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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
```kql
// KQL query from Microsoft Sentinel
DeviceEvents
| where Timestamp > ago(7d)
| where ActionType == "ProcessCreated"
| where InitiatingProcessFileName == "powershell.exe"
| where ProcessCommandLine has "-EncodedCommand"
| project Timestamp, DeviceName, FileName, ProcessCommandLine
| take 100
```
You are investigating a potential malicious PowerShell execution in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint using this KQL query in Advanced Hunting. The query returns no results. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
```kql
// KQL query from Microsoft Sentinel
DeviceEvents
| where Timestamp > ago(7d)
| where ActionType == "ProcessCreated"
| where InitiatingProcessFileName == "powershell.exe"
| where ProcessCommandLine has "-EncodedCommand"
| project Timestamp, DeviceName, FileName, ProcessCommandLine
| take 100
```
A
The column names are incorrect; 'InitiatingProcessFileName' should be 'ParentProcessFileName'.
Why wrong: Column names are correct for DeviceProcessEvents.
B
The table name should be 'DeviceProcessEvents' instead of 'DeviceEvents'.
Process creation events are in DeviceProcessEvents, not DeviceEvents.
C
The 'take 100' operator limits results to only 100, but the query may return results if more data exists.
Why wrong: 'take' returns any 100 rows, not zero.
D
The query uses 'ago(7d)' which may be too short for historical data.
Why wrong: 7 days is a reasonable range; if data exists, it should appear.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The table name should be 'DeviceProcessEvents' instead of 'DeviceEvents'.
The query uses the table 'DeviceEvents', which is incorrect for hunting process execution events. The correct table for process creation events in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Advanced Hunting is 'DeviceProcessEvents'. 'DeviceEvents' contains other types of events (e.g., registry, file, network) but not process creation data, so the query returns no results.
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.
✗
The column names are incorrect; 'InitiatingProcessFileName' should be 'ParentProcessFileName'.
Why it's wrong here
Column names are correct for DeviceProcessEvents.
✓
The table name should be 'DeviceProcessEvents' instead of 'DeviceEvents'.
Why this is correct
Process creation events are in DeviceProcessEvents, not DeviceEvents.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The 'take 100' operator limits results to only 100, but the query may return results if more data exists.
Why it's wrong here
'take' returns any 100 rows, not zero.
✗
The query uses 'ago(7d)' which may be too short for historical data.
Why it's wrong here
7 days is a reasonable range; if data exists, it should appear.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may focus on column names or time ranges, overlooking the fundamental table mismatch between 'DeviceEvents' and 'DeviceProcessEvents' in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Advanced Hunting.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, 'DeviceProcessEvents' is the dedicated table for process creation events, containing columns like 'FileName', 'InitiatingProcessFileName', and 'ProcessId'. 'DeviceEvents' is a broader table that includes various security events (e.g., registry modifications, file creations) but not process creation records. A common real-world scenario is an analyst mistakenly querying 'DeviceEvents' for process execution, leading to false negatives in threat hunting.
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.
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: The table name should be 'DeviceProcessEvents' instead of 'DeviceEvents'. — The query uses the table 'DeviceEvents', which is incorrect for hunting process execution events. The correct table for process creation events in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Advanced Hunting is 'DeviceProcessEvents'. 'DeviceEvents' contains other types of events (e.g., registry, file, network) but not process creation data, so the query returns no results.
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: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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