The answer is to configure a device group with an automated investigation and response rule that excludes devices with a risk score above 30. This is correct because device groups in Microsoft Defender XDR allow you to scope automated investigation and response (AIR) based on specific device attributes, including risk score. By creating a rule that excludes high-risk devices, you ensure that automated actions proceed only for devices below the threshold, directly addressing the requirement to unblock investigations for lower-risk endpoints. On the SC-200 exam, this tests your understanding of how device groups control AIR scoping, often appearing as a scenario where you must differentiate between exclusion rules and alert suppression. A common trap is confusing device group membership with alert tuning; remember that risk score filtering lives in the AIR rule, not in the device group’s dynamic membership criteria. Memory tip: “Exclude the high, let the low through” — risk score rules in AIR are about exclusion, not inclusion.
SC-200 Manage a security operations environment Practice Question
This SC-200 practice question tests your understanding of manage a security operations environment. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
Your organization uses Microsoft Defender XDR. You notice that automated investigations are being blocked for certain devices due to high-severity alerts. You need to ensure that automated actions can proceed for devices with a risk score below 30. What should you configure?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure a device group with an automated investigation and response rule that excludes devices with a risk score above 30.
Option A is correct because device groups in Microsoft Defender XDR allow you to scope automated investigation and response (AIR) rules based on device risk scores. By creating a device group that excludes devices with a risk score above 30, you ensure that automated actions proceed only for devices meeting your threshold, directly addressing the requirement.
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.
✓
Configure a device group with an automated investigation and response rule that excludes devices with a risk score above 30.
Why this is correct
Device groups with AIR rules can control which devices get automated actions based on risk score.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Disable automated investigation for all devices and rely on manual investigation.
Why it's wrong here
This does not meet the requirement to proceed for low-risk devices.
✗
Adjust the Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps policy to allow automated actions for low-risk devices.
Why it's wrong here
Defender for Cloud Apps policies are not for device-level automated investigation.
✗
Modify the attack surface reduction rules to allow automated actions on low-risk devices.
Why it's wrong here
ASR rules do not control automated investigation blocking.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse device groups (which control AIR scope) with other security features like attack surface reduction rules or cloud app policies, leading them to select options that address unrelated controls rather than the correct mechanism for scoping automated investigations.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Device groups in Microsoft Defender XDR use a combination of conditions (e.g., OS version, risk score, tags) to define which devices are included in an AIR rule. The risk score is a dynamic value calculated by the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint machine learning model, ranging from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk), and is updated in near real-time based on threat intelligence and device behavior. When an AIR rule is triggered, Defender XDR evaluates the device group membership before executing automated actions; devices excluded by the rule are skipped, allowing granular control without disabling automation entirely.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this SC-200 question in full detail.
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: Configure a device group with an automated investigation and response rule that excludes devices with a risk score above 30. — Option A is correct because device groups in Microsoft Defender XDR allow you to scope automated investigation and response (AIR) rules based on device risk scores. By creating a device group that excludes devices with a risk score above 30, you ensure that automated actions proceed only for devices meeting your threshold, directly addressing the requirement.
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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Question Discussion
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