The answer is DeviceNetworkEvents, because confirming a living-off-the-land (LotL) attack requires verifying that the suspicious process, such as mshta.exe, actually established network communication to an external IP address. While the Advanced Hunting query in Microsoft Defender XDR can detect multiple executions of mshta.exe with a remote script, it does not confirm whether the connection succeeded; DeviceNetworkEvents provides the actual network flow data needed to validate the remote connection attempt. On the Microsoft Security Operations Analyst SC-200 exam, this question tests your ability to correlate process events with network events to avoid false positives—a common trap is assuming process creation alone confirms an attack. Remember, a LOLBins attack is not confirmed until you see the network handshake; think of it as “process plus packet equals proof.”
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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
```powershell
# Microsoft Defender XDR Advanced Hunting query
DeviceProcessEvents
| where Timestamp > ago(7d)
| where ProcessCommandLine has_any ("powershell", "cmd", "wscript")
| where FileName has_any ("rundll32.exe", "regsvr32.exe", "mshta.exe")
| project Timestamp, DeviceName, ProcessCommandLine
```
Refer to the exhibit. A SOC analyst runs this Advanced Hunting query in Microsoft Defender XDR to detect potential living-off-the-land (LotL) attacks. An alert is triggered when a device shows multiple occurrences of 'mshta.exe' executing with a remote script. Which additional data source should the analyst check to confirm the attack?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
DeviceNetworkEvents
The correct answer is D. Network communication from the device to an external IP would confirm a remote connection attempt. The other options are not directly relevant or are redundant.
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.
✗
DeviceFileEvents
Why it's wrong here
File events might show downloaded scripts, but network events confirm remote connection.
✓
DeviceNetworkEvents
Why this is correct
Network events show connections to remote IPs, confirming the remote script execution.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
DeviceLogonEvents
Why it's wrong here
Logon events show authentication, not network activity.
✗
DeviceRegistryEvents
Why it's wrong here
Registry events may show persistence but not confirm remote script execution.
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.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
File events might show downloaded scripts, but network events confirm remote connection.
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 healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
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: DeviceNetworkEvents — The correct answer is D. Network communication from the device to an external IP would confirm a remote connection attempt. The other options are not directly relevant or are redundant.
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 →
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.
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.