- A
DeviceRegistryEvents
Why wrong: Registry events are for registry changes.
- B
DeviceNetworkEvents
Why wrong: Network events are for connections.
- C
DeviceProcessEvents
Why wrong: Process events don't show file encryption.
- D
DeviceFileEvents
File events show modifications like encryption.
Question 1,143 of 1,639
SC-200 Respond to security incidents Practice Question
This SC-200 practice question tests your understanding of respond to security incidents. 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.
During a ransomware incident, an analyst needs to identify which files were encrypted on an endpoint. The endpoint is running Windows and is managed by Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. Which data source should the analyst query in Advanced hunting?
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
✓
DeviceFileEvents
DeviceFileEvents is the correct data source because it captures file creation, modification, and deletion events on endpoints. During a ransomware incident, encrypted files are typically created with a new extension or modified in place, and DeviceFileEvents logs these changes, allowing the analyst to identify which files were affected.
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.
- ✗
DeviceRegistryEvents
Why it's wrong here
Registry events are for registry changes.
- ✗
DeviceNetworkEvents
Why it's wrong here
Network events are for connections.
- ✗
DeviceProcessEvents
Why it's wrong here
Process events don't show file encryption.
- ✓
DeviceFileEvents
Why this is correct
File events show modifications like encryption.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse process-level events (DeviceProcessEvents) with file-level events, assuming that seeing the ransomware process run is sufficient to identify encrypted files, but only DeviceFileEvents provides the actual file paths and timestamps of encryption.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Process events don't show file encryption.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DeviceFileEvents in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint uses the Windows ETW (Event Tracing for Windows) provider for file I/O operations, capturing events like FileCreated, FileModified, and FileDeleted. Ransomware often renames files with a new extension (e.g., .encrypted) and writes the encrypted content, which appears as a FileModified event with a new file name in the DeviceFileEvents table. Analysts can query for high-frequency file modifications in a short time window to pinpoint the ransomware's target directories.
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.
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?
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: DeviceFileEvents — DeviceFileEvents is the correct data source because it captures file creation, modification, and deletion events on endpoints. During a ransomware incident, encrypted files are typically created with a new extension or modified in place, and DeviceFileEvents logs these changes, allowing the analyst to identify which files were affected.
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: 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.
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