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
// KQL query in Microsoft Sentinel
let threshold = 10;
let timeframe = 1h;
SigninLogs
| where TimeGenerated > ago(timeframe)
| where ResultType == "50057" // User account disabled
| summarize Count = count() by UserPrincipalName, IPAddress
| where Count > threshold
| join kind=inner (IdentityInfo | project UserPrincipalName, AccountEnabled) on UserPrincipalName
| where AccountEnabled == false
```
The KQL query above is used in a Microsoft Sentinel analytics rule. What is the purpose of this rule?
Refer to the exhibit.
```kusto
// KQL query in Microsoft Sentinel
let threshold = 10;
let timeframe = 1h;
SigninLogs
| where TimeGenerated > ago(timeframe)
| where ResultType == "50057" // User account disabled
| summarize Count = count() by UserPrincipalName, IPAddress
| where Count > threshold
| join kind=inner (IdentityInfo | project UserPrincipalName, AccountEnabled) on UserPrincipalName
| where AccountEnabled == false
```
A
Detect when a disabled user account attempts to sign in.
Why wrong: It detects sign-in attempts to disabled accounts, but more specifically, it focuses on high frequency from the same IP, indicating an attack.
B
Identify users who have been disabled due to inactivity.
Why wrong: The query does not consider inactivity; it focuses on sign-in attempts.
C
Detect brute force attempts against disabled user accounts.
The threshold on count per IP and the condition on disabled accounts makes this a brute force detection for disabled accounts.
D
Monitor sign-in attempts from suspicious IP addresses.
Why wrong: While it uses IP addresses, the main focus is on disabled accounts.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Detect brute force attempts against disabled user accounts.
The query looks for sign-in failures (ResultType 50057) for disabled accounts (AccountEnabled == false) from the same IP exceeding a threshold. This indicates potential brute force attacks against disabled accounts, which could be a sign of reconnaissance or credential stuffing.
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.
✗
Detect when a disabled user account attempts to sign in.
Why it's wrong here
It detects sign-in attempts to disabled accounts, but more specifically, it focuses on high frequency from the same IP, indicating an attack.
✗
Identify users who have been disabled due to inactivity.
Why it's wrong here
The query does not consider inactivity; it focuses on sign-in attempts.
✓
Detect brute force attempts against disabled user accounts.
Why this is correct
The threshold on count per IP and the condition on disabled accounts makes this a brute force detection for disabled accounts.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Monitor sign-in attempts from suspicious IP addresses.
Why it's wrong here
While it uses IP addresses, the main focus is on disabled accounts.
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.
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: Detect brute force attempts against disabled user accounts. — The query looks for sign-in failures (ResultType 50057) for disabled accounts (AccountEnabled == false) from the same IP exceeding a threshold. This indicates potential brute force attacks against disabled accounts, which could be a sign of reconnaissance or credential stuffing.
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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