- A
Join DeviceLogonEvents (where AccountName == 'user@contoso.com' and LogonType == 'Interactive') with DeviceNetworkEvents (where RemotePort == 3389) on DeviceName, and filter for NetworkEvents timestamp > LogonEvents timestamp
This joins the two tables on device and ensures temporal ordering to identify lateral movement.
- B
Use IdentityLogonEvents to find the user's logons and join with DeviceNetworkEvents on IP address
Why wrong: IdentityLogonEvents includes cloud-only logons and may not map to device-level interactive logons.
- C
Query EmailEvents to find emails sent from the user and then check DeviceNetworkEvents on the sender device
Why wrong: Email events are not directly related to lateral movement via RDP.
- D
Union DeviceLogonEvents and DeviceNetworkEvents, then summarize by DeviceName and filter for the user
Why wrong: Union does not create the sequential chain; it just combines tables without temporal correlation.
Quick Answer
The answer is to join DeviceLogonEvents and DeviceNetworkEvents on DeviceName with a timestamp filter, because this directly maps the lateral movement chain from an interactive logon to subsequent outbound RDP traffic. The key technical concept is that lateral movement via RDP after an interactive logon requires correlating two distinct event types on the same device: the initial foothold (Interactive logon type) and the later network connection to port 3389. By joining these tables on DeviceName and ensuring the network event timestamp is greater than the logon timestamp, you isolate only those devices where the user’s interactive session preceded the RDP outbound connection, eliminating false positives from unrelated RDP traffic. On the SC-200 exam, this tests your ability to chain events across the Microsoft 365 Defender schema, a common scenario in incident response simulations. A frequent trap is forgetting the timestamp filter, which would include RDP connections that occurred before the logon, breaking the attack timeline. Memory tip: think “Logon first, then RDP out” — always filter time forward to prove the pivot.
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 investigating a suspected lateral movement attack in Microsoft 365 Defender. The analyst wants to identify all devices where a specific user account (user@contoso.com) had an interactive logon, and then check which of those devices subsequently made outbound RDP connections to other internal IP addresses. Which KQL query approach is most efficient to find this chain?
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
Join DeviceLogonEvents (where AccountName == 'user@contoso.com' and LogonType == 'Interactive') with DeviceNetworkEvents (where RemotePort == 3389) on DeviceName, and filter for NetworkEvents timestamp > LogonEvents timestamp
Option A is correct because it directly correlates interactive logon events (DeviceLogonEvents with LogonType == 'Interactive') for the specific user with subsequent outbound RDP connections (DeviceNetworkEvents with RemotePort == 3389) on the same device, using a join on DeviceName and a timestamp filter to ensure the network event occurs after the logon. This approach efficiently identifies the lateral movement chain by linking the initial compromise device to the target device via RDP, leveraging the native schema of Microsoft 365 Defender.
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.
- ✓
Join DeviceLogonEvents (where AccountName == 'user@contoso.com' and LogonType == 'Interactive') with DeviceNetworkEvents (where RemotePort == 3389) on DeviceName, and filter for NetworkEvents timestamp > LogonEvents timestamp
Why this is correct
This joins the two tables on device and ensures temporal ordering to identify lateral movement.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use IdentityLogonEvents to find the user's logons and join with DeviceNetworkEvents on IP address
Why it's wrong here
IdentityLogonEvents includes cloud-only logons and may not map to device-level interactive logons.
- ✗
Query EmailEvents to find emails sent from the user and then check DeviceNetworkEvents on the sender device
Why it's wrong here
Email events are not directly related to lateral movement via RDP.
- ✗
Union DeviceLogonEvents and DeviceNetworkEvents, then summarize by DeviceName and filter for the user
Why it's wrong here
Union does not create the sequential chain; it just combines tables without temporal correlation.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may choose Option B, thinking IdentityLogonEvents covers all logons, but it lacks device-level details and LogonType filtering, which are essential for identifying interactive logons on a specific machine in a lateral movement investigation.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, DeviceLogonEvents uses LogonType values defined by the Windows security event log (e.g., 2 for Interactive, 10 for RemoteInteractive), while DeviceNetworkEvents captures outbound connections with RemotePort 3389 for RDP. The join on DeviceName with a timestamp filter (NetworkEvents.timestamp > LogonEvents.timestamp) ensures that only devices where the user first logged on interactively and then initiated an RDP connection are included, mimicking the real-world attack pattern where an attacker uses stolen credentials to log on locally and then moves laterally via RDP. In a real incident, this query can be extended with time windows (e.g., within 1 hour) to reduce noise from legitimate administrative activity.
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: Join DeviceLogonEvents (where AccountName == 'user@contoso.com' and LogonType == 'Interactive') with DeviceNetworkEvents (where RemotePort == 3389) on DeviceName, and filter for NetworkEvents timestamp > LogonEvents timestamp — Option A is correct because it directly correlates interactive logon events (DeviceLogonEvents with LogonType == 'Interactive') for the specific user with subsequent outbound RDP connections (DeviceNetworkEvents with RemotePort == 3389) on the same device, using a join on DeviceName and a timestamp filter to ensure the network event occurs after the logon. This approach efficiently identifies the lateral movement chain by linking the initial compromise device to the target device via RDP, leveraging the native schema of Microsoft 365 Defender.
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
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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