- A
Use advanced hunting to find devices and then manually isolate
Why wrong: Advanced hunting is for queries, not automated response.
- B
Use PowerShell scripts in a playbook
Why wrong: Playbooks require additional configuration and are less efficient than automation rules.
- C
Configure an automation rule in Microsoft Defender XDR
Automation rules can trigger device isolation based on conditions like alert title and device group.
- D
Create a custom detection rule
Why wrong: Custom detection rules generate alerts but don't perform automated actions.
Question 718 of 1,639
SC-200 Manage a security operations environment Practice Question
This SC-200 practice question tests your understanding of manage a security operations environment. 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.
Your organization uses Microsoft Defender XDR for threat detection and response. The security team wants to automatically isolate a compromised device when a specific malware alert is triggered, but only if the device is not a critical server. What is the most efficient way to achieve this?
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
✓
Configure an automation rule in Microsoft Defender XDR
Option C is correct because automation rules in Microsoft Defender XDR allow you to define conditions (e.g., malware alert triggered) and actions (e.g., isolate device) with scoping filters (e.g., exclude devices tagged as 'critical server'). This provides a no-code, built-in mechanism that runs automatically without manual intervention or external scripting, making it the most efficient approach for conditional automated response.
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 advanced hunting to find devices and then manually isolate
Why it's wrong here
Advanced hunting is for queries, not automated response.
- ✗
Use PowerShell scripts in a playbook
Why it's wrong here
Playbooks require additional configuration and are less efficient than automation rules.
- ✓
Configure an automation rule in Microsoft Defender XDR
Why this is correct
Automation rules can trigger device isolation based on conditions like alert title and device group.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Create a custom detection rule
Why it's wrong here
Custom detection rules generate alerts but don't perform automated actions.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse automation rules (native to Defender XDR) with playbooks (which require external orchestration like Logic Apps), leading them to choose PowerShell or custom detection rules instead of the simpler built-in automation rule.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Automation rules in Microsoft Defender XDR are evaluated in real-time when an alert is generated, using a trigger condition (e.g., alert title or severity) and optional device tags (e.g., 'critical server' via a custom tag). The isolation action uses the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint API to execute a full device isolation, which blocks all inbound/outbound traffic except to the Defender cloud service. This approach ensures sub-minute response times without relying on external runbooks or manual steps.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SC-200 question test?
Manage a security operations environment — This question tests Manage a security operations environment — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure an automation rule in Microsoft Defender XDR — Option C is correct because automation rules in Microsoft Defender XDR allow you to define conditions (e.g., malware alert triggered) and actions (e.g., isolate device) with scoping filters (e.g., exclude devices tagged as 'critical server'). This provides a no-code, built-in mechanism that runs automatically without manual intervention or external scripting, making it the most efficient approach for conditional automated response.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 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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