The answer is a process opening lsass.exe with access to process memory, such as PROCESS_VM_READ. This is correct because Mimikatz performs credential dumping by injecting into the Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS) to read stored credentials from memory, and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint captures this as a process access event with specific flags like PROCESS_VM_READ or PROCESS_VM_WRITE. On the SC-200 exam, this tests your ability to distinguish between generic process activity and suspicious access patterns—common traps include mistaking svchost.exe or powershell.exe as definitive indicators, but the key is the targeted memory access to LSASS. Remember the mnemonic: "LSASS with VM_READ means Mimikatz is feeding."
SC-200 Perform threat hunting Practice Question
This SC-200 practice question tests your understanding of perform threat hunting. 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 hunting for signs of credential dumping using Mimikatz. Which process events in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint would most likely indicate this activity?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
A process opening lsass.exe with access to process memory (e.g., PROCESS_VM_READ)
Option B is correct because Mimikatz often injects into LSASS to dump credentials, so detecting a process opening LSASS with specific access flags (e.g., PROCESS_VM_READ) is a key indicator. Option A is wrong because svchost.exe is not typically used for credential dumping. Option C is wrong because powershell.exe alone is generic. Option D is wrong because cmd.exe is generic.
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.
✓
A process opening lsass.exe with access to process memory (e.g., PROCESS_VM_READ)
Why this is correct
Mimikatz opens LSASS to read credential material; such access is suspicious.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
A process named powershell.exe making network connections to an external IP
Why it's wrong here
PowerShell making network connections could indicate many things, not specifically credential dumping.
✗
A process named svchost.exe spawning from explorer.exe
Why it's wrong here
svchost.exe spawning from explorer.exe is not typical for credential dumping.
✗
A process named cmd.exe executing whoami
Why it's wrong here
whoami is a common reconnaissance command, not credential dumping.
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
whoami is a common reconnaissance command, not credential dumping.
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 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.
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.
Perform threat hunting — This question tests Perform threat hunting — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: A process opening lsass.exe with access to process memory (e.g., PROCESS_VM_READ) — Option B is correct because Mimikatz often injects into LSASS to dump credentials, so detecting a process opening LSASS with specific access flags (e.g., PROCESS_VM_READ) is a key indicator. Option A is wrong because svchost.exe is not typically used for credential dumping. Option C is wrong because powershell.exe alone is generic. Option D is wrong because cmd.exe is generic.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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 →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. You are threat hunting for signs of credential dumping using Mimikatz. In Microsoft Defender for Identity, which type of alert would you expect to see?
medium
A.Pass-the-Hash attack
B.Reconnaissance using SMB
✓ C.Suspicious service creation
D.Brute force attack
Why C: Option A is correct because 'Suspicious service creation' can indicate Mimikatz installation. Option B is wrong because 'Brute force' is different. Option C is wrong because 'Pass-the-Hash' is a related but distinct technique. Option D is wrong because 'Reconnaissance' is not specific.
Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
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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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