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 "-EncodedCommand"
| project Timestamp, DeviceName, ProcessCommandLine
```
Refer to the exhibit. You run this KQL query in Microsoft Defender XDR to detect suspicious PowerShell activity. Why might this query generate many false positives?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Legitimate administrators often use encoded PowerShell commands.
Option D is correct because legitimate administrative scripts often use encoded commands. Option A is wrong because the query is specific. Option B is wrong because the time range is narrow. Option C is wrong because the query does not filter by user.
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.
✗
The time range is too broad.
Why it's wrong here
One hour is a reasonable window.
✗
The query is too specific and misses many attacks.
Why it's wrong here
It is not too specific; it catches encoded commands.
✓
Legitimate administrators often use encoded PowerShell commands.
Why this is correct
Encoded commands are used by both attackers and admins, leading to false positives.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The query does not filter by user.
Why it's wrong here
User filter would reduce volume but not necessarily false positives.
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.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
It is not too specific; it catches encoded commands.
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.
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: Legitimate administrators often use encoded PowerShell commands. — Option D is correct because legitimate administrative scripts often use encoded commands. Option A is wrong because the query is specific. Option B is wrong because the time range is narrow. Option C is wrong because the query does not filter by user.
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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