- A
Disable the sensitive server's network account.
Why wrong: Disabling the server account would disrupt services and may not be necessary.
- B
Isolate the compromised workstation only.
Why wrong: Isolating the workstation prevents further attacks from that device, but the attacker may still use the credentials from elsewhere.
- C
Block all network traffic from the compromised workstation to the server.
Why wrong: This only blocks one path; the attacker could use other workstations.
- D
Reset the compromised user's password and revoke all active sessions.
This invalidates the stolen credentials and stops lateral movement regardless of source.
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 a lateral movement incident in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. The timeline shows that a user's credentials were used from a compromised workstation to access a sensitive server. Which action should you take to contain the incident?
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
Reset the compromised user's password and revoke all active sessions.
Option D is correct because the incident involves lateral movement using stolen credentials. Resetting the compromised user's password and revoking all active sessions immediately invalidates the credentials the attacker used, preventing further unauthorized access to any resource, including the sensitive server. This directly addresses the root cause (credential theft) rather than just blocking network paths or isolating a single device.
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.
- ✗
Disable the sensitive server's network account.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling the server account would disrupt services and may not be necessary.
- ✗
Isolate the compromised workstation only.
Why it's wrong here
Isolating the workstation prevents further attacks from that device, but the attacker may still use the credentials from elsewhere.
- ✗
Block all network traffic from the compromised workstation to the server.
Why it's wrong here
This only blocks one path; the attacker could use other workstations.
- ✓
Reset the compromised user's password and revoke all active sessions.
Why this is correct
This invalidates the stolen credentials and stops lateral movement regardless of source.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates focus on the network path (blocking traffic or isolating the workstation) instead of recognizing that credential theft is the core issue, and only resetting the password and revoking sessions stops the lateral movement at its source.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, lateral movement often involves Kerberos or NTLM authentication using stolen credential hashes or tickets. Resetting the password invalidates the Kerberos TGT and NTLM hash, and revoking sessions (e.g., via Azure AD 'Revoke-AzureADUserAllRefreshToken' or on-premises 'Reset-ADAccountPassword' with 'Revoke-UserAuthentication') ensures any existing tokens or cached credentials are unusable. This aligns with the 'containment' phase of the NIST incident response framework, focusing on eliminating the attacker's foothold.
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.
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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: Reset the compromised user's password and revoke all active sessions. — Option D is correct because the incident involves lateral movement using stolen credentials. Resetting the compromised user's password and revoking all active sessions immediately invalidates the credentials the attacker used, preventing further unauthorized access to any resource, including the sensitive server. This directly addresses the root cause (credential theft) rather than just blocking network paths or isolating a single device.
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
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