The correct answers are analyzing NTLM authentication events for pass-the-hash and investigating anomalous remote desktop protocol connections. These two techniques are effective for identifying lateral movement because pass-the-hash attacks allow an adversary to reuse stolen credential hashes to authenticate to other machines, which appears as abnormal NTLM logon events, while anomalous RDP connections often signal an attacker moving laterally across the network using compromised accounts. On the SC-200 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish lateral movement detection from other phases of the attack chain, such as initial access or exfiltration; a common trap is confusing pass-the-hash with credential dumping or mistaking RDP anomalies for reconnaissance. Remember the memory tip: “Hash hops and RDP drops” — if you see unusual NTLM logon patterns or unexpected RDP sessions, think lateral movement first.
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 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 A is correct because anomalous RDP connections can indicate lateral movement. Option B is correct because pass-the-hash can be detected via logon events. Option C is wrong because it is about initial access. Option D is wrong because it is about data exfiltration. Option E is wrong because it is not a lateral movement technique.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this SC-200 question in full detail.
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.
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 A is correct because anomalous RDP connections can indicate lateral movement. Option B is correct because pass-the-hash can be detected via logon events. Option C is wrong because it is about initial access. Option D is wrong because it is about data exfiltration. Option E is wrong because it is not a lateral movement technique.
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.
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Question Discussion
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