- A
Join the SigninLogs table with itself to find the earliest sign-in per user and device, then filter for those that match the earliest timestamp
Correct. By summarizing the earliest sign-in time for each user-device pair and joining back, you can identify sign-ins that are the first for that combination, effectively detecting new device usage.
- B
Use the _GetWatchlist function with a custom watchlist of known user-device pairs
Why wrong: Incorrect. While a watchlist could store known devices, it would require manual or external updates and does not leverage historical data in the table.
- C
Use the BehaviorAnalytics table which already identifies new devices
Why wrong: Incorrect. BehaviorAnalytics does provide anomalies, but the scenario asks for a custom query using SigninLogs, and the analyst needs to create the detection rule themselves.
- D
Apply the 'where DeviceId != '' and DeviceId startswith "device-"' filter to ensure the device is new
Why wrong: Incorrect. This filter does not check historical association; it merely filters out empty device IDs or those with a specific prefix, not identifying first-time usage.
SC-200 Mitigate threats using Microsoft Sentinel Practice Question
This SC-200 practice question tests your understanding of mitigate threats using microsoft sentinel. 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 SOC analyst wants to detect when a user signs in from a device that has never been used by that user before. The analyst plans to use Microsoft Sentinel with the SigninLogs table. Which KQL approach correctly identifies sign-ins from devices not previously associated with the user within the last 30 days?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"never"Why it matters: Absolute qualifier. True only if the statement has zero exceptions — be cautious of options that seem obvious but break down in edge cases.
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 the SigninLogs table with itself to find the earliest sign-in per user and device, then filter for those that match the earliest timestamp
Option A is correct because it uses a self-join on the SigninLogs table to identify the earliest sign-in per user-device pair within the last 30 days. By filtering for rows where the sign-in timestamp matches the earliest timestamp, the query isolates sign-ins from devices that have never been used by that user before, effectively detecting first-time device usage.
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 the SigninLogs table with itself to find the earliest sign-in per user and device, then filter for those that match the earliest timestamp
Why this is correct
Correct. By summarizing the earliest sign-in time for each user-device pair and joining back, you can identify sign-ins that are the first for that combination, effectively detecting new device usage.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "never" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use the _GetWatchlist function with a custom watchlist of known user-device pairs
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. While a watchlist could store known devices, it would require manual or external updates and does not leverage historical data in the table.
- ✗
Use the BehaviorAnalytics table which already identifies new devices
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. BehaviorAnalytics does provide anomalies, but the scenario asks for a custom query using SigninLogs, and the analyst needs to create the detection rule themselves.
- ✗
Apply the 'where DeviceId != '' and DeviceId startswith "device-"' filter to ensure the device is new
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. This filter does not check historical association; it merely filters out empty device IDs or those with a specific prefix, not identifying first-time usage.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may assume a watchlist or pre-built table like BehaviorAnalytics is the easiest solution, but Microsoft Sentinel requires raw log analysis with KQL self-joins to dynamically detect first-time device usage without manual maintenance.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
Incorrect. BehaviorAnalytics does provide anomalies, but the scenario asks for a custom query using SigninLogs, and the analyst needs to create the detection rule themselves.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The self-join approach uses a subquery to compute the minimum TimeGenerated per UserPrincipalName and DeviceId, then joins back to the original table to match rows where TimeGenerated equals that minimum. This works because Azure AD SigninLogs records each sign-in event with a timestamp, and the first occurrence of a user-device combination indicates a new device for that user. In real-world scenarios, this query must account for time zone differences and potential duplicates by using distinct or summarizing appropriately.
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 Sentinel — This question tests Mitigate threats using Microsoft Sentinel — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Join the SigninLogs table with itself to find the earliest sign-in per user and device, then filter for those that match the earliest timestamp — Option A is correct because it uses a self-join on the SigninLogs table to identify the earliest sign-in per user-device pair within the last 30 days. By filtering for rows where the sign-in timestamp matches the earliest timestamp, the query isolates sign-ins from devices that have never been used by that user before, effectively detecting first-time device usage.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "never". Absolute qualifier. True only if the statement has zero exceptions — be cautious of options that seem obvious but break down in edge cases.
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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