- A
Use Microsoft Defender for Endpoint to 'contain device' from the device inventory.
Why wrong: 'Contain device' restricts network communication but does not allow forensic collection and may not preserve all data.
- B
Disable the user account in Microsoft Entra ID.
Why wrong: Disabling the user account does not isolate the device; the device may still be used by another user or for lateral movement.
- C
Initiate a live response session on the device and run the 'isolate device' command.
Live response allows forensic collection and isolation, preserving evidence while containing the threat.
- D
Reset the user's password and enforce sign-out.
Why wrong: Resetting the password does not isolate the device; the device may still be compromised.
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 security analyst receives an alert in Microsoft Defender XDR indicating a possible credential theft attempt from an external IP. The analyst wants to isolate the affected device immediately while preserving forensic data. What should the analyst do?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"immediately / without restart"Why it matters: Time or reboot constraint — the correct answer must take effect right away without requiring a reboot or reload.
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
Initiate a live response session on the device and run the 'isolate device' command.
Option C is correct because initiating a live response session and running the 'isolate device' command in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint immediately disconnects the device from the network (both internal and external) while preserving forensic data on the endpoint. This action stops the ongoing credential theft attempt without destroying volatile evidence, which is critical for subsequent investigation.
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 Microsoft Defender for Endpoint to 'contain device' from the device inventory.
Why it's wrong here
'Contain device' restricts network communication but does not allow forensic collection and may not preserve all data.
- ✗
Disable the user account in Microsoft Entra ID.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling the user account does not isolate the device; the device may still be used by another user or for lateral movement.
- ✓
Initiate a live response session on the device and run the 'isolate device' command.
Why this is correct
Live response allows forensic collection and isolation, preserving evidence while containing the threat.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "immediately / without restart" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Reset the user's password and enforce sign-out.
Why it's wrong here
Resetting the password does not isolate the device; the device may still be compromised.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse 'contain device' (which only restricts communication with other managed devices) with full network isolation, leading them to choose Option A instead of the correct live response isolation command.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The 'isolate device' command in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint leverages a network isolation policy that blocks all inbound and outbound traffic except for communication with the Defender for Endpoint cloud service, ensuring the device remains manageable for remediation. Under the hood, this is achieved by applying a Windows Filtering Platform (WFP) callout driver that drops all packets not destined for the isolation whitelist, effectively quarantining the device while keeping the forensic artifacts (e.g., memory dumps, event logs) intact for analysis.
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.
TExam Day Tips
- 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 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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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: Initiate a live response session on the device and run the 'isolate device' command. — Option C is correct because initiating a live response session and running the 'isolate device' command in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint immediately disconnects the device from the network (both internal and external) while preserving forensic data on the endpoint. This action stops the ongoing credential theft attempt without destroying volatile evidence, which is critical for subsequent investigation.
What should I do if I get this SC-200 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "immediately / without restart". Time or reboot constraint — the correct answer must take effect right away without requiring a reboot or reload.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 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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