The correct tables are DeviceProcessEvents and DeviceNetworkEvents. This is because the custom detection rule must correlate process execution with outbound network connections, and DeviceProcessEvents captures process creation events like powershell.exe launching, while DeviceNetworkEvents logs each network connection’s destination IP and port. Joining these two tables on DeviceId and a close Timestamp window allows you to pinpoint which specific process initiated the suspicious outbound traffic to an external IP outside the corporate range. On the SC-200 exam, this tests your ability to build detection rules in Microsoft 365 Defender by combining Advanced Hunting tables, a common trap being to confuse DeviceLogonEvents (which tracks logins, not process or network activity) with the correct tables. A helpful memory tip: think “Process + Network = Exfiltration,” so always pair DeviceProcessEvents with DeviceNetworkEvents for data exfiltration scenarios.
SC-200 Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender XDR Practice Question
This SC-200 practice question tests your understanding of mitigate threats using microsoft defender xdr. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. A key principle to apply: deviceProcessEvents tracks process creation, termination, and modifications.. 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.
An analyst is building a custom detection rule in Microsoft 365 Defender to identify potential data exfiltration. The rule should alert when a process (e.g., powershell.exe) initiates multiple outbound network connections to an external IP address that is not in the company's corporate IP range within a short time. Which two Advanced Hunting tables must be joined to correlate process execution with network connection details?
Correct. DeviceProcessEvents provides process start details, and DeviceNetworkEvents provides network connection records. They can be joined to identify processes making outbound connections.
B
DeviceProcessEvents and DeviceFileEvents
Why wrong: Incorrect. DeviceFileEvents tracks file operations, not network connections.
C
DeviceLogonEvents and DeviceNetworkEvents
Incorrect. DeviceLogonEvents tracks authentication, not process execution.
D
DeviceProcessEvents and EmailEvents
Why wrong: Incorrect. EmailEvents records email activity, not network connections from processes.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
DeviceProcessEvents and DeviceNetworkEvents
The rule requires correlating process execution (e.g., powershell.exe) with outbound network connections to external IPs. DeviceProcessEvents logs process creation events, while DeviceNetworkEvents logs network connection details including destination IP and port. Joining these two tables on DeviceId and Timestamp (within a short time window) allows the analyst to identify which process initiated the suspicious outbound connections, making A correct.
Key principle: DeviceProcessEvents tracks process creation, termination, and modifications.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
DeviceProcessEvents and DeviceNetworkEvents
Why this is correct
Correct. DeviceProcessEvents provides process start details, and DeviceNetworkEvents provides network connection records. They can be joined to identify processes making outbound connections.
Related concept
DeviceProcessEvents tracks process creation, termination, and modifications.
✗
DeviceProcessEvents and DeviceFileEvents
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. DeviceFileEvents tracks file operations, not network connections.
✓
DeviceLogonEvents and DeviceNetworkEvents
Why this is correct
Incorrect. DeviceLogonEvents tracks authentication, not process execution.
Related concept
DeviceProcessEvents tracks process creation, termination, and modifications.
✗
DeviceProcessEvents and EmailEvents
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. EmailEvents records email activity, not network connections from processes.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse DeviceNetworkEvents with DeviceFileEvents or DeviceLogonEvents, mistakenly thinking file or logon events are needed to correlate process execution with network connections, when only DeviceNetworkEvents contains the necessary IP and port data.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, the join typically uses DeviceId and a time window (e.g., within 1 minute) to match the process creation event with subsequent network connections from the same device. The DeviceNetworkEvents table includes fields like RemoteIP, RemotePort, and Protocol (TCP/UDP), enabling filtering for external IPs outside the corporate range. In a real-world scenario, an attacker might use PowerShell to download a payload via HTTP (port 80) or HTTPS (port 443) to multiple IPs in rapid succession, and this join would flag that behavior as a potential data exfiltration attempt.
KKey Concepts to Remember
DeviceProcessEvents tracks process creation, termination, and modifications.
DeviceNetworkEvents records all network connections from a device.
Both tables contain DeviceId and Timestamp for correlation.
Joining these tables enables linking process activity to network communication.
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
DeviceProcessEvents tracks process creation, termination, and modifications.
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.
Review deviceProcessEvents tracks process creation, termination, and modifications., then practise related SC-200 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender XDR — This question tests Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender XDR — DeviceProcessEvents tracks process creation, termination, and modifications..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: DeviceProcessEvents and DeviceNetworkEvents — The rule requires correlating process execution (e.g., powershell.exe) with outbound network connections to external IPs. DeviceProcessEvents logs process creation events, while DeviceNetworkEvents logs network connection details including destination IP and port. Joining these two tables on DeviceId and Timestamp (within a short time window) allows the analyst to identify which process initiated the suspicious outbound connections, making A correct.
What should I do if I get this SC-200 question wrong?
Review deviceProcessEvents tracks process creation, termination, and modifications., then practise related SC-200 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
DeviceProcessEvents tracks process creation, termination, and modifications.
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