SC-200 Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender XDR Practice Question
This SC-200 practice question tests your understanding of mitigate threats using microsoft defender xdr. 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 an incident investigation, an analyst notices a compromised user account that was used to access sensitive data from SharePoint Online. Which Microsoft 365 Defender workload would provide the most relevant alerts for suspicious file access patterns?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps
Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps (Option C) is the correct workload because it provides visibility into cloud application usage, including SharePoint Online, and can generate alerts for suspicious file access patterns such as mass download, unusual file sharing, or access from anomalous locations. It uses behavioral analytics and anomaly detection to identify compromised accounts accessing sensitive data in SaaS applications like SharePoint.
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.
✗
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Why it's wrong here
Defender for Endpoint provides endpoint detection but not cloud app file access patterns.
✗
Microsoft Defender for Office 365
Why it's wrong here
Defender for Office 365 focuses on email and collaboration threats, not SharePoint file access patterns.
✓
Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps
Why this is correct
Defender for Cloud Apps monitors cloud app activity including SharePoint Online and can alert on suspicious file access.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Microsoft Defender for Identity
Why it's wrong here
Defender for Identity detects identity-based threats like lateral movement but not file access patterns.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps with Microsoft Defender for Office 365, assuming Office 365 covers all cloud workloads, but Cloud Apps is specifically designed for SaaS app security and anomaly detection in services like SharePoint.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps integrates with SharePoint Online via the Cloud App Security API, enabling it to inspect file-level activities such as 'FileDownloaded', 'FileAccessed', and 'FileSharedExternally'. It applies risk-based conditional access policies and can trigger alerts when a user downloads an unusually high number of files (e.g., >100 files in 10 minutes) or accesses files from a new IP address outside the corporate range, which are classic indicators of a compromised account.
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 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.
Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender XDR — This question tests Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender XDR — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps — Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps (Option C) is the correct workload because it provides visibility into cloud application usage, including SharePoint Online, and can generate alerts for suspicious file access patterns such as mass download, unusual file sharing, or access from anomalous locations. It uses behavioral analytics and anomaly detection to identify compromised accounts accessing sensitive data in SaaS applications like SharePoint.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.