- A
Check if the link was blocked by the time the user clicked
Why wrong: The link was clicked before block; this is known from the alert.
- B
Check for sign-in events from unusual locations or anonymous IP addresses after the click
Such sign-ins indicate that the attacker used stolen credentials.
- C
Check if the user has recently changed their password
Why wrong: Password change is not evidence of compromise.
- D
Check if the email had any attachments
Why wrong: The email was blocked, but the link was clicked; attachments are not relevant.
Question 1,266 of 1,639
SC-200 Respond to security incidents Practice Question
This SC-200 practice question tests your understanding of respond to security incidents. 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.
You are investigating an incident in Microsoft Defender XDR that involves a user who clicked a link in a phishing email. The email was detected and blocked by Microsoft Defender for Office 365, but the user still clicked the link before it was blocked. The incident includes an alert for 'Malicious URL click'. What additional information should you check to determine if the user's credentials were compromised?
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
✓
Check for sign-in events from unusual locations or anonymous IP addresses after the click
Option B is correct because after a user clicks a link in a phishing email, even if the email was blocked, the link may have already led to a credential harvesting page. To determine if credentials were compromised, it is essential to check for subsequent sign-in events from unusual locations or anonymous IP addresses, which would indicate that an attacker used the stolen credentials. Option A is incorrect because the click occurred before the block, so the timing of the block does not affect potential credential compromise. Option C is incorrect because password changes can be legitimate and do not necessarily indicate compromise. Option D is incorrect because the presence of attachments is irrelevant to credential compromise from a URL click.
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.
- ✗
Check if the link was blocked by the time the user clicked
Why it's wrong here
The link was clicked before block; this is known from the alert.
- ✓
Check for sign-in events from unusual locations or anonymous IP addresses after the click
Why this is correct
Such sign-ins indicate that the attacker used stolen credentials.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Check if the user has recently changed their password
Why it's wrong here
Password change is not evidence of compromise.
- ✗
Check if the email had any attachments
Why it's wrong here
The email was blocked, but the link was clicked; attachments are not relevant.
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 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.
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: Check for sign-in events from unusual locations or anonymous IP addresses after the click — Option B is correct because after a user clicks a link in a phishing email, even if the email was blocked, the link may have already led to a credential harvesting page. To determine if credentials were compromised, it is essential to check for subsequent sign-in events from unusual locations or anonymous IP addresses, which would indicate that an attacker used the stolen credentials. Option A is incorrect because the click occurred before the block, so the timing of the block does not affect potential credential compromise. Option C is incorrect because password changes can be legitimate and do not necessarily indicate compromise. Option D is incorrect because the presence of attachments is irrelevant to credential compromise from a URL click.
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
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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