- A
securityresources | where type =~ 'microsoft.security/assessments' and name == '4da3e7e8-0e4b-4c5e-8e0a-7e8f4e8e4e8e' | where properties.status.code == 'Unhealthy' and properties.status.firstEvaluationDate < ago(7d)
This query filters for the specific vulnerability assessment and checks if the last scan (firstEvaluationDate) is older than 7 days or not present.
- B
resources | where type =~ 'microsoft.compute/virtualmachines' | where properties.storageProfile.osDisk.managedDisk.id != ''
Why wrong: This query only returns virtual machines with managed disks; it does not include any vulnerability scan information.
- C
securityresources | where type =~ 'microsoft.security/regulatorycompliancestandards'
Why wrong: Regulatory compliance standards (e.g., NIST) do not contain vulnerability scan timestamps per machine.
- D
resources | where type =~ 'microsoft.security/securitystatuses'
Why wrong: The securitystatuses resource type is outdated and does not provide the granular vulnerability assessment scan data needed.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is the KQL query that filters `securityresources` for the assessment GUID `4da3e7e8-0e4b-4c5e-8e0a-7e8f4e8e4e8e` with an `Unhealthy` status and a `firstEvaluationDate` older than seven days. This works because Azure Resource Graph stores vulnerability assessment scan results as assessment objects under the `microsoft.security/assessments` type, and the specific GUID maps to the “Vulnerabilities in your virtual machines should be remediated” control in Defender for Cloud. By checking that the status is `Unhealthy` and the first evaluation date is beyond the 7-day window, you isolate VMs that either have unresolved vulnerabilities or have never been rescanned—effectively identifying unscanned machines. On the SC-200 exam, this tests your ability to query Azure Resource Graph for vulnerability assessment scan status rather than relying on the simpler `healthresources` table, which is a common trap. Remember that `firstEvaluationDate` is the key timestamp for scan recency, not `lastEvaluationDate`. Memory tip: think “First date, first scan” — if the first evaluation is old, the VM hasn’t been rescanned.
SC-200 Practice Question: Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender for Cloud
This SC-200 practice question tests your understanding of mitigate threats using microsoft defender for cloud. 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.
A large enterprise uses Microsoft Defender for Cloud with the integrated Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management solution enabled for all servers. The security team wants to identify all virtual machines that have not been scanned for vulnerabilities in the last 7 days. They plan to use Azure Resource Graph (ARG) to generate a report. Which KQL query would correctly identify these machines?
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
securityresources | where type =~ 'microsoft.security/assessments' and name == '4da3e7e8-0e4b-4c5e-8e0a-7e8f4e8e4e8e' | where properties.status.code == 'Unhealthy' and properties.status.firstEvaluationDate < ago(7d)
Option A is correct because it queries the `securityresources` table for the specific vulnerability assessment type (`microsoft.security/assessments`) and filters for the vulnerability assessment result named with the GUID `4da3e7e8-0e4b-4c5e-8e0a-7e8f4e8e4e8e`, which corresponds to the 'Vulnerabilities in your virtual machines should be remediated' assessment. It then checks that the status code is 'Unhealthy' (indicating vulnerabilities were found) and that the `firstEvaluationDate` is older than 7 days, which identifies machines that have not been scanned recently.
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.
- ✓
securityresources | where type =~ 'microsoft.security/assessments' and name == '4da3e7e8-0e4b-4c5e-8e0a-7e8f4e8e4e8e' | where properties.status.code == 'Unhealthy' and properties.status.firstEvaluationDate < ago(7d)
Why this is correct
This query filters for the specific vulnerability assessment and checks if the last scan (firstEvaluationDate) is older than 7 days or not present.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
resources | where type =~ 'microsoft.compute/virtualmachines' | where properties.storageProfile.osDisk.managedDisk.id != ''
Why it's wrong here
This query only returns virtual machines with managed disks; it does not include any vulnerability scan information.
- ✗
securityresources | where type =~ 'microsoft.security/regulatorycompliancestandards'
Why it's wrong here
Regulatory compliance standards (e.g., NIST) do not contain vulnerability scan timestamps per machine.
- ✗
resources | where type =~ 'microsoft.security/securitystatuses'
Why it's wrong here
The securitystatuses resource type is outdated and does not provide the granular vulnerability assessment scan data needed.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the `firstEvaluationDate` with the last scan time, but in this context, an outdated `firstEvaluationDate` on an 'Unhealthy' assessment correctly identifies machines that have not been rescanned recently, whereas a healthy assessment would have been updated more frequently.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The vulnerability assessment in Microsoft Defender for Cloud uses the integrated Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management (MDVM) solution, which performs continuous scanning. The assessment GUID `4da3e7e8-0e4b-4c5e-8e0a-7e8f4e8e4e8e` is a fixed identifier for the 'Vulnerabilities in your virtual machines should be remediated' recommendation. The `firstEvaluationDate` property reflects when the assessment was first evaluated; if it is older than 7 days, it indicates no recent scan has updated that assessment, effectively meaning the machine has not been scanned in that period. In a real-world scenario, this query helps security teams identify stale scan results that may indicate connectivity issues, agent failures, or decommissioned machines.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SC-200 question test?
Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender for Cloud — This question tests Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender for Cloud — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: securityresources | where type =~ 'microsoft.security/assessments' and name == '4da3e7e8-0e4b-4c5e-8e0a-7e8f4e8e4e8e' | where properties.status.code == 'Unhealthy' and properties.status.firstEvaluationDate < ago(7d) — Option A is correct because it queries the `securityresources` table for the specific vulnerability assessment type (`microsoft.security/assessments`) and filters for the vulnerability assessment result named with the GUID `4da3e7e8-0e4b-4c5e-8e0a-7e8f4e8e4e8e`, which corresponds to the 'Vulnerabilities in your virtual machines should be remediated' assessment. It then checks that the status code is 'Unhealthy' (indicating vulnerabilities were found) and that the `firstEvaluationDate` is older than 7 days, which identifies machines that have not been scanned recently.
What should I do if I get this SC-200 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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