This SC-200 practice question tests your understanding of respond to security incidents. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.
During a ransomware incident, you need to prevent the encryption of files in SharePoint Online and OneDrive for Business. You have already identified the compromised user account. What should you do?
Disable external sharing for SharePoint Online
Why wrong: External sharing is not the issue.
Lock the compromised user account in Microsoft Entra ID
Locking the account prevents further access to files.
Delete the compromised user's OneDrive files
Why wrong: Deletion happens after encryption, not prevention.
Apply a retention policy to all SharePoint sites
Why wrong: Retention policy does not prevent active encryption.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Lock the compromised user account in Microsoft Entra ID
Option B is correct because locking the account stops the attacker from accessing files. Option A is wrong because deleting files does not prevent encryption. Option C is wrong because applying a retention policy does not block access. Option D is wrong because disabling external sharing does not stop internal encryption.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Disable external sharing for SharePoint Online
Why it's wrong here
External sharing is not the issue.
Lock the compromised user account in Microsoft Entra ID
Why this is correct
Locking the account prevents further access to files.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Delete the compromised user's OneDrive files
Why it's wrong here
Deletion happens after encryption, not prevention.
Apply a retention policy to all SharePoint sites
Why it's wrong here
Retention policy does not prevent active encryption.
Common exam traps
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.
Detailed technical explanation
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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
Respond to security incidents — This question tests Respond to security incidents — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Lock the compromised user account in Microsoft Entra ID — Option B is correct because locking the account stops the attacker from accessing files. Option A is wrong because deleting files does not prevent encryption. Option C is wrong because applying a retention policy does not block access. Option D is wrong because disabling external sharing does not stop internal encryption.
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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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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