Quick Answer
The correct first containment step for a privileged account compromise is to disable the user’s account immediately. This action directly halts any ongoing malicious activity by revoking all access tokens and preventing new logons, which is critical because a privileged account can be used to move laterally or escalate privileges across the environment. On the Microsoft Security Operations Analyst SC-200 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the containment phase in the incident response lifecycle, where the priority is to stop the threat before performing analysis or remediation. A common trap is choosing password reset, which fails to terminate existing authenticated sessions, or opting for log review, which is analysis rather than containment. Remember the mnemonic “D.I.S.A.B.L.E.”—Disable Immediately, Stop All Breaches, Lock Everything—to recall that disabling the account is the first and fastest way to contain a privileged account breach in Microsoft Sentinel.
This SC-200 practice question tests your understanding of respond to security incidents. 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.
You are investigating a security incident in Microsoft Sentinel involving a series of failed logon attempts followed by a successful logon from a different geographic location. The user's account is a privileged administrator. The incident is assigned a medium severity. What should you do first to contain the potential breach?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Disable the user's account immediately
Disabling the account stops all access immediately.
Reset the user's password
Why wrong: Password reset does not terminate existing sessions.
Review the audit logs for the user's activity
Why wrong: Reviewing logs is analysis, not containment.
Create a new analytics rule to detect similar attempts
Why wrong: Creating a rule is preventative, not immediate.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Disable the user's account immediately
Option B is correct because disabling the privileged account prevents any further malicious activity. Option A is wrong because resetting the password alone may not terminate existing sessions. Option C is wrong because reviewing logs is analysis, not containment. Option D is wrong because creating a rule is preventative, not immediate containment.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Disable the user's account immediately
Why this is correct
Disabling the account stops all access immediately.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
Reset the user's password
Why it's wrong here
Password reset does not terminate existing sessions.
Review the audit logs for the user's activity
Why it's wrong here
Reviewing logs is analysis, not containment.
Create a new analytics rule to detect similar attempts
Why it's wrong here
Creating a rule is preventative, not immediate.
Common exam traps
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Detailed technical explanation
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Real-world example
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related SC-200 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
Respond to security incidents — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
Respond to security incidents practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
All SC-200 questions
1,639 questions across all exam domains
Microsoft Security Operations Analyst SC-200 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
SC-200 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise SC-200 questions linked to Manage a security operations environment.
Practise SC-200 questions linked to Respond to security incidents.
Practise SC-200 questions linked to Perform threat hunting.
Practise SC-200 questions linked to Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender XDR.
Practise SC-200 questions linked to Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender for Cloud.
Practise SC-200 questions linked to Mitigate threats using Microsoft Sentinel.
Practise SC-200 questions linked to SC-200 fundamentals.
Practise SC-200 questions linked to SC-200 scenario.
Practise SC-200 questions linked to SC-200 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Respond to security incidents — This question tests Respond to security incidents — Authentication checks who the user is..
The correct answer is: Disable the user's account immediately — Option B is correct because disabling the privileged account prevents any further malicious activity. Option A is wrong because resetting the password alone may not terminate existing sessions. Option C is wrong because reviewing logs is analysis, not containment. Option D is wrong because creating a rule is preventative, not immediate containment.
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related SC-200 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Authentication checks who the user is.
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 →
Keep practising
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.
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.