The answer is DLL sideloading and process injection. These are two common techniques used by attackers to bypass security controls that a threat hunter should look for, as they allow malicious code to execute under the guise of trusted processes or legitimate application load orders. Process injection hides malicious code within a legitimate process’s memory space, evading detection by security tools that monitor only process creation. DLL sideloading exploits the search order of an application to load a malicious DLL instead of the intended one, often by placing it in a directory the application checks first. On the Microsoft Security Operations Analyst SC-200 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish attack techniques from defensive controls—common traps include mistaking strong passwords, MFA, or software updates for bypass methods, which are actually mitigations. A helpful memory tip: think “inject and load” to recall that attackers inject into processes and load malicious DLLs to slip past defenses.
SC-200 Perform threat hunting Practice Question
This SC-200 practice question tests your understanding of perform threat hunting. 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.
Which TWO of the following are common techniques used by attackers to bypass security controls that a threat hunter should look for?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Process injection into trusted processes
Options A and D are correct. Process injection is a classic technique to hide malicious code within legitimate processes. DLL sideloading exploits legitimate application load order to run malicious DLLs. Option B is incorrect because strong passwords are a defense, not an attack technique. Option C is incorrect because MFA is a security control, not a bypass. Option E is incorrect because software updates are mitigation, not an attack.
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.
✓
Process injection into trusted processes
Why this is correct
Attackers inject malware into trusted processes to evade detection.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
DLL sideloading allows attackers to run malicious code under the guise of a legitimate application.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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 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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this SC-200 question in full detail.
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.
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: Process injection into trusted processes — Options A and D are correct. Process injection is a classic technique to hide malicious code within legitimate processes. DLL sideloading exploits legitimate application load order to run malicious DLLs. Option B is incorrect because strong passwords are a defense, not an attack technique. Option C is incorrect because MFA is a security control, not a bypass. Option E is incorrect because software updates are mitigation, not an attack.
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.
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Question Discussion
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