Quick Answer
The answer is the IP address, as it serves as the primary pivot entity for investigating suspicious sign-ins from a known threat actor. In Microsoft Sentinel, the IP address is the common link that ties together multiple sign-in events, allowing you to trace the attacker’s activity across users, devices, and applications without assuming which specific user or device was targeted first. On the SC-200 exam, this concept tests your ability to choose the most reliable starting point for a threat hunt—the entity that is least likely to change and most directly associated with the adversary’s infrastructure. A common trap is pivoting on the user account, but the user is the victim, not the attacker’s anchor; the IP address remains the stable identifier of the threat actor’s origin. Remember: when the IP is known-bad, pivot on the IP, not the victim.
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.
During a threat hunt in Microsoft Sentinel, you find a series of suspicious sign-ins to Microsoft Entra ID from an IP address known to be associated with a threat actor. Which entity should you pivot on to investigate further?
IP address
IP address connects multiple sign-ins and is associated with the threat actor.
User account
Why wrong: The user is the target; IP is the common link.
Application
Why wrong: Application is not the pivot.
Device
Why wrong: Device is not the primary pivot.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
IP address
The IP address is the key entity linking the sign-ins. Option C is correct. Option A is incorrect because the user is a target, not the pivot. Option B is incorrect because the device may be compromised but is not the initial pivot. Option D is incorrect because the application is secondary.
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.
IP address
Why this is correct
IP address connects multiple sign-ins and is associated with the threat actor.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
User account
Why it's wrong here
The user is the target; IP is the common link.
Application
Why it's wrong here
Application is not the pivot.
Device
Why it's wrong here
Device is not the primary pivot.
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
Perform threat hunting — This question tests Perform threat hunting — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: IP address — The IP address is the key entity linking the sign-ins. Option C is correct. Option A is incorrect because the user is a target, not the pivot. Option B is incorrect because the device may be compromised but is not the initial pivot. Option D is incorrect because the application is secondary.
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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