SC-200 Respond to security incidents Practice Question
This SC-200 practice question tests your understanding of respond to security incidents. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
```kusto
DeviceProcessEvents
| where Timestamp > ago(1h)
| where FileName == "powershell.exe"
| where ProcessCommandLine contains "-enc"
| project DeviceName, AccountName, ProcessCommandLine
| take 10
```
Refer to the exhibit. A security analyst runs the KQL query in Microsoft Defender XDR to find devices running encoded PowerShell commands in the last hour. The query returns results showing a device named 'DESKTOP-123' with account 'jdoe'. The analyst suspects malicious activity. Which immediate next step should the analyst take?
Refer to the exhibit.
```kusto
DeviceProcessEvents
| where Timestamp > ago(1h)
| where FileName == "powershell.exe"
| where ProcessCommandLine contains "-enc"
| project DeviceName, AccountName, ProcessCommandLine
| take 10
```
A
Delete the query because it returned results
Why wrong: The query is useful; deleting it is counterproductive.
B
Modify the query to increase the time range to 24 hours
Why wrong: Increasing time range is not an immediate investigative step.
C
Click on the result to open the full device timeline and analyze the process tree
Investigating the timeline provides context on parent processes and related events.
D
Isolate the device 'DESKTOP-123' from the network
Why wrong: Isolation should occur after confirming malicious intent.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Click on the result to open the full device timeline and analyze the process tree
Option B is correct because the analyst should investigate the device further to understand the context of the encoded command. Option A is wrong because isolating without investigation may be premature. Option C is wrong because changing the threshold does not help with this specific incident. Option D is wrong because the query is valid and has already run.
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.
✗
Delete the query because it returned results
Why it's wrong here
The query is useful; deleting it is counterproductive.
✗
Modify the query to increase the time range to 24 hours
Why it's wrong here
Increasing time range is not an immediate investigative step.
✓
Click on the result to open the full device timeline and analyze the process tree
Why this is correct
Investigating the timeline provides context on parent processes and related events.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Isolate the device 'DESKTOP-123' from the network
Why it's wrong here
Isolation should occur after confirming malicious intent.
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 healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
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.
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: Click on the result to open the full device timeline and analyze the process tree — Option B is correct because the analyst should investigate the device further to understand the context of the encoded command. Option A is wrong because isolating without investigation may be premature. Option C is wrong because changing the threshold does not help with this specific incident. Option D is wrong because the query is valid and has already run.
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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