- A
Check for successful logons from public IP addresses
Why wrong: Successful logons from public IPs may indicate external compromise, not lateral movement.
- B
Look for large file uploads to cloud storage
Why wrong: Large uploads indicate data exfiltration, not lateral movement.
- C
Search for remote desktop connections from non-administrative workstations
Unexpected RDP connections from workstations can indicate lateral movement.
- D
Monitor for phishing emails
Why wrong: Phishing is initial access, not lateral movement.
- E
Analyze NTLM authentication events for pass-the-hash
Pass-the-hash is a common lateral movement technique detectable via NTLM events.
Question 977 of 1,639
SC-200 Perform threat hunting 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. 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.
Which TWO of the following are effective techniques for identifying lateral movement in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint advanced hunting? (Choose two.)
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
✓
Search for remote desktop connections from non-administrative workstations
Option C is correct because remote desktop connections from non-administrative workstations can be a sign of lateral movement, as attackers often use RDP to move laterally. Option E is correct because NTLM authentication events can reveal pass-the-hash attacks, a common lateral movement technique. Option A is incorrect because successful logons from public IP addresses are more indicative of external intrusion or initial access, not lateral movement within the network. Option B is incorrect because large file uploads to cloud storage are typically associated with data exfiltration. Option D is incorrect because phishing emails are a method of initial access, not lateral movement.
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.
- ✗
Check for successful logons from public IP addresses
Why it's wrong here
Successful logons from public IPs may indicate external compromise, not lateral movement.
- ✗
Look for large file uploads to cloud storage
Why it's wrong here
Large uploads indicate data exfiltration, not lateral movement.
- ✓
Search for remote desktop connections from non-administrative workstations
Why this is correct
Unexpected RDP connections from workstations can indicate lateral movement.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Monitor for phishing emails
Why it's wrong here
Phishing is initial access, not lateral movement.
- ✓
Analyze NTLM authentication events for pass-the-hash
Why this is correct
Pass-the-hash is a common lateral movement technique detectable via NTLM events.
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.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
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.
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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 — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Search for remote desktop connections from non-administrative workstations — Option C is correct because remote desktop connections from non-administrative workstations can be a sign of lateral movement, as attackers often use RDP to move laterally. Option E is correct because NTLM authentication events can reveal pass-the-hash attacks, a common lateral movement technique. Option A is incorrect because successful logons from public IP addresses are more indicative of external intrusion or initial access, not lateral movement within the network. Option B is incorrect because large file uploads to cloud storage are typically associated with data exfiltration. Option D is incorrect because phishing emails are a method of initial access, not lateral movement.
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 →
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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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