Quick Answer
The answer is the Office 365 audit logs. This is the correct log source because Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps ingests these logs to capture Exchange mailbox audit events, specifically the Set-Mailbox and Set-MailboxFolder permissions cmdlets that create forwarding rules to external domains. When threat hunting for data exfiltration, you need to query the Office 365 audit log for activities like “Set-Mailbox –ForwardingSmtpAddress” or “New-InboxRule –ForwardTo,” as these events are not recorded in any other log source. On the SC-200 exam, this question tests your understanding of which data sources feed into Defender for Cloud Apps and how to correlate user behavior with potential exfiltration. A common trap is to choose Azure Active Directory logs, which focus on sign-ins and role changes, not mailbox configurations. Remember the memory tip: “Mail rules live in mail logs”—Office 365 audit logs are the only place where Exchange mailbox forwarding events are stored.
This SC-200 practice question tests your understanding of perform threat hunting. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 threat hunting in Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps. You want to identify users who have enabled mailbox forwarding rules to external domains, which could indicate data exfiltration. Which log source should you query?
Office 365 audit logs
Office 365 audit logs capture Exchange mailbox rule creation events.
Microsoft Entra ID sign-in logs
Why wrong: Sign-in logs do not include mailbox rule changes.
Windows Event logs from domain controllers
Why wrong: DC logs do not contain mailbox forwarding details.
Azure Network Watcher logs
Why wrong: Network logs do not capture mailbox rule changes.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Office 365 audit logs
Option D is correct because Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps can ingest Office 365 audit logs, including Exchange mailbox audit events for forwarding rules. Option A is wrong because Azure Active Directory logs (now Microsoft Entra ID) do not contain mailbox forwarding events. Option B is wrong because Windows Event logs are device-focused. Option C is wrong because Azure network logs do not include mailbox rules.
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.
Office 365 audit logs
Why this is correct
Office 365 audit logs capture Exchange mailbox rule creation events.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Microsoft Entra ID sign-in logs
Why it's wrong here
Sign-in logs do not include mailbox rule changes.
Windows Event logs from domain controllers
Why it's wrong here
DC logs do not contain mailbox forwarding details.
Azure Network Watcher logs
Why it's wrong here
Network logs do not capture mailbox rule changes.
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 healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
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
Perform threat hunting — This question tests Perform threat hunting — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Office 365 audit logs — Option D is correct because Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps can ingest Office 365 audit logs, including Exchange mailbox audit events for forwarding rules. Option A is wrong because Azure Active Directory logs (now Microsoft Entra ID) do not contain mailbox forwarding events. Option B is wrong because Windows Event logs are device-focused. Option C is wrong because Azure network logs do not include mailbox rules.
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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