The correct answer is to find users who have signed in more than 5 times from a single IP to an app, and correlate with any user risk events. This is because the KQL query first aggregates sign-in logs by user, IP, and application, filtering for counts exceeding five, then performs a join with the AADUserRiskEvents table to surface only those users who also have associated risk detections. On the SC-200 exam, this tests your ability to interpret multi-step KQL queries that combine behavioral thresholds with identity risk data—a common pattern in threat hunting campaigns. A frequent trap is confusing the sign-in count threshold with a risk score filter; the query here uses a count of sign-ins, not a numeric risk level. Remember the mnemonic “Count then Correlate”: first count high-frequency sign-ins, then correlate with risk events to pinpoint truly risky users.
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.
Exhibit
{
"huntQuery": "let threshold = 5;\nSigninLogs\n| where TimeGenerated > ago(7d)\n| summarize SigninCount = count() by UserPrincipalName, IPAddress, AppDisplayName\n| where SigninCount > threshold\n| join kind=leftouter (\n AADUserRiskEvents\n | where TimeGenerated > ago(7d)\n | summarize RiskCount = count() by UserPrincipalName\n) on UserPrincipalName\n| project UserPrincipalName, IPAddress, AppDisplayName, SigninCount, RiskCount\n| order by SigninCount desc\n"}
Refer to the exhibit. You are reviewing a KQL query used in a threat hunting campaign. What is the primary purpose of this query?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
To find users who have signed in more than 5 times from a single IP to an app, and correlate with any user risk events.
Option A is correct because the query identifies users with high sign-in counts from specific IPs and apps, and joins with risk events to correlate with known risky users. Option B is wrong because it doesn't filter only risky users. Option C is wrong because it aggregates by user, not unique IPs. Option D is wrong because it compares signin count to a threshold, not risk score.
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.
✗
To identify the top 5 most frequently used IP addresses by each user.
Why it's wrong here
The query aggregates by user and IP, but does not rank by IP frequency per user.
✓
To find users who have signed in more than 5 times from a single IP to an app, and correlate with any user risk events.
Why this is correct
The query counts sign-ins per user/IP/app and joins with risk events to show risk count.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
To calculate the average risk score for users with high sign-in activity.
Why it's wrong here
The query counts risk events, not risk scores.
✗
To list all sign-ins from IP addresses that have been associated with risk events.
Why it's wrong here
The query includes all IPs, not only those with risk events.
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.
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: To find users who have signed in more than 5 times from a single IP to an app, and correlate with any user risk events. — Option A is correct because the query identifies users with high sign-in counts from specific IPs and apps, and joins with risk events to correlate with known risky users. Option B is wrong because it doesn't filter only risky users. Option C is wrong because it aggregates by user, not unique IPs. Option D is wrong because it compares signin count to a threshold, not risk score.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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