- A
Use Microsoft Defender for Cloud's Just-in-Time VM access to isolate the VM.
Limits network access to the VM.
- B
Create a Microsoft Sentinel automation rule to trigger a playbook that runs investigation actions.
Automates response steps.
- C
Enable network security group flow logs to capture network traffic.
Helps in investigation and tracing.
- D
Delete the compromised VM to prevent further damage.
Why wrong: Destroys evidence.
- E
Update the VM's operating system to the latest patch.
Why wrong: Does not contain an ongoing incident.
Question 66 of 1,639
Actions to Contain and Investigate a Compromised Azure VM
This SC-200 practice question tests your understanding of respond to security incidents. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.
Your organization uses Microsoft Sentinel and Microsoft Defender for Cloud. During a security incident involving a compromised Azure VM, which THREE actions are appropriate to contain and investigate the incident?
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 Microsoft Defender for Cloud's Just-in-Time VM access to isolate the VM.
Microsoft Defender for Cloud's Just-in-Time VM access can be used to lock down inbound traffic to the VM, effectively isolating it from the network while preserving the VM for forensic analysis. This action reduces the attack surface and prevents lateral movement without destroying evidence, which is critical during incident response.
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.
- ✓
Use Microsoft Defender for Cloud's Just-in-Time VM access to isolate the VM.
Why this is correct
Limits network access to the VM.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Create a Microsoft Sentinel automation rule to trigger a playbook that runs investigation actions.
Why this is correct
Automates response steps.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Enable network security group flow logs to capture network traffic.
Why this is correct
Helps in investigation and tracing.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Delete the compromised VM to prevent further damage.
Why it's wrong here
Destroys evidence.
- ✗
Update the VM's operating system to the latest patch.
Why it's wrong here
Does not contain an ongoing incident.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse containment with remediation, choosing to delete or patch the VM immediately, but Microsoft tests the principle of preserving forensic evidence during the containment phase of incident response.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Just-in-Time VM access works by modifying network security group (NSG) rules to deny all inbound traffic except for approved, time-limited requests. When used for isolation, you can revoke all approved access, effectively creating a deny-all rule for the VM's network interface. This approach preserves the VM's state for memory forensics (e.g., using Volatility) and disk analysis, unlike deletion which would require recovery from backups that may also be compromised.
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Respond to security incidents — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Respond to security incidents practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All SC-200 questions
1,639 questions across all exam domains
- →
Microsoft Security Operations Analyst SC-200 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
SC-200 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related SC-200 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Manage a security operations environment practice questions
Practise SC-200 questions linked to Manage a security operations environment.
Respond to security incidents practice questions
Practise SC-200 questions linked to Respond to security incidents.
Perform threat hunting practice questions
Practise SC-200 questions linked to Perform threat hunting.
Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender XDR practice questions
Practise SC-200 questions linked to Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender XDR.
Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender for Cloud practice questions
Practise SC-200 questions linked to Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender for Cloud.
Mitigate threats using Microsoft Sentinel practice questions
Practise SC-200 questions linked to Mitigate threats using Microsoft Sentinel.
SC-200 fundamentals practice questions
Practise SC-200 questions linked to SC-200 fundamentals.
SC-200 scenario practice questions
Practise SC-200 questions linked to SC-200 scenario.
SC-200 troubleshooting practice questions
Practise SC-200 questions linked to SC-200 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free SC-200 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SC-200 question test?
Respond to security incidents — This question tests Respond to security incidents — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use Microsoft Defender for Cloud's Just-in-Time VM access to isolate the VM. — Microsoft Defender for Cloud's Just-in-Time VM access can be used to lock down inbound traffic to the VM, effectively isolating it from the network while preserving the VM for forensic analysis. This action reduces the attack surface and prevents lateral movement without destroying evidence, which is critical during incident response.
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 →
Keep practising
More SC-200 practice questions
- Which TWO are valid sources of evidence in a Microsoft Sentinel incident? (Choose two.)
- An organization uses Microsoft 365 Defender. During an incident, the analyst wants to automatically isolate a compromise…
- Which THREE steps are part of the incident response process when using Microsoft Sentinel?
- Refer to the exhibit. You are reviewing a Microsoft Sentinel scheduled analytics rule configured as above. An incident w…
- A security analyst is preparing to use a Jupyter notebook for threat hunting in Microsoft Sentinel. Which of the followi…
- You are investigating a ransomware incident in Microsoft Sentinel. The incident contains multiple alerts. You need to gr…
Last reviewed: Jul 4, 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.
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.