- A
Create a Syslog data connector and specify the facility and severity to filter the application logs from /var/log.
Why wrong: Syslog collects system logs via the syslog daemon, not arbitrary application log files written to other paths. The agent does not treat random files as syslog.
- B
Configure the Log Analytics agent to collect performance counters for the application process.
Why wrong: Performance counters collect metrics like CPU and memory, not log file text content.
- C
Use the Custom Logs feature in the Log Analytics workspace to specify the path to the application log file and define the log type name.
Correct. Custom Logs allow ingestion of text files by monitoring specified file paths and parsing lines into custom logs.
- D
Deploy a Log Analytics gateway and configure the application to write directly to the gateway using the HTTP Data Collector API.
Why wrong: The HTTP Data Collector API can be used, but it requires the application to send HTTP requests. The scenario states the application writes to a local file, so the agent must watch that file.
SC-200 Mitigate threats using Microsoft Sentinel Practice Question
This SC-200 practice question tests your understanding of mitigate threats using microsoft sentinel. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 team uses Microsoft Sentinel and wants to ingest custom log events from an on-premises Linux application that writes to a local file. The team sets up the Log Analytics agent on the Linux server and configures a data connector. Which of the following is the necessary configuration step to collect the custom log file?
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
Use the Custom Logs feature in the Log Analytics workspace to specify the path to the application log file and define the log type name.
Option C is correct because the Custom Logs feature in the Log Analytics workspace is specifically designed to ingest text-based log files from on-premises Linux servers via the Log Analytics agent. You must specify the exact file path (e.g., /var/log/myapp.log) and define a custom log type name (e.g., MyApp_CL) to parse the file and send the data to a custom table in the Log Analytics workspace. This is the only method that directly collects custom application log files without requiring syslog or API-based ingestion.
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.
- ✗
Create a Syslog data connector and specify the facility and severity to filter the application logs from /var/log.
Why it's wrong here
Syslog collects system logs via the syslog daemon, not arbitrary application log files written to other paths. The agent does not treat random files as syslog.
- ✗
Configure the Log Analytics agent to collect performance counters for the application process.
Why it's wrong here
Performance counters collect metrics like CPU and memory, not log file text content.
- ✓
Use the Custom Logs feature in the Log Analytics workspace to specify the path to the application log file and define the log type name.
Why this is correct
Correct. Custom Logs allow ingestion of text files by monitoring specified file paths and parsing lines into custom logs.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Deploy a Log Analytics gateway and configure the application to write directly to the gateway using the HTTP Data Collector API.
Why it's wrong here
The HTTP Data Collector API can be used, but it requires the application to send HTTP requests. The scenario states the application writes to a local file, so the agent must watch that file.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse syslog data connectors with custom log file collection, assuming any Linux log file can be ingested via syslog, when in fact syslog only handles logs sent to the syslog daemon, not arbitrary application files.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
The HTTP Data Collector API can be used, but it requires the application to send HTTP requests. The scenario states the application writes to a local file, so the agent must watch that file.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The Custom Logs feature works by having the Log Analytics agent (MMA or AMA) monitor the specified file for new lines using a polling mechanism (default interval of 60 seconds). It then parses each line as a single record, applying a timestamp and custom field extraction based on a user-defined delimiter or regex. In real-world scenarios, you may need to handle log rotation (e.g., logrotate) by ensuring the agent follows renamed files using inode tracking, and you can use the `log_type` parameter to create a custom table (e.g., MyAppLog_CL) in the Log Analytics workspace.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
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 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: Use the Custom Logs feature in the Log Analytics workspace to specify the path to the application log file and define the log type name. — Option C is correct because the Custom Logs feature in the Log Analytics workspace is specifically designed to ingest text-based log files from on-premises Linux servers via the Log Analytics agent. You must specify the exact file path (e.g., /var/log/myapp.log) and define a custom log type name (e.g., MyApp_CL) to parse the file and send the data to a custom table in the Log Analytics workspace. This is the only method that directly collects custom application log files without requiring syslog or API-based ingestion.
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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