- A
Add an indicator to allow the file
Correct. Creating an allow indicator for the file's hash or certificate forces Microsoft 365 Defender to treat the file as trusted, preventing future blocks.
- B
Submit the file to Microsoft for analysis
Why wrong: Incorrect. Submitting for analysis may change the global classification over time, but it does not immediately unblock the file in the organization.
- C
Remove the existing indicator for the file
Why wrong: Incorrect. If the file was blocked by automation (i.e., a built-in detection), there may be no custom indicator to remove. The block is based on threat intelligence, not a user-created indicator.
- D
Restore the file from quarantine
Why wrong: Incorrect. Restore only retrieves the file from quarantine on a specific device; it does not prevent the file from being blocked again on the same or other devices.
Quick Answer
The answer is to add an indicator to allow the file. This is correct because creating a custom indicator of compromise (IoC) in Microsoft 365 Defender explicitly overrides the automated investigation’s verdict, inserting an ‘allow’ entry into the threat intelligence feed that takes precedence over the detection logic. On the SC-200 exam, this scenario tests your ability to unblock a false positive application indicator by distinguishing between actions that merely submit for analysis versus those that enforce a permanent override. A common trap is choosing “submit to Microsoft for analysis,” which only sends the file for review but does not immediately unblock it on endpoints. Remember the key distinction: to unblock a false positive, you must add an allow indicator, not just submit a sample. Memory tip: “Allow the indicator, don’t just submit the offender.”
SC-200 Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender XDR Practice Question
This SC-200 practice question tests your understanding of mitigate threats using microsoft defender xdr. 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.
A security analyst is using Microsoft 365 Defender and discovers that a legitimate business application has been incorrectly blocked as malicious by an automated investigation. The analyst needs to unblock this application immediately so it can run on all endpoints in the organization. What action should the analyst take from the file's entity page in Microsoft 365 Defender?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"immediately / without restart"Why it matters: Time or reboot constraint — the correct answer must take effect right away without requiring a reboot or reload.
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
Add an indicator to allow the file
Adding an indicator to allow the file creates a custom indicator of compromise (IoC) in Microsoft 365 Defender that explicitly overrides the automated investigation's verdict. This action immediately permits the file to run on all endpoints in the organization by adding an 'allow' entry to the threat intelligence feed, which takes precedence over the automated detection logic.
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.
- ✓
Add an indicator to allow the file
Why this is correct
Correct. Creating an allow indicator for the file's hash or certificate forces Microsoft 365 Defender to treat the file as trusted, preventing future blocks.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "immediately / without restart" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Submit the file to Microsoft for analysis
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Submitting for analysis may change the global classification over time, but it does not immediately unblock the file in the organization.
- ✗
Remove the existing indicator for the file
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. If the file was blocked by automation (i.e., a built-in detection), there may be no custom indicator to remove. The block is based on threat intelligence, not a user-created indicator.
- ✗
Restore the file from quarantine
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Restore only retrieves the file from quarantine on a specific device; it does not prevent the file from being blocked again on the same or other devices.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse the immediate unblocking action (adding an allow indicator) with the longer-term feedback process (submitting to Microsoft) or with post-remediation steps (restoring from quarantine), failing to recognize that custom indicators provide real-time override capability for automated investigations.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Custom indicators in Microsoft 365 Defender are stored in the Advanced Hunting schema under the 'Indicator' table and are evaluated with a higher priority than automated investigation verdicts. When an 'allow' indicator is created for a file hash, it forces the Defender for Endpoint sensor to permit execution even if the file matches a known malicious signature or behavior pattern. This mechanism is critical for managing false positives in line-of-business applications that use legitimate but uncommon file hashes or digital signatures.
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.
TExam Day Tips
- 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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SC-200 question test?
Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender XDR — This question tests Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender XDR — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Add an indicator to allow the file — Adding an indicator to allow the file creates a custom indicator of compromise (IoC) in Microsoft 365 Defender that explicitly overrides the automated investigation's verdict. This action immediately permits the file to run on all endpoints in the organization by adding an 'allow' entry to the threat intelligence feed, which takes precedence over the automated detection logic.
What should I do if I get this SC-200 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "immediately / without restart". Time or reboot constraint — the correct answer must take effect right away without requiring a reboot or reload.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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.
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