Quick Answer
The answer is the Account entity type. This is correct because pass-the-hash lateral movement attacks rely on an attacker stealing a user’s NTLM hash from one machine and reusing it to authenticate as that user on another machine, so the compromised user account is the central pivot point in the attack chain. Microsoft Defender for Identity surfaces these events in the security alert timeline with the Account entity as the primary actor, not the device or IP address, since the hash is tied to the account’s credentials. On the SC-200 exam, this question tests your ability to map attack techniques to the correct entity in Defender for Identity’s alert schema; a common trap is choosing “Device” because lateral movement involves multiple computers, but the alert focuses on the identity being abused. To remember this, think “hash follows the account, not the hardware”—the Account entity is always the key for pass-the-hash alerts.
This SC-200 practice question tests your understanding of manage a security operations environment. 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.
Your organization uses Microsoft Defender for Identity. You need to monitor for potential lateral movement attacks using pass-the-hash techniques. Which entity type in Microsoft Defender for Identity should you focus on in the security alert timeline?
IP address
Why wrong: IP addresses are supporting evidence but not the main entity.
Account
Defender for Identity alerts for pass-the-hash typically highlight the compromised account.
Device
Why wrong: Devices are involved but the alert focuses on the account.
Computer
Why wrong: Computers are involved but the alert primarily focuses on the account used for lateral movement.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Account
Option B is correct because pass-the-hash attacks involve compromised accounts, and Defender for Identity alerts include 'Account' entities. The other options are not the primary entity for lateral movement alerts.
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 it's wrong here
IP addresses are supporting evidence but not the main entity.
Account
Why this is correct
Defender for Identity alerts for pass-the-hash typically highlight the compromised account.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Device
Why it's wrong here
Devices are involved but the alert focuses on the account.
Computer
Why it's wrong here
Computers are involved but the alert primarily focuses on the account used for lateral movement.
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
Manage a security operations environment — This question tests Manage a security operations environment — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Account — Option B is correct because pass-the-hash attacks involve compromised accounts, and Defender for Identity alerts include 'Account' entities. The other options are not the primary entity for lateral movement alerts.
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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