The correct answer is to create a Safe Links policy and add the malicious domain to the blocked URLs list. This works because Safe Links is specifically designed to block phishing URLs by scanning and rewriting links in email messages and Office documents, preventing users from accessing known malicious sites. On the SC-200 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between Defender for Office 365 protection layers: anti-spam policies handle bulk mail, tenant allow/block lists manage sender or domain reputation, and anti-malware policies focus on file attachments, but only Safe Links provides URL-level blocking. A common trap is confusing Safe Links with anti-phishing policies, which detect impersonation but do not block specific URLs. Remember the mnemonic "URLs go to Safe Links" to quickly recall that any scenario involving blocking a specific domain or link requires a Safe Links policy, not a general anti-spam or anti-malware rule.
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 Defender for Office 365. A user reports receiving a phishing email that bypassed the default policy. The email contains an external link to a credential harvesting site. You need to block similar emails in the future. What should you do?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create a Safe Links policy and add the malicious domain to the blocked URLs list.
Option D is correct because creating a Safe Links policy and adding the domain to the blocked URLs list prevents users from clicking malicious links. Option A is wrong because anti-spam policies do not block specific URLs. Option B is wrong because tenant allow/block lists are for sender/domain blocking, not URLs. Option C is wrong because anti-malware policies do not handle link blocking.
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 anti-spam policy to block the sender's domain.
Why it's wrong here
Anti-spam policies filter based on sender, not specific URLs.
✓
Create a Safe Links policy and add the malicious domain to the blocked URLs list.
Why this is correct
Safe Links policies can block URLs at click time, protecting users.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Create an anti-malware policy to block the attachment type.
Why it's wrong here
Anti-malware policies scan attachments, not links.
✗
Add the sender's domain to the Tenant Allow/Block List.
Why it's wrong here
Tenant Allow/Block List blocks senders or domains, not URLs.
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.
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.
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 a Safe Links policy and add the malicious domain to the blocked URLs list. — Option D is correct because creating a Safe Links policy and adding the domain to the blocked URLs list prevents users from clicking malicious links. Option A is wrong because anti-spam policies do not block specific URLs. Option B is wrong because tenant allow/block lists are for sender/domain blocking, not URLs. Option C is wrong because anti-malware policies do not handle link blocking.
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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