- A
SigninLogs | where ResultType != 0 | summarize FailedAttempts = count() by IPAddress | where FailedAttempts > 10
Why wrong: Summarizes failed attempts by IP but does not require multiple distinct users, so it may include single-user brute-force or simple misconfigurations.
- B
SigninLogs | where ResultType !in ('0', '50125') | summarize FailedAttempts = count(), DistinctUsers = dcount(UserPrincipalName) by IPAddress | where FailedAttempts > 10 and DistinctUsers > 5 | order by FailedAttempts desc
Correctly identifies IPs with many failed attempts across multiple distinct users, which matches the threat hunt criteria.
- C
SigninLogs | where ResultType != 0 | top 10 by IPAddress
Why wrong: Only returns the top 10 IPs by some unspecified criteria and does not aggregate failures, so it misses the required pattern.
- D
SigninLogs | where ResultType == 0 | summarize SuccessAttempts = count() by IPAddress | order by SuccessAttempts desc
Why wrong: Counts successful sign-ins, not failures, which is irrelevant for detecting brute-force attacks.
SC-200 KQL (Kusto Query Language) Practice Question
This SC-200 practice question tests your understanding of perform threat hunting. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. A key principle to apply: kQL (Kusto Query Language). 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 security analyst at Wingtip Toys, a small business with 500 users. You have Microsoft 365 Business Premium licenses and Microsoft Sentinel deployed. You are conducting a threat hunt for signs of brute-force attacks against your Azure AD tenant. You want to identify IP addresses that have attempted multiple failed sign-ins across different user accounts within a short time window. You have access to the SigninLogs table in Microsoft Sentinel. Which KQL query should you use?
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
SigninLogs | where ResultType !in ('0', '50125') | summarize FailedAttempts = count(), DistinctUsers = dcount(UserPrincipalName) by IPAddress | where FailedAttempts > 10 and DistinctUsers > 5 | order by FailedAttempts desc
Option B is correct because it filters for failed sign-ins (ResultType != 0 and excluding specific error codes that are not failures), then groups by IPAddress to count total failed attempts and distinct user accounts. The where clause then selects IPs with more than 10 failed attempts and more than 5 distinct users, which is a strong indicator of a brute-force attack across multiple accounts. Options A, C, and D are incorrect: A counts all failures by IP but does not require multiple users; C only returns the top 10 IPs without aggregation; D counts successful sign-ins, not failures.
Key principle: KQL (Kusto Query Language)
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
SigninLogs | where ResultType != 0 | summarize FailedAttempts = count() by IPAddress | where FailedAttempts > 10
Why it's wrong here
Summarizes failed attempts by IP but does not require multiple distinct users, so it may include single-user brute-force or simple misconfigurations.
- ✓
SigninLogs | where ResultType !in ('0', '50125') | summarize FailedAttempts = count(), DistinctUsers = dcount(UserPrincipalName) by IPAddress | where FailedAttempts > 10 and DistinctUsers > 5 | order by FailedAttempts desc
Why this is correct
Correctly identifies IPs with many failed attempts across multiple distinct users, which matches the threat hunt criteria.
Related concept
KQL (Kusto Query Language)
- ✗
SigninLogs | where ResultType != 0 | top 10 by IPAddress
Why it's wrong here
Only returns the top 10 IPs by some unspecified criteria and does not aggregate failures, so it misses the required pattern.
- ✗
SigninLogs | where ResultType == 0 | summarize SuccessAttempts = count() by IPAddress | order by SuccessAttempts desc
Why it's wrong here
Counts successful sign-ins, not failures, which is irrelevant for detecting brute-force attacks.
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
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
- KQL (Kusto Query Language)
- SigninLogs
- Brute-force detection
- dcount()
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
KQL (Kusto Query Language)
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review kQL (Kusto Query Language), then practise related SC-200 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
- →
Perform threat hunting — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Perform threat hunting practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All SC-200 questions
1,639 questions across all exam domains
- →
Microsoft Security Operations Analyst SC-200 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
SC-200 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related SC-200 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Manage a security operations environment practice questions
Practise SC-200 questions linked to Manage a security operations environment.
Respond to security incidents practice questions
Practise SC-200 questions linked to Respond to security incidents.
Perform threat hunting practice questions
Practise SC-200 questions linked to Perform threat hunting.
Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender XDR practice questions
Practise SC-200 questions linked to Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender XDR.
Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender for Cloud practice questions
Practise SC-200 questions linked to Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender for Cloud.
Mitigate threats using Microsoft Sentinel practice questions
Practise SC-200 questions linked to Mitigate threats using Microsoft Sentinel.
SC-200 fundamentals practice questions
Practise SC-200 questions linked to SC-200 fundamentals.
SC-200 scenario practice questions
Practise SC-200 questions linked to SC-200 scenario.
SC-200 troubleshooting practice questions
Practise SC-200 questions linked to SC-200 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free SC-200 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SC-200 question test?
Perform threat hunting — This question tests Perform threat hunting — KQL (Kusto Query Language).
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: SigninLogs | where ResultType !in ('0', '50125') | summarize FailedAttempts = count(), DistinctUsers = dcount(UserPrincipalName) by IPAddress | where FailedAttempts > 10 and DistinctUsers > 5 | order by FailedAttempts desc — Option B is correct because it filters for failed sign-ins (ResultType != 0 and excluding specific error codes that are not failures), then groups by IPAddress to count total failed attempts and distinct user accounts. The where clause then selects IPs with more than 10 failed attempts and more than 5 distinct users, which is a strong indicator of a brute-force attack across multiple accounts. Options A, C, and D are incorrect: A counts all failures by IP but does not require multiple users; C only returns the top 10 IPs without aggregation; D counts successful sign-ins, not failures.
What should I do if I get this SC-200 question wrong?
Review kQL (Kusto Query Language), then practise related SC-200 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
KQL (Kusto Query Language)
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 →
Keep practising
More SC-200 practice questions
- Which TWO are valid sources of evidence in a Microsoft Sentinel incident? (Choose two.)
- An organization uses Microsoft 365 Defender. During an incident, the analyst wants to automatically isolate a compromise…
- Which THREE steps are part of the incident response process when using Microsoft Sentinel?
- Refer to the exhibit. You are reviewing a Microsoft Sentinel scheduled analytics rule configured as above. An incident w…
- A security analyst is preparing to use a Jupyter notebook for threat hunting in Microsoft Sentinel. Which of the followi…
- You are investigating a ransomware incident in Microsoft Sentinel. The incident contains multiple alerts. You need to gr…
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.