Question 797 of 1,639
Perform threat huntingmediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The answer is Option A, which joins DeviceProcessEvents with DeviceEvents for both SeDebugPrivilegeEnabled and LsassAccess actions. This query is correct because it captures the full chain of privilege escalation: first identifying processes like procexp.exe or powershell.exe that have enabled SeDebugPrivilege, then correlating those same devices with Event ID 10 for LSASS access. On the SC-200 exam, this tests your ability to chain multiple hunting tables to detect lateral movement or credential dumping, a common trap being that candidates stop after finding only the privilege enablement or only the LSASS access. The key insight is that SeDebugPrivilege alone is not malicious—it’s the combination of enabling that privilege and then targeting LSASS that signals abuse. For a memory tip, think “Debug + Dump = Danger”: you need both the privilege toggle and the memory access to confirm the hunt.

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.

You are a security analyst at Wingtip Toys using Microsoft Defender XDR. You are hunting for signs of privilege escalation via the SeDebugPrivilege abuse. You want to find processes that have enabled SeDebugPrivilege and then accessed LSASS (Event ID 10). You have DeviceProcessEvents and DeviceEvents tables available. Which advanced hunting query would best identify this pattern?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

  • Clue: "best"

    Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.

Question 1mediummultiple choice
Read the full NAT/PAT explanation →

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

DeviceProcessEvents | where FileName in ('procexp.exe', 'procmon.exe', 'cmd.exe', 'powershell.exe') | join kind=inner (DeviceEvents | where ActionType == 'SeDebugPrivilegeEnabled') on DeviceId | join kind=inner (DeviceEvents | where ActionType == 'LsassAccess') on DeviceId

Option A is correct because it joins process creation with privilege enablement and LSASS access. Option B is wrong because it only checks privilege enablement. Option C is wrong because it only checks LSASS access. Option D is wrong because it filters by process name, missing other processes.

Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

  • DeviceProcessEvents | where FileName == 'lsass.exe'

    Why it's wrong here

    LSASS is a system process; this does not show who accessed it.

  • DeviceEvents | where ActionType == 'LsassAccess' | summarize by DeviceId

    Why it's wrong here

    Only shows LSASS access, not the enabling of privilege.

  • DeviceEvents | where ActionType == 'SeDebugPrivilegeEnabled' | project DeviceId

    Why it's wrong here

    Only shows which devices had the privilege enabled, not the full chain.

  • DeviceProcessEvents | where FileName in ('procexp.exe', 'procmon.exe', 'cmd.exe', 'powershell.exe') | join kind=inner (DeviceEvents | where ActionType == 'SeDebugPrivilegeEnabled') on DeviceId | join kind=inner (DeviceEvents | where ActionType == 'LsassAccess') on DeviceId

    Why this is correct

    This correlates process execution with privilege enablement and LSASS access.

    Clue confirmation

    The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.

    Related concept

    Authentication checks who the user is.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization

Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.

Trap categories for this question

  • Command / output trap

    LSASS is a system process; this does not show who accessed it.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.

KKey Concepts to Remember

  • Authentication checks who the user is.
  • Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
  • Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
  • AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.

TExam Day Tips

  • Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
  • Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
  • Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.

Key takeaway

Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.

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.

Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related SC-200 questions on access control and AAA configuration.

Related practice questions

Related SC-200 practice-question pages

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this SC-200 question test?

Perform threat hunting — This question tests Perform threat hunting — Authentication checks who the user is..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: DeviceProcessEvents | where FileName in ('procexp.exe', 'procmon.exe', 'cmd.exe', 'powershell.exe') | join kind=inner (DeviceEvents | where ActionType == 'SeDebugPrivilegeEnabled') on DeviceId | join kind=inner (DeviceEvents | where ActionType == 'LsassAccess') on DeviceId — Option A is correct because it joins process creation with privilege enablement and LSASS access. Option B is wrong because it only checks privilege enablement. Option C is wrong because it only checks LSASS access. Option D is wrong because it filters by process name, missing other processes.

What should I do if I get this SC-200 question wrong?

Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related SC-200 questions on access control and AAA configuration.

Are there clue words in this question I should notice?

Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Authentication checks who the user is.

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Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026

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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.