The correct answer is the three essential components of a threat hunting hypothesis: the adversary’s objective, the data sources to analyze, and expected indicators of compromise (IOCs). A hypothesis must first define what the adversary is trying to achieve, such as lateral movement or data exfiltration, to guide the hunt. It then requires specifying which data sources—like Windows Event Logs or network traffic—will be examined to test that theory. Finally, it must outline the expected IOCs, such as unusual process creation or anomalous logon patterns, that would confirm the hypothesis if found. On the SC-200 exam, this question tests your understanding that a hypothesis is a structured guess, not a response plan or alert severity level—those come after detection. A common trap is confusing the hypothesis with the incident response process; remember, the hypothesis drives the search, not the reaction. Memory tip: think “Objective, Data, IOCs” as the three pillars of any threat hunting hypothesis in Microsoft Sentinel.
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.
Which THREE are essential components of a threat hunting hypothesis in Microsoft Sentinel? (Choose three.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Adversary goal or objective
Option A is correct because a hypothesis should identify the adversary's objective. Option C is correct because it should specify the data sources to analyze. Option E is correct because it should define expected indicators of compromise. Option B is wrong because the response plan is separate from the hypothesis. Option D is wrong because the alert severity is determined after detection.
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.
✓
Adversary goal or objective
Why this is correct
The hypothesis should state what the adversary is trying to achieve.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Alert severity level
Why it's wrong here
Severity is assigned after detection, not part of the hypothesis.
✓
Data sources to query
Why this is correct
The hypothesis must specify which logs or data sources will be used.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Automated response plan
Why it's wrong here
Response plans are part of incident response, not the hypothesis.
✓
Expected indicators of compromise (IOCs)
Why this is correct
The hypothesis should define what patterns or IOCs to look for.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
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: Adversary goal or objective — Option A is correct because a hypothesis should identify the adversary's objective. Option C is correct because it should specify the data sources to analyze. Option E is correct because it should define expected indicators of compromise. Option B is wrong because the response plan is separate from the hypothesis. Option D is wrong because the alert severity is determined after detection.
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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