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 writing a Kusto Query Language (KQL) advanced hunting query in Microsoft 365 Defender to detect lateral movement using Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). Which table should the analyst join with the DeviceNetworkEvents table to identify processes initiating outgoing RDP connections?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
DeviceProcessEvents
The DeviceNetworkEvents table logs network connections, including outgoing RDP traffic (port 3389). To identify which process initiated a specific outgoing RDP connection, you must join with the DeviceProcessEvents table on DeviceId and Timestamp (or ProcessId), because DeviceProcessEvents contains the process creation details (e.g., mstsc.exe) that launched the network connection. This join reveals the parent process responsible for the lateral movement attempt.
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.
✓
DeviceProcessEvents
Why this is correct
DeviceProcessEvents contains process creation events, which can be joined with network events to identify the process initiating the RDP connection.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
DeviceLogonEvents
Why it's wrong here
DeviceLogonEvents logs user logons, not process initiation.
✗
DeviceFileEvents
Why it's wrong here
DeviceFileEvents tracks file creation/modification, not relevant to network connection processes.
✗
DeviceRegistryEvents
Why it's wrong here
DeviceRegistryEvents tracks registry changes, not process-to-network correlation.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse DeviceLogonEvents (which logs RDP logon events) with the process initiation side, but the question asks for the table that identifies the process initiating the outgoing connection, not the authentication event on the target machine.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In KQL, joining DeviceNetworkEvents with DeviceProcessEvents typically uses a common key such as DeviceId and a time window (e.g., within 1 second) to correlate the network connection with the process that created it. For RDP lateral movement, the initiating process is often mstsc.exe, but attackers may use other binaries like cmd.exe or PowerShell to spawn RDP connections; the join helps detect such anomalies. Under the hood, DeviceNetworkEvents includes fields like InitiatingProcessId and InitiatingProcessFileName, which can sometimes eliminate the need for a join, but the question specifically asks which table to join with, and DeviceProcessEvents provides the full process creation context.
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 healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this SC-200 question in full detail.
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: DeviceProcessEvents — The DeviceNetworkEvents table logs network connections, including outgoing RDP traffic (port 3389). To identify which process initiated a specific outgoing RDP connection, you must join with the DeviceProcessEvents table on DeviceId and Timestamp (or ProcessId), because DeviceProcessEvents contains the process creation details (e.g., mstsc.exe) that launched the network connection. This join reveals the parent process responsible for the lateral movement attempt.
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
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.