The answer is to include both successful and failed sign-in attempts, then filter for users with a high number of failed attempts and at least one successful attempt. This is correct because a brute-force attack typically involves a barrage of failed logins—where the attacker tries many passwords—followed by a single successful authentication once the correct credential is found. By adding a condition for ResultType != 0 to capture failures and then counting successes, your KQL query in Sentinel can surface accounts that were likely compromised, rather than just showing high-volume legitimate users. On the SC-200 exam, this tests your ability to refine detection logic beyond surface-level aggregation; a common trap is thinking that simply counting all sign-ins is enough, but brute-force detection requires distinguishing failure patterns from success. Remember the mnemonic: “Failures first, then success—that’s the brute-force guess.”
SC-200 Manage a security operations environment Practice Question
This SC-200 practice question tests your understanding of manage a security operations environment. 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.
```kql
SigninLogs
| where TimeGenerated > ago(24h)
| where ResultType == "0"
| where AppDisplayName == "Office 365 Exchange Online"
| summarize LoginCount = count() by UserPrincipalName, IPAddress
| where LoginCount > 10
| project UserPrincipalName, IPAddress, LoginCount
```
You are analyzing sign-in logs in Microsoft Sentinel. The KQL query shown in the exhibit returns a list of users who have signed into Office 365 Exchange Online more than 10 times in the last 24 hours. You need to identify potential brute-force attacks. What additional information should you add to the query to improve detection?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Include both successful and failed sign-in attempts, then filter for users with a high number of failed attempts and at least one successful attempt.
To detect brute-force attacks, you need to look for multiple failed sign-in attempts followed by a success. The current query only shows successful sign-ins. Option A is correct because adding a condition to include failed attempts (ResultType != 0) and then filtering for users with many failures and at least one success would better indicate brute-force. Option B (excluding MFA) does not help. Option C (filtering by location) may reduce false positives but not detect brute-force. Option D (time bin) is already there.
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.
✓
Include both successful and failed sign-in attempts, then filter for users with a high number of failed attempts and at least one successful attempt.
Why this is correct
Brute-force often involves many failures and eventual success.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Change the time window to 1 hour to detect rapid attempts.
Why it's wrong here
Time window alone does not differentiate brute-force from legitimate high usage.
✗
Add a condition to only include sign-ins from unusual geographic locations.
Why it's wrong here
This is a different detection method, not specific to brute-force.
✗
Add a condition to exclude users who have multi-factor authentication (MFA) enabled.
Why it's wrong here
MFA does not prevent brute-force; it adds a layer but the sign-in log still shows attempts.
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
MFA does not prevent brute-force; it adds a layer but the sign-in log still shows attempts.
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.
Manage a security operations environment — This question tests Manage a security operations environment — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Include both successful and failed sign-in attempts, then filter for users with a high number of failed attempts and at least one successful attempt. — To detect brute-force attacks, you need to look for multiple failed sign-in attempts followed by a success. The current query only shows successful sign-ins. Option A is correct because adding a condition to include failed attempts (ResultType != 0) and then filtering for users with many failures and at least one success would better indicate brute-force. Option B (excluding MFA) does not help. Option C (filtering by location) may reduce false positives but not detect brute-force. Option D (time bin) is already there.
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.
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