The answer is to add an exclusion for known administrative jump boxes. This is correct because pass-the-hash detection rules in Microsoft Sentinel often flag NTLM authentication from remote desktop connections, but legitimate jump boxes used by administrators for secure access will repeatedly trigger false positives if not explicitly excluded. By tuning the rule to exclude these trusted hosts—typically by adding a condition that filters out specific source IPs or computer names—you preserve detection of actual pass-the-hash attacks while silencing noise from authorized activity. On the SC-200 exam, this scenario tests your ability to balance security monitoring with operational practicality, as Microsoft emphasizes that detection rules must be tuned to reduce alert fatigue without weakening coverage. A common trap is to change the logon type to 10 (remote interactive), which would exclude all legitimate RDP connections, or to remove the NTLM filter entirely, which would flood you with false positives. Remember the mnemonic: “Jump boxes get a pass, not the attack.”
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
Refer to the exhibit.
```json
{
"displayName": "Hunt for Pass-the-Hash",
"description": "Detects possible PtH using Event ID 4624 with logon type 9 and NTLM authentication.",
"tactics": ["LateralMovement"],
"techniques": ["T1550.002"],
"query": "SecurityEvent\n| where EventID == 4624\n| where LogonType == 9\n| where AuthenticationPackage == 'NTLM'\n| project TimeGenerated, Account, Computer, TargetLogonId",
"triggerOperator": "gt",
"triggerThreshold": 0
}
```
Refer to the exhibit. An analyst is reviewing a custom detection rule in Microsoft Sentinel. The rule is triggering many false positives from legitimate remote desktop connections. What should the analyst do to reduce false positives while keeping detection of pass-the-hash attacks?
Refer to the exhibit.
```json
{
"displayName": "Hunt for Pass-the-Hash",
"description": "Detects possible PtH using Event ID 4624 with logon type 9 and NTLM authentication.",
"tactics": ["LateralMovement"],
"techniques": ["T1550.002"],
"query": "SecurityEvent\n| where EventID == 4624\n| where LogonType == 9\n| where AuthenticationPackage == 'NTLM'\n| project TimeGenerated, Account, Computer, TargetLogonId",
"triggerOperator": "gt",
"triggerThreshold": 0
}
```
A
Change the data source from SecurityEvent to Event.
Why wrong: Event is a different table; it would not solve the false positive issue.
B
Remove the AuthenticationPackage filter to include all packages.
Why wrong: Removing the filter would include many more events, increasing false positives.
C
Change LogonType to 10 to target remote interactive logons.
Why wrong: Logon type 10 is remote interactive, which would miss pass-the-hash using network logon.
D
Add an exclusion for known administrative jump boxes.
Excluding known safe sources reduces false positives while keeping detection for other systems.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Add an exclusion for known administrative jump boxes.
Option A is correct because adding a condition to exclude management jump boxes that use NTLM would remove known legitimate activity. Option B is wrong because changing logon type to 10 (remote interactive) would exclude many legitimate RDP connections. Option C is wrong because removing the NTLM filter would include all authentication packages, increasing false positives. Option D is wrong because the query already uses SecurityEvent; switching to Event table would not help.
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.
✗
Change the data source from SecurityEvent to Event.
Why it's wrong here
Event is a different table; it would not solve the false positive issue.
✗
Remove the AuthenticationPackage filter to include all packages.
Why it's wrong here
Removing the filter would include many more events, increasing false positives.
✗
Change LogonType to 10 to target remote interactive logons.
Why it's wrong here
Logon type 10 is remote interactive, which would miss pass-the-hash using network logon.
✓
Add an exclusion for known administrative jump boxes.
Why this is correct
Excluding known safe sources reduces false positives while keeping detection for other systems.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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: Add an exclusion for known administrative jump boxes. — Option A is correct because adding a condition to exclude management jump boxes that use NTLM would remove known legitimate activity. Option B is wrong because changing logon type to 10 (remote interactive) would exclude many legitimate RDP connections. Option C is wrong because removing the NTLM filter would include all authentication packages, increasing false positives. Option D is wrong because the query already uses SecurityEvent; switching to Event table would not help.
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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