- A
SecurityEvent | where EventID == 7045 | union CommonSecurityLog | where TimeGenerated > ago(1d)
Why wrong: Union does not correlate events; it combines rows.
- B
SecurityEvent | where EventID == 7045 | project Computer, TimeGenerated | where TimeGenerated > ago(1h)
Why wrong: This only shows service creations, no correlation with network connections.
- C
SecurityEvent | where EventID == 7045 | where TimeGenerated between (ago(1d) .. now()) | summarize by Computer
Why wrong: Summarizes by computer, no time correlation.
- D
let ServiceCreation = SecurityEvent | where EventID == 7045 | project Computer, TimeGenerated; let NetworkConn = CommonSecurityLog | where DeviceAction == 'Allow' | project SourceIP, TimeGenerated; ServiceCreation | join kind=inner NetworkConn on $left.Computer == $right.SourceIP and abs(TimeGenerated - TimeGenerated) <= 5m
This joins service creation and network events within 5 minutes to detect lateral movement.
Quick Answer
The answer is Option B, which uses a join with a time window to correlate service creation and network connections. This KQL query correctly detects lateral movement by first capturing service creation events (Event ID 7045) from the SecurityEvent table, then capturing allowed network connections from the CommonSecurityLog table, and finally joining them on the computer’s hostname and source IP with a 5-minute time difference using `abs(TimeGenerated - TimeGenerated) <= 5m`. This technique is critical for the SC-200 exam because it tests your ability to perform threat hunting by correlating disparate event logs—a core skill for detecting remote code execution and lateral movement. A common trap is using a union or a simple time filter instead of a join, which fails to link the specific service creation to the subsequent network connection. Remember the memory tip: "Join on time, not just type"—you need the temporal correlation to prove the service creation led to the outbound connection.
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 a security analyst at Fabrikam using Microsoft Sentinel. You are conducting a threat hunt for signs of remote code execution (RCE) via the Windows Event Log. You want to detect suspicious service creation that could indicate lateral movement. Specifically, you want to find events where a service was created (Event ID 7045) on a server, and within 5 minutes, a network connection was established from that server to another internal server. You have SecurityEvent and CommonSecurityLog tables ingested. Which KQL query should you use?
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
let ServiceCreation = SecurityEvent | where EventID == 7045 | project Computer, TimeGenerated; let NetworkConn = CommonSecurityLog | where DeviceAction == 'Allow' | project SourceIP, TimeGenerated; ServiceCreation | join kind=inner NetworkConn on $left.Computer == $right.SourceIP and abs(TimeGenerated - TimeGenerated) <= 5m
Option B is correct because it uses a join with a time window to correlate service creation and network connection. Option A is wrong because it lacks the join. Option C is wrong because it uses a time filter on creation, not correlation. Option D is wrong because it uses a union which is incorrect.
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.
- ✗
SecurityEvent | where EventID == 7045 | union CommonSecurityLog | where TimeGenerated > ago(1d)
Why it's wrong here
Union does not correlate events; it combines rows.
- ✗
SecurityEvent | where EventID == 7045 | project Computer, TimeGenerated | where TimeGenerated > ago(1h)
Why it's wrong here
This only shows service creations, no correlation with network connections.
- ✗
SecurityEvent | where EventID == 7045 | where TimeGenerated between (ago(1d) .. now()) | summarize by Computer
Why it's wrong here
Summarizes by computer, no time correlation.
- ✓
let ServiceCreation = SecurityEvent | where EventID == 7045 | project Computer, TimeGenerated; let NetworkConn = CommonSecurityLog | where DeviceAction == 'Allow' | project SourceIP, TimeGenerated; ServiceCreation | join kind=inner NetworkConn on $left.Computer == $right.SourceIP and abs(TimeGenerated - TimeGenerated) <= 5m
Why this is correct
This joins service creation and network events within 5 minutes to detect lateral movement.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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
This only shows service creations, no correlation with network connections.
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
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SC-200 question test?
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: let ServiceCreation = SecurityEvent | where EventID == 7045 | project Computer, TimeGenerated; let NetworkConn = CommonSecurityLog | where DeviceAction == 'Allow' | project SourceIP, TimeGenerated; ServiceCreation | join kind=inner NetworkConn on $left.Computer == $right.SourceIP and abs(TimeGenerated - TimeGenerated) <= 5m — Option B is correct because it uses a join with a time window to correlate service creation and network connection. Option A is wrong because it lacks the join. Option C is wrong because it uses a time filter on creation, not correlation. Option D is wrong because it uses a union which is incorrect.
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
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Last reviewed: Jun 21, 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.
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