- A
Create a new analytics rule to detect similar behavior.
Why wrong: This is a detection improvement, not an immediate containment or investigation step.
- B
Initiate a live response session to collect forensic artifacts.
Live response allows collection of evidence for deeper analysis.
- C
Review the incident timeline in Microsoft 365 Defender.
The timeline provides a chronological view of events.
- D
Reset the password of the account that showed anomalous behavior.
Why wrong: Not the immediate containment step; focus on isolating the server.
- E
Isolate the server from the network using Microsoft Defender for Endpoint.
Isolation contains the breach and prevents lateral movement.
SC-200 Respond to security incidents Practice Question
This SC-200 practice question tests your understanding of respond to security incidents. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
Your organization uses Microsoft Sentinel and has configured analytics rules for detecting ransomware. You receive an alert indicating possible ransomware activity on a server. Which THREE actions should you take to contain and investigate the incident? (Choose three.)
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 to collect forensic artifacts.
The correct actions to contain and investigate the incident are B, C, and E. Isolating the server (E) prevents further spread of ransomware. Reviewing the incident timeline in Microsoft 365 Defender (C) helps understand the attack sequence and affected assets. Initiating a live response session (B) allows collection of forensic artifacts for deeper investigation. Option A (create a new analytics rule) is for improving future detection, not for immediate containment. Option D (resetting the password) may be necessary later but is not a primary containment step and may not be sufficient if the attacker has local access.
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.
- ✗
Create a new analytics rule to detect similar behavior.
Why it's wrong here
This is a detection improvement, not an immediate containment or investigation step.
- ✓
Initiate a live response session to collect forensic artifacts.
Why this is correct
Live response allows collection of evidence for deeper analysis.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Review the incident timeline in Microsoft 365 Defender.
Why this is correct
The timeline provides a chronological view of events.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Reset the password of the account that showed anomalous behavior.
Why it's wrong here
Not the immediate containment step; focus on isolating the server.
- ✓
Isolate the server from the network using Microsoft Defender for Endpoint.
Why this is correct
Isolation contains the breach and prevents lateral movement.
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 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.
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?
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 to collect forensic artifacts. — The correct actions to contain and investigate the incident are B, C, and E. Isolating the server (E) prevents further spread of ransomware. Reviewing the incident timeline in Microsoft 365 Defender (C) helps understand the attack sequence and affected assets. Initiating a live response session (B) allows collection of forensic artifacts for deeper investigation. Option A (create a new analytics rule) is for improving future detection, not for immediate containment. Option D (resetting the password) may be necessary later but is not a primary containment step and may not be sufficient if the attacker has local access.
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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