
Check the Microsoft 365 Defender portal to ensure MDE alerts are being generated and forwarded to Microsoft 365 Defender.
Why this is correct
If MDE alerts are not in Microsoft 365 Defender, they won't appear in Sentinel.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which SC-200 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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SC-200 question test?
Manage a security operations environment — This question tests Manage a security operations environment — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Check the Microsoft 365 Defender portal to ensure MDE alerts are being generated and forwarded to Microsoft 365 Defender. — Option D is correct because the Microsoft 365 Defender connector brings in alerts from all Defender products, including MDE. If the connector is connected but alerts are missing, the issue is likely that the alerts are not being forwarded to Microsoft 365 Defender. Option A is not correct because MDE alerts are not a separate connector; Option B is not correct because the connector is already 'Connected'; Option C is not correct because ingestion rules filter after ingestion.
What should I do if I get this SC-200 question wrong?
Identify which SC-200 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.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
This SC-200 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-200 exam.
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