Quick Answer
The investigation graph is the correct choice because it provides a visual, interactive timeline of related alerts, entities, and activities, allowing you to trace the path of a potential lateral movement from initial access to the compromised endpoint. This feature maps out connections between users, devices, and alerts in a single view, making it ideal for reconstructing an attack sequence detected by Microsoft Defender for Identity. On the SC-200 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between investigation tools and automation or reporting features—a common trap is confusing the investigation graph with workbooks, which are for static reporting, or with analytics rules, which generate alerts but do not visualize incident timelines. Remember that the investigation graph is your go-to for dynamic, entity-based attack reconstruction, while automation rules handle response actions. A quick memory tip: think "graph for the path, workbook for the stats."
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.
Your organization uses Microsoft Sentinel. You receive an incident that involves a potential lateral movement detected by Microsoft Defender for Identity. You need to investigate the timeline of the attack. Which Microsoft Sentinel feature should you use?
Workbooks
Why wrong: For reporting, not investigation.
Automation rules
Why wrong: Trigger playbooks.
Investigation graph
Visual timeline for investigation.
Analytics rules
Why wrong: Generate alerts.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Investigation graph
Option C is correct because the investigation graph in Sentinel provides a visual timeline of related alerts and entities. Option A is wrong because workbooks are for reporting, not investigation. Option B is wrong because analytics rules generate alerts, not investigate. Option D is wrong because automation rules trigger playbooks, not investigation.
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.
Workbooks
Why it's wrong here
For reporting, not investigation.
Automation rules
Why it's wrong here
Trigger playbooks.
Investigation graph
Why this is correct
Visual timeline for investigation.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Analytics rules
Why it's wrong here
Generate alerts.
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 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
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
Respond to security incidents — This question tests Respond to security incidents — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Investigation graph — Option C is correct because the investigation graph in Sentinel provides a visual timeline of related alerts and entities. Option A is wrong because workbooks are for reporting, not investigation. Option B is wrong because analytics rules generate alerts, not investigate. Option D is wrong because automation rules trigger playbooks, not investigation.
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.
About these practice questions
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Same concept, more angles
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. Your organization uses Microsoft Sentinel. You are responsible for responding to incidents. A new 'MFA Denied' incident is created from Microsoft Entra ID sign-in logs, indicating that a user in your organization had multiple MFA denials from a suspicious IP address (203.0.113.5). The user is a sales representative who frequently travels. The incident severity is Medium. The incident contains entities: user 'jsmith@contoso.com', IP address 203.0.113.5, and a device running Windows 11. You need to investigate and determine if this is a true positive. The user is currently on a business trip in Europe, but the sign-in attempts originated from an IP address in a different region. What should you do first?
mediumWhy B: Option B is correct because verifying with the user if they attempted to sign in is the fastest way to confirm if the MFA denials were legitimate. Option A is wrong because changing the password prematurely may lock out the user without confirmation. Option C is wrong because containing the device may disrupt the user's work. Option D is wrong because blocking the IP may be premature if the user's IP changes frequently.
Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
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