- A
project SourceIp, DestinationIp
Why wrong: Incorrect. `project` selects columns but does not aggregate data.
- B
extend Count = 1
Why wrong: Incorrect. `extend` adds a computed column but does not perform grouping or counting.
- C
summarize count() by SourceIp, DestinationIp
Correct. `summarize count() by SourceIp, DestinationIp` groups by IP pairs and counts connections.
- D
join kind=inner (Syslog)
Why wrong: Incorrect. `join` merges tables; it does not count occurrences.
Question 1,564 of 1,639
SC-200 summarize Practice Question
This SC-200 practice question tests your understanding of perform threat hunting. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. A key principle to apply: summarize. 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 threat hunter using Microsoft Sentinel. You have ingested syslog data from a Palo Alto firewall. You want to create a scheduled query rule that alerts when more than 10 outbound connections to a known bad IP address occur within 5 minutes. Which KQL function should you use to summarize the count?
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
✓
summarize count() by SourceIp, DestinationIp
Option C is correct because `summarize count() by SourceIp, DestinationIp` groups the data by the source and destination IP addresses and counts the number of occurrences in each group, which is exactly what we need to alert when more than 10 outbound connections to a known bad IP occur within 5 minutes. Option A is wrong because `project` selects columns without performing any aggregation; it merely filters the columns returned. Option B is wrong because `extend` adds a new column (here a constant 1) but does not count or group data. Option D is wrong because `join` merges two tables based on a key, not used for counting occurrences within a single table.
Key principle: summarize
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
project SourceIp, DestinationIp
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. `project` selects columns but does not aggregate data.
- ✗
extend Count = 1
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. `extend` adds a computed column but does not perform grouping or counting.
- ✓
summarize count() by SourceIp, DestinationIp
Why this is correct
Correct. `summarize count() by SourceIp, DestinationIp` groups by IP pairs and counts connections.
Related concept
summarize
- ✗
join kind=inner (Syslog)
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. `join` merges tables; it does not count occurrences.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Candidates may confuse `summarize` with `project` or `extend`, thinking that selecting or adding columns is sufficient for counting.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Treat this as a scenario question. Identify the problem, the constraint, and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- summarize
- count()
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
summarize
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.
Review summarize, then practise related SC-200 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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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 — summarize.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: summarize count() by SourceIp, DestinationIp — Option C is correct because `summarize count() by SourceIp, DestinationIp` groups the data by the source and destination IP addresses and counts the number of occurrences in each group, which is exactly what we need to alert when more than 10 outbound connections to a known bad IP occur within 5 minutes. Option A is wrong because `project` selects columns without performing any aggregation; it merely filters the columns returned. Option B is wrong because `extend` adds a new column (here a constant 1) but does not count or group data. Option D is wrong because `join` merges two tables based on a key, not used for counting occurrences within a single table.
What should I do if I get this SC-200 question wrong?
Review summarize, then practise related SC-200 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
summarize
About these practice questions
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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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