The answer is to disable the user account in Microsoft Entra ID. This is the correct first step because containment must precede any investigation or remediation in a potential data exfiltration incident; immediately revoking the user’s access stops the ongoing transfer of 500 GB of data from SharePoint to an unmanaged device, preventing further loss while preserving forensic evidence. On the SC-200 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the incident response priority chain—containment first, then eradication, recovery, and lessons learned—and the common trap is choosing to investigate the device or run a playbook before stopping the active threat. Remember the memory tip: “Contain before you cure” or simply “Disable first, ask questions later” to lock in the correct sequence for data exfiltration alerts from Defender for Cloud Apps.
SC-200 Respond to security incidents Practice Question
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.
A SOC analyst receives an alert from Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps indicating that a user downloaded 500 GB of data from SharePoint to an unmanaged device. The user has no history of such behavior. What is the best first step in the incident response process?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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.
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 account in Microsoft Entra ID.
Option B is correct because disabling the user account immediately stops the potential data exfiltration and is the recommended containment step in ransomware or data theft scenarios. Option A is reactive and does not prevent further data loss. Option C is premature without containment. Option D may be necessary but not the first step.
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.
✗
Run a full antivirus scan on the unmanaged device.
Why it's wrong here
This does not address the ongoing data transfer and may take time during which more data can be exfiltrated.
✗
Contact the user to verify if the download was intentional.
Why it's wrong here
Contacting the user may alert a malicious actor and does not stop the ongoing activity.
✓
Disable the user account in Microsoft Entra ID.
Why this is correct
Immediately stops the user's access and prevents further data download, containing the incident.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "best", "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Create a detection rule for similar behavior in Microsoft Sentinel.
Why it's wrong here
This is a long-term improvement, not an immediate response action.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
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
How to think about this question
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.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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 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. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this SC-200 question in full detail.
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.
Respond to security incidents — This question tests Respond to security incidents — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Disable the user account in Microsoft Entra ID. — Option B is correct because disabling the user account immediately stops the potential data exfiltration and is the recommended containment step in ransomware or data theft scenarios. Option A is reactive and does not prevent further data loss. Option C is premature without containment. Option D may be necessary but not the first step.
What should I do if I get this SC-200 question wrong?
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best", "first". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A security analyst in your SOC receives an alert from Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps indicating that a user downloaded a large number of files from SharePoint in a short time. What is the most likely classification of this activity?
easy
A.Ransomware
B.Lateral movement
✓ C.Data exfiltration
D.Privilege escalation
Why C: Option A is correct because this behavior is indicative of data exfiltration. Option B is wrong because privilege escalation involves gaining higher permissions. Option C is wrong because ransomware would encrypt files. Option D is wrong because lateral movement involves moving between systems.
Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
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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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