The correct action is to add additional filters to the query to exclude known benign activity. This directly reduces false positives in threat hunting by narrowing the dataset to only suspicious events, removing noise from routine or authorized actions that match the query’s initial pattern. On the Microsoft Security Operations Analyst SC-200 exam, this concept tests your ability to refine KQL queries in Microsoft Sentinel, often appearing as a scenario where a hunt returns too many results. A common trap is choosing to expand the time range, which would increase false positives, or creating an alert rule prematurely. Remember the memory tip: “Filter out the noise, don’t widen the scope”—tuning conditions is about exclusion, not expansion.
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.
During a threat hunt in Microsoft Sentinel, you find a query that returns a high number of false positives. Which action should you take to refine the hunt?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Add additional filters to the query to exclude known benign activity
Option C is correct because tuning the query by adding more conditions reduces false positives. Option A is wrong because increasing the time range would likely increase false positives. Option B is wrong because removing columns does not affect false positives. Option D is wrong because creating an alert rule is for ongoing detection, not for refining the hunt.
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.
✗
Increase the query time range to gather more data
Why it's wrong here
This would likely increase false positives, not reduce them.
✗
Create a scheduled alert rule based on the query
Why it's wrong here
Alert rules are for detection, not for refining a hunt query.
✗
Remove columns from the result set to simplify analysis
Why it's wrong here
Removing columns does not change the underlying data returned, so false positives remain.
✓
Add additional filters to the query to exclude known benign activity
Why this is correct
Adding filters helps narrow results to only suspicious activity.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
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: Add additional filters to the query to exclude known benign activity — Option C is correct because tuning the query by adding more conditions reduces false positives. Option A is wrong because increasing the time range would likely increase false positives. Option B is wrong because removing columns does not affect false positives. Option D is wrong because creating an alert rule is for ongoing detection, not for refining the hunt.
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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