- A
Use the CommonSecurityLog table to analyze network traffic from management tools.
Why wrong: CommonSecurityLog is for firewall and network logs, not Azure management events.
- B
Use the AzureActivity table in Microsoft Sentinel to query for any operation where the OperationNameValue contains 'write' and then manually review each result.
Why wrong: Manual review is not scalable for hunting; needs aggregation.
- C
Use the AzureActivity table to filter for operations where HttpMethod == 'PUT' (create/update), then summarize by CallerIpAddress and bin(TimeGenerated, 1h) to find spikes or unusual caller IPs.
Correctly identifies write operations and aggregates for anomaly detection.
- D
Query the SigninLogs table in Microsoft Sentinel for all interactive sign-ins to the Azure portal, then cross-reference with Azure Activity logs.
Why wrong: Focuses on sign-ins, not the resource creation events themselves.
Quick Answer
The answer is to use the AzureActivity table, filtering for HttpMethod == 'PUT' and then summarizing by CallerIpAddress and bin(TimeGenerated, 1h) to detect spikes or unusual caller IPs. This approach is correct because AzureActivity logs all Azure Resource Manager operations, and a PUT method specifically captures resource creation or update events—exactly what an attacker would use to deploy malicious resources. By aggregating these operations by caller IP and hourly time bins, you can surface anomalous patterns, such as a sudden burst of resource creation from an unfamiliar IP or outside business hours. On the SC-200 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between log sources: AzureActivity is the authoritative source for management-plane events, while SigninLogs (a common distractor) tracks authentication, not resource creation. A key memory tip is to associate PUT with “provisioning” and AzureActivity with “management actions”—if you need to hunt for resource creation, always start with the activity log and look for the PUT verb.
SC-200 Perform threat hunting Practice Question
This SC-200 practice question tests your understanding of perform threat hunting. 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.
As a threat hunter at Contoso, you are investigating a potential advanced persistent threat (APT) that may have compromised multiple Azure subscriptions. You have Microsoft Defender for Cloud enabled and Microsoft Sentinel collecting data from all subscriptions. You suspect the attacker is using Azure Resource Manager operations to create malicious resources. You need to create a hunting query that identifies anomalous Azure management operations, specifically focusing on operations that create new resources (e.g., virtual machines, storage accounts) from unusual IP addresses or at unusual times. Which approach should you take?
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 AzureActivity table to filter for operations where HttpMethod == 'PUT' (create/update), then summarize by CallerIpAddress and bin(TimeGenerated, 1h) to find spikes or unusual caller IPs.
Option C leverages the AzureActivity table with a filter for write operations (HTTP PUT) and summarizes by caller IP and operation time, allowing for anomaly detection. Option A is too broad; Option B focuses on sign-ins, not resource operations; Option D uses the wrong log source for Azure management events.
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 the CommonSecurityLog table to analyze network traffic from management tools.
Why it's wrong here
CommonSecurityLog is for firewall and network logs, not Azure management events.
- ✗
Use the AzureActivity table in Microsoft Sentinel to query for any operation where the OperationNameValue contains 'write' and then manually review each result.
Why it's wrong here
Manual review is not scalable for hunting; needs aggregation.
- ✓
Use the AzureActivity table to filter for operations where HttpMethod == 'PUT' (create/update), then summarize by CallerIpAddress and bin(TimeGenerated, 1h) to find spikes or unusual caller IPs.
Why this is correct
Correctly identifies write operations and aggregates for anomaly detection.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Query the SigninLogs table in Microsoft Sentinel for all interactive sign-ins to the Azure portal, then cross-reference with Azure Activity logs.
Why it's wrong here
Focuses on sign-ins, not the resource creation events themselves.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which SC-200 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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Perform threat hunting — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SC-200 question test?
Perform threat hunting — This question tests Perform threat hunting — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use the AzureActivity table to filter for operations where HttpMethod == 'PUT' (create/update), then summarize by CallerIpAddress and bin(TimeGenerated, 1h) to find spikes or unusual caller IPs. — Option C leverages the AzureActivity table with a filter for write operations (HTTP PUT) and summarizes by caller IP and operation time, allowing for anomaly detection. Option A is too broad; Option B focuses on sign-ins, not resource operations; Option D uses the wrong log source for Azure management events.
What should I do if I get this SC-200 question wrong?
Identify which SC-200 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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 21, 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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