- A
SecurityEvent | where EventID == 4625 | summarize FailedAttempts = count() by Account, IpAddress | where FailedAttempts > 10
Why wrong: This query groups by Account and IpAddress, then filters for attempts > 10. It may catch brute-force from a single IP but does not show accounts targeted from multiple IPs, which is the pattern of password spraying.
- B
SecurityEvent | where EventID == 4625 | summarize DistinctSourceIPs = dcount(IpAddress) by Account | where DistinctSourceIPs > 1
This query correctly counts distinct source IPs per account and filters for those with more than one source IP. This identifies accounts that have been targeted from multiple IPs, indicative of a password spraying attack.
- C
SecurityEvent | where EventID == 4625 | summarize FailedAttempts = count() by Account | where FailedAttempts > 50
Why wrong: This query counts total failed attempts per account and filters for > 50. A high total count could be due to many attempts from a single IP (brute-force) and does not indicate spraying across multiple IPs.
- D
SecurityEvent | where EventID == 4625 and Account == 'Administrator' | summarize count() by IpAddress
Why wrong: This query filters for the 'Administrator' account only, but password spraying can target multiple accounts. It would miss other accounts being sprayed.
SC-200 Password spraying Practice Question
This SC-200 practice question tests your understanding of perform threat hunting. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. A key principle to apply: password spraying. 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 Contoso, a multinational company with 10,000 endpoints. You are using Microsoft Sentinel and Microsoft Defender XDR for threat hunting. In the past week, you have observed an increase in failed logon events (Event ID 4625) from multiple workstations towards a single domain controller, targeting the built-in Administrator account. The source IPs are a mix of internal and external addresses. You suspect a password spraying attack. You need to confirm the attack and identify all affected accounts. You have access to Windows Security Events ingested into Sentinel. Which single KQL query would best identify accounts with repeated failed logons across multiple source IPs, indicating password spraying?
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
SecurityEvent | where EventID == 4625 | summarize DistinctSourceIPs = dcount(IpAddress) by Account | where DistinctSourceIPs > 1
To identify password spraying, we need accounts targeted from multiple source IPs. Option B correctly uses summarize with dcount(IpAddress) by Account and filters where distinct source IPs > 1, indicating the same account was hit from different IPs, typical of password spraying. Option A groups by Account and IpAddress, then counts attempts, which may show high attempts from a single IP (brute-force). Option C shows total failed attempts per account regardless of source, which could be high due to many attempts from one IP. Option D only focuses on the Administrator account, missing other targeted accounts.
Key principle: Password spraying
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 == 4625 | summarize FailedAttempts = count() by Account, IpAddress | where FailedAttempts > 10
Why it's wrong here
This query groups by Account and IpAddress, then filters for attempts > 10. It may catch brute-force from a single IP but does not show accounts targeted from multiple IPs, which is the pattern of password spraying.
- ✓
SecurityEvent | where EventID == 4625 | summarize DistinctSourceIPs = dcount(IpAddress) by Account | where DistinctSourceIPs > 1
Why this is correct
This query correctly counts distinct source IPs per account and filters for those with more than one source IP. This identifies accounts that have been targeted from multiple IPs, indicative of a password spraying attack.
Related concept
Password spraying
- ✗
SecurityEvent | where EventID == 4625 | summarize FailedAttempts = count() by Account | where FailedAttempts > 50
Why it's wrong here
This query counts total failed attempts per account and filters for > 50. A high total count could be due to many attempts from a single IP (brute-force) and does not indicate spraying across multiple IPs.
- ✗
SecurityEvent | where EventID == 4625 and Account == 'Administrator' | summarize count() by IpAddress
Why it's wrong here
This query filters for the 'Administrator' account only, but password spraying can target multiple accounts. It would miss other accounts being sprayed.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Candidates often confuse brute-force (high attempts from single IP) with password spraying (low attempts from many IPs). Option B correctly detects spraying by counting distinct source IPs per account.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
This query groups by Account and IpAddress, then filters for attempts > 10. It may catch brute-force from a single IP but does not show accounts targeted from multiple IPs, which is the pattern of password spraying.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Treat this as a scenario question. Identify the problem, the constraint, and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Password spraying
- KQL summarize operator
- Event ID 4625
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
Password spraying
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.
Review password spraying, then practise related SC-200 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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Perform threat hunting — study guide chapter
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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 — Password spraying.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: SecurityEvent | where EventID == 4625 | summarize DistinctSourceIPs = dcount(IpAddress) by Account | where DistinctSourceIPs > 1 — To identify password spraying, we need accounts targeted from multiple source IPs. Option B correctly uses summarize with dcount(IpAddress) by Account and filters where distinct source IPs > 1, indicating the same account was hit from different IPs, typical of password spraying. Option A groups by Account and IpAddress, then counts attempts, which may show high attempts from a single IP (brute-force). Option C shows total failed attempts per account regardless of source, which could be high due to many attempts from one IP. Option D only focuses on the Administrator account, missing other targeted accounts.
What should I do if I get this SC-200 question wrong?
Review password spraying, then practise related SC-200 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Password spraying
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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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