- A
Use the Exchange admin center to run a message trace for the email, then use the Malware section to block the attachment hash.
Why wrong: Message trace is not in Defender XDR, and malware section may not have the sandbox data.
- B
Use the Email & collaboration > Explorer to find the email, then use the Quarantine section to block the sender domain.
Why wrong: Explorer shows email details but not sandbox detonation; quarantine is for quarantining, not blocking.
- C
Use the Threat Explorer to find the email, then manually block the sender domain in the Exchange Online PowerShell.
Why wrong: Threat Explorer does not provide sandbox detonation results easily, and manual PowerShell is not the recommended automated method.
- D
Use Advanced hunting to query EmailEvents for the message ID to find other recipients, then query EmailAttachmentInfo to get the attachment hash. Use the sandbox data in EmailUrlInfo to check detonation. Then create an indicator block rule for the sender domain and file hash in the Settings > Indicators.
This comprehensive approach uses advanced hunting for investigation and indicators for blocking.
Investigate Email Threats with Advanced Hunting and Block Indicators
This SC-200 practice question tests your understanding of respond to security incidents. 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 a security analyst at Contoso. A user reports that they received a suspicious email with an attachment named "Invoice.pdf.exe". The user did not open the attachment. You need to investigate this potential threat using Microsoft Defender XDR. You want to determine if any other users received the same email, and whether the attachment was detonated in a sandbox. You also want to block the sender domain and the attachment hash across the organization if it is malicious. You have the email message ID from the user. You have appropriate permissions to use advanced hunting and take action. Which set of actions should you take in Microsoft 365 Defender?
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 Advanced hunting to query EmailEvents for the message ID to find other recipients, then query EmailAttachmentInfo to get the attachment hash. Use the sandbox data in EmailUrlInfo to check detonation. Then create an indicator block rule for the sender domain and file hash in the Settings > Indicators.
The correct answer is Option D. Advanced hunting in Microsoft 365 Defender allows querying EmailEvents with the message ID to find other recipients and EmailAttachmentInfo to obtain the attachment hash. Sandbox detonation can be checked via EmailUrlInfo or similar tables. Then, creating indicator block rules under Settings > Indicators provides a centralized way to block the sender domain and file hash across the organization. Options A, B, and C are incorrect because they rely on separate tools (Exchange admin center, Quarantine, manual PowerShell) or do not fully utilize Defender XDR's integrated hunting and response capabilities.
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.
- ✗
Use the Exchange admin center to run a message trace for the email, then use the Malware section to block the attachment hash.
Why it's wrong here
Message trace is not in Defender XDR, and malware section may not have the sandbox data.
- ✗
Use the Email & collaboration > Explorer to find the email, then use the Quarantine section to block the sender domain.
Why it's wrong here
Explorer shows email details but not sandbox detonation; quarantine is for quarantining, not blocking.
- ✗
Use the Threat Explorer to find the email, then manually block the sender domain in the Exchange Online PowerShell.
Why it's wrong here
Threat Explorer does not provide sandbox detonation results easily, and manual PowerShell is not the recommended automated method.
- ✓
Use Advanced hunting to query EmailEvents for the message ID to find other recipients, then query EmailAttachmentInfo to get the attachment hash. Use the sandbox data in EmailUrlInfo to check detonation. Then create an indicator block rule for the sender domain and file hash in the Settings > Indicators.
Why this is correct
This comprehensive approach uses advanced hunting for investigation and indicators for blocking.
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
Explorer shows email details but not sandbox detonation; quarantine is for quarantining, not blocking.
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 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
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.
- →
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
Related SC-200 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Manage a security operations environment practice questions
Practise SC-200 questions linked to Manage a security operations environment.
Respond to security incidents practice questions
Practise SC-200 questions linked to Respond to security incidents.
Perform threat hunting practice questions
Practise SC-200 questions linked to Perform threat hunting.
Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender XDR practice questions
Practise SC-200 questions linked to Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender XDR.
Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender for Cloud practice questions
Practise SC-200 questions linked to Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender for Cloud.
Mitigate threats using Microsoft Sentinel practice questions
Practise SC-200 questions linked to Mitigate threats using Microsoft Sentinel.
SC-200 fundamentals practice questions
Practise SC-200 questions linked to SC-200 fundamentals.
SC-200 scenario practice questions
Practise SC-200 questions linked to SC-200 scenario.
SC-200 troubleshooting practice questions
Practise SC-200 questions linked to SC-200 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free SC-200 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SC-200 question test?
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: Use Advanced hunting to query EmailEvents for the message ID to find other recipients, then query EmailAttachmentInfo to get the attachment hash. Use the sandbox data in EmailUrlInfo to check detonation. Then create an indicator block rule for the sender domain and file hash in the Settings > Indicators. — The correct answer is Option D. Advanced hunting in Microsoft 365 Defender allows querying EmailEvents with the message ID to find other recipients and EmailAttachmentInfo to obtain the attachment hash. Sandbox detonation can be checked via EmailUrlInfo or similar tables. Then, creating indicator block rules under Settings > Indicators provides a centralized way to block the sender domain and file hash across the organization. Options A, B, and C are incorrect because they rely on separate tools (Exchange admin center, Quarantine, manual PowerShell) or do not fully utilize Defender XDR's integrated hunting and response capabilities.
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 →
Keep practising
More SC-200 practice questions
- Which TWO are valid sources of evidence in a Microsoft Sentinel incident? (Choose two.)
- An organization uses Microsoft 365 Defender. During an incident, the analyst wants to automatically isolate a compromise…
- Which THREE steps are part of the incident response process when using Microsoft Sentinel?
- Refer to the exhibit. You are reviewing a Microsoft Sentinel scheduled analytics rule configured as above. An incident w…
- A security analyst is preparing to use a Jupyter notebook for threat hunting in Microsoft Sentinel. Which of the followi…
- You are investigating a ransomware incident in Microsoft Sentinel. The incident contains multiple alerts. You need to gr…
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.