- A
Create an automation rule in Sentinel that triggers when an incident is created with the relevant conditions and runs the playbook.
Correct: Automation rules in Sentinel can trigger on incident creation with specific conditions and run a playbook, providing efficient automated response.
- B
Instruct the analyst to run the playbook manually from the incident page each time.
Why wrong: Wrong: Manual execution from the incident page is not automated and requires analyst intervention each time, which is inefficient.
- C
Configure the incident creation rule in MCAS to automatically run the playbook.
Why wrong: Wrong: MCAS incident creation rules are for creating incidents in MCAS, not for triggering Sentinel playbooks. The playbook is in Sentinel, so automation should be in Sentinel.
- D
Modify the analytics rule that detected the anomaly to run the playbook as an automated response.
Why wrong: Wrong: While analytics rules can have automated responses including running playbooks, the question specifies 'when an incident is created', which is the trigger condition for automation rules, not directly for analytics rules. Automation rules are the most efficient way to respond to incident creation.
SC-200 Respond to security incidents Practice Question
This SC-200 practice question tests your understanding of respond to security incidents. 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.
Your company uses Microsoft Sentinel and Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps (MCAS). A security analyst detects that a user is accessing a sanctioned cloud app from an unusual location. The analyst creates an incident in Sentinel. You need to automatically apply a session policy in MCAS to block downloads from that user for the next hour. You have an existing playbook that can apply session policies. What is the most efficient way to automate this response?
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
Create an automation rule in Sentinel that triggers when an incident is created with the relevant conditions and runs the playbook.
To automate the response, you can create an automation rule that triggers on incident creation and runs the playbook. Option A is correct. Option B is wrong because manual actions are not automated. Option C is wrong because the incident creation rule in MCAS is not used for automated response in Sentinel; an automation rule in Sentinel is needed. Option D is wrong because analytics rules do not run playbooks directly; they trigger alerts which create incidents, and then automation rules run the playbook.
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.
- ✓
Create an automation rule in Sentinel that triggers when an incident is created with the relevant conditions and runs the playbook.
Why this is correct
Correct: Automation rules in Sentinel can trigger on incident creation with specific conditions and run a playbook, providing efficient automated response.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Instruct the analyst to run the playbook manually from the incident page each time.
Why it's wrong here
Wrong: Manual execution from the incident page is not automated and requires analyst intervention each time, which is inefficient.
- ✗
Configure the incident creation rule in MCAS to automatically run the playbook.
Why it's wrong here
Wrong: MCAS incident creation rules are for creating incidents in MCAS, not for triggering Sentinel playbooks. The playbook is in Sentinel, so automation should be in Sentinel.
- ✗
Modify the analytics rule that detected the anomaly to run the playbook as an automated response.
Why it's wrong here
Wrong: While analytics rules can have automated responses including running playbooks, the question specifies 'when an incident is created', which is the trigger condition for automation rules, not directly for analytics rules. Automation rules are the most efficient way to respond to incident creation.
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.
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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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: Create an automation rule in Sentinel that triggers when an incident is created with the relevant conditions and runs the playbook. — To automate the response, you can create an automation rule that triggers on incident creation and runs the playbook. Option A is correct. Option B is wrong because manual actions are not automated. Option C is wrong because the incident creation rule in MCAS is not used for automated response in Sentinel; an automation rule in Sentinel is needed. Option D is wrong because analytics rules do not run playbooks directly; they trigger alerts which create incidents, and then automation rules run the playbook.
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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Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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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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