- A
Create an analytics rule to trigger an alert when PowerShell encoded commands are detected.
Why wrong: Analytics rules are reactive, not proactive hunting.
- B
Create a watchlist of known malicious IPs and correlate with PowerShell events.
Why wrong: Watchlists are for static indicators, not proactive hunting.
- C
Enable UEBA to detect anomalous PowerShell usage.
Why wrong: UEBA detects anomalies but is not specific to encoded commands.
- D
Use a hunting query in the Microsoft Sentinel hunting blade to search for PowerShell encoded commands.
Hunting queries are designed for proactive search and investigation.
Question 28 of 1,639
SC-200 Perform threat hunting Practice Question
This SC-200 practice question tests your understanding of perform threat hunting. Compare every option against the stated constraints before choosing — the best answer satisfies all requirements, not just the most obvious one. 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 a security analyst using Microsoft Sentinel. You want to proactively search for signs of a specific threat actor known to use PowerShell encoded commands. Which hunting technique is most appropriate?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use a hunting query in the Microsoft Sentinel hunting blade to search for PowerShell encoded commands.
Hunting queries in Microsoft Sentinel allow proactive searching for suspicious patterns. Option D is correct because it directly aligns with the need to create a custom KQL query to detect encoded PowerShell commands in the hunting blade. Option A is incorrect because analytics rules trigger alerts after detection, not for proactive hunting. Option B is incorrect because a watchlist is used for correlation with known indicators, not proactive hunting. Option C is incorrect because UEBA identifies anomalies, not specific threat actor techniques.
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.
- ✗
Create an analytics rule to trigger an alert when PowerShell encoded commands are detected.
Why it's wrong here
Analytics rules are reactive, not proactive hunting.
- ✗
Create a watchlist of known malicious IPs and correlate with PowerShell events.
Why it's wrong here
Watchlists are for static indicators, not proactive hunting.
- ✗
Enable UEBA to detect anomalous PowerShell usage.
Why it's wrong here
UEBA detects anomalies but is not specific to encoded commands.
- ✓
Use a hunting query in the Microsoft Sentinel hunting blade to search for PowerShell encoded commands.
Why this is correct
Hunting queries are designed for proactive search and investigation.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
UEBA detects anomalies but is not specific to encoded commands.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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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Perform threat hunting — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SC-200 question test?
Perform threat hunting — This question tests Perform threat hunting — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use a hunting query in the Microsoft Sentinel hunting blade to search for PowerShell encoded commands. — Hunting queries in Microsoft Sentinel allow proactive searching for suspicious patterns. Option D is correct because it directly aligns with the need to create a custom KQL query to detect encoded PowerShell commands in the hunting blade. Option A is incorrect because analytics rules trigger alerts after detection, not for proactive hunting. Option B is incorrect because a watchlist is used for correlation with known indicators, not proactive hunting. Option C is incorrect because UEBA identifies anomalies, not specific threat actor techniques.
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.
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 →
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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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