- A
Query EmailEvents for the email, then DeviceLogonEvents for user logons, then DeviceProcessEvents for process creations after logon.
Why wrong: This approach relies on user logon events, which may not capture devices where the user clicked the link without a new interactive logon, and is less direct.
- B
Query EmailUrlInfo for the URL, then DeviceNetworkEvents for devices that connected to that URL, then DeviceProcessEvents for processes on those devices that started shortly after the connection.
Correct: This directly ties the URL to network connections (clicks) and then to processes, providing a precise chain of events.
- C
Query EmailAttachmentInfo, then DeviceFileEvents for files dropped.
Why wrong: This chain would only detect attachments, not links, and does not cover the click and process creation.
- D
Query IdentityLogonEvents, then DeviceEvents from the device where the logon occurred.
Why wrong: IdentityLogonEvents capture cloud identity logons, not endpoint device activities, and would miss the network connection event.
Quick Answer
The answer is to query EmailUrlInfo for the URL, then DeviceNetworkEvents for devices that connected to that URL, then DeviceProcessEvents for processes on those devices that started shortly after the connection. This sequence is correct because it directly correlates the phishing email click to process execution by mapping the attack chain from email delivery to network connection and finally to post-click process spawning. On the SC-200 exam, this tests your ability to chain advanced hunting tables in Microsoft 365 Defender to reconstruct an attack path, a common scenario in the “Hunt for threats” domain. A frequent trap is jumping straight to DeviceProcessEvents without first confirming the network connection, which would miss devices where the link was clicked but no process was spawned. Remember the mnemonic “Email, Network, Process” to keep the logical order straight: start with the URL source, confirm the connection, then check for spawned processes.
SC-200 Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender XDR Practice Question
This SC-200 practice question tests your understanding of mitigate threats using microsoft defender xdr. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 security analyst is hunting for a targeted phishing attack in Microsoft 365 Defender. They have identified a phishing email delivered to a user and want to find all devices where the user clicked the link in the email, and any processes that were spawned from the browser on those devices. Which advanced hunting strategy is most effective to correlate the email, network, and process data?
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
Query EmailUrlInfo for the URL, then DeviceNetworkEvents for devices that connected to that URL, then DeviceProcessEvents for processes on those devices that started shortly after the connection.
Option B is correct because it directly correlates the malicious URL from the email (via EmailUrlInfo) with devices that connected to that URL (via DeviceNetworkEvents), then identifies any processes spawned on those devices shortly after the connection (via DeviceProcessEvents). This sequence maps the attack chain from email delivery to network connection to post-click process execution, which is exactly what the analyst needs to find devices where the link was clicked and any resulting processes.
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.
- ✗
Query EmailEvents for the email, then DeviceLogonEvents for user logons, then DeviceProcessEvents for process creations after logon.
Why it's wrong here
This approach relies on user logon events, which may not capture devices where the user clicked the link without a new interactive logon, and is less direct.
- ✓
Query EmailUrlInfo for the URL, then DeviceNetworkEvents for devices that connected to that URL, then DeviceProcessEvents for processes on those devices that started shortly after the connection.
Why this is correct
Correct: This directly ties the URL to network connections (clicks) and then to processes, providing a precise chain of events.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Query EmailAttachmentInfo, then DeviceFileEvents for files dropped.
Why it's wrong here
This chain would only detect attachments, not links, and does not cover the click and process creation.
- ✗
Query IdentityLogonEvents, then DeviceEvents from the device where the logon occurred.
Why it's wrong here
IdentityLogonEvents capture cloud identity logons, not endpoint device activities, and would miss the network connection event.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose Option A, mistakenly thinking that user logon events are a reliable proxy for link clicks, but logons do not indicate that the user actually clicked the URL or that any malicious process was spawned from the browser.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, DeviceNetworkEvents in Microsoft 365 Defender captures outbound connections at the network layer, including the destination URL and timestamp, which can be joined with EmailUrlInfo using the URL value. The temporal join (e.g., processes started within a few minutes after the network connection) is critical because it filters out unrelated processes and identifies post-click behavior like PowerShell or cmd.exe launched by the browser. In real-world phishing attacks, the browser may spawn a child process like mshta.exe or regsvr32.exe to execute payloads, and this query pattern catches that chain.
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 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
Questions learners often ask
What does this SC-200 question test?
Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender XDR — This question tests Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender XDR — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Query EmailUrlInfo for the URL, then DeviceNetworkEvents for devices that connected to that URL, then DeviceProcessEvents for processes on those devices that started shortly after the connection. — Option B is correct because it directly correlates the malicious URL from the email (via EmailUrlInfo) with devices that connected to that URL (via DeviceNetworkEvents), then identifies any processes spawned on those devices shortly after the connection (via DeviceProcessEvents). This sequence maps the attack chain from email delivery to network connection to post-click process execution, which is exactly what the analyst needs to find devices where the link was clicked and any resulting processes.
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.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 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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