Quick Answer
The answer is the activity log. This is the correct feature to investigate anomalous login locations because it captures every user sign-in event with granular details, including the originating IP address and geographic region, allowing you to correlate multiple logins from disparate locations within a short time window. On the SC-200 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between Defender for Cloud Apps’ core investigative tools: the activity log is for user behavior and sign-in anomalies, while app permissions focuses on OAuth consent grants, file policies handle data protection rules, and Cloud Discovery identifies shadow IT usage. A common trap is confusing the activity log with Cloud Discovery, but remember that Cloud Discovery analyzes traffic to unsanctioned apps, not user login geography. For a quick memory tip: think “Activity log = Where and When” for user logins, while other features manage “What” (files) or “Who” (app permissions).
This SC-200 practice question tests your understanding of perform threat hunting. 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 threat hunt, you identify a user account that has been logging in from multiple geographic regions within a short time. Which Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps feature should you use to investigate this anomaly?
Cloud Discovery
Why wrong: Cloud Discovery identifies unsanctioned cloud apps, not user logins.
App permissions
Why wrong: App permissions manage OAuth apps, not user logins.
File policy
Why wrong: File policies are for data exfiltration, not logins.
Activity log
The activity log shows login events with geographic locations.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Activity log
Option B is correct because the activity log provides detailed user activities including location. Option A is wrong because App permissions is for OAuth apps. Option C is wrong because file policy is for data protection. Option D is wrong because Cloud Discovery is for shadow IT, not user login anomalies.
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.
Cloud Discovery
Why it's wrong here
Cloud Discovery identifies unsanctioned cloud apps, not user logins.
App permissions
Why it's wrong here
App permissions manage OAuth apps, not user logins.
File policy
Why it's wrong here
File policies are for data exfiltration, not logins.
Activity log
Why this is correct
The activity log shows login events with geographic locations.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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: Activity log — Option B is correct because the activity log provides detailed user activities including location. Option A is wrong because App permissions is for OAuth apps. Option C is wrong because file policy is for data protection. Option D is wrong because Cloud Discovery is for shadow IT, not user login anomalies.
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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