- A
Associate the new Log Analytics workspace with an Azure Key Vault containing the CMK before ingesting data.
CMK association must be done before data ingestion.
- B
Update the data connector settings to enable CMK at the source.
Why wrong: Data connectors don't have CMK settings.
- C
Use Azure Policy to enforce CMK on the new workspace.
Why wrong: Azure Policy can enforce but you need to configure the workspace first.
- D
Configure CMK on the new workspace's tables individually.
Why wrong: CMK is configured at the workspace level, not table level.
Question 127 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. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 have a Microsoft Sentinel workspace that uses Customer-Managed Keys (CMK). A security audit requires that all data at rest be encrypted with the CMK. You recently onboarded a new data connector that sends logs to a Log Analytics workspace in a different region. You need to ensure the new workspace uses CMK. What should you do?
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
✓
Associate the new Log Analytics workspace with an Azure Key Vault containing the CMK before ingesting data.
Customer-Managed Keys (CMK) for Log Analytics workspaces must be configured at workspace creation time or before any data is ingested. The CMK is associated with the workspace via an Azure Key Vault, and once data is written, the encryption key cannot be changed. Therefore, to ensure the new workspace in a different region uses CMK, you must associate it with the Key Vault containing the CMK before any logs are ingested.
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.
- ✓
Associate the new Log Analytics workspace with an Azure Key Vault containing the CMK before ingesting data.
Why this is correct
CMK association must be done before data ingestion.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Update the data connector settings to enable CMK at the source.
Why it's wrong here
Data connectors don't have CMK settings.
- ✗
Use Azure Policy to enforce CMK on the new workspace.
Why it's wrong here
Azure Policy can enforce but you need to configure the workspace first.
- ✗
Configure CMK on the new workspace's tables individually.
Why it's wrong here
CMK is configured at the workspace level, not table level.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think CMK can be applied after data ingestion or per table, but Microsoft Sentinel requires CMK to be configured before any data is written to the workspace.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When CMK is enabled for a Log Analytics workspace, the workspace's storage accounts use the customer-managed key from Azure Key Vault for encryption. The key is wrapped and stored in the workspace's metadata, and all ingested data is encrypted using that key. If you attempt to enable CMK after data ingestion, the existing data remains encrypted with the previous key (Microsoft-managed or previous CMK), and the new key only applies to newly ingested data, which fails the audit requirement for all data at rest.
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 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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Manage a security operations environment — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Manage a security operations environment practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All SC-200 questions
1,639 questions across all exam domains
- →
Microsoft Security Operations Analyst SC-200 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
SC-200 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related SC-200 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Manage a security operations environment practice questions
Practise SC-200 questions linked to Manage a security operations environment.
Respond to security incidents practice questions
Practise SC-200 questions linked to Respond to security incidents.
Perform threat hunting practice questions
Practise SC-200 questions linked to Perform threat hunting.
Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender XDR practice questions
Practise SC-200 questions linked to Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender XDR.
Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender for Cloud practice questions
Practise SC-200 questions linked to Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender for Cloud.
Mitigate threats using Microsoft Sentinel practice questions
Practise SC-200 questions linked to Mitigate threats using Microsoft Sentinel.
SC-200 fundamentals practice questions
Practise SC-200 questions linked to SC-200 fundamentals.
SC-200 scenario practice questions
Practise SC-200 questions linked to SC-200 scenario.
SC-200 troubleshooting practice questions
Practise SC-200 questions linked to SC-200 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free SC-200 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
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: Associate the new Log Analytics workspace with an Azure Key Vault containing the CMK before ingesting data. — Customer-Managed Keys (CMK) for Log Analytics workspaces must be configured at workspace creation time or before any data is ingested. The CMK is associated with the workspace via an Azure Key Vault, and once data is written, the encryption key cannot be changed. Therefore, to ensure the new workspace in a different region uses CMK, you must associate it with the Key Vault containing the CMK before any logs are ingested.
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.
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 →
Keep practising
More SC-200 practice questions
- Which TWO are valid sources of evidence in a Microsoft Sentinel incident? (Choose two.)
- An organization uses Microsoft 365 Defender. During an incident, the analyst wants to automatically isolate a compromise…
- Which THREE steps are part of the incident response process when using Microsoft Sentinel?
- Refer to the exhibit. You are reviewing a Microsoft Sentinel scheduled analytics rule configured as above. An incident w…
- A security analyst is preparing to use a Jupyter notebook for threat hunting in Microsoft Sentinel. Which of the followi…
- You are investigating a ransomware incident in Microsoft Sentinel. The incident contains multiple alerts. You need to gr…
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.