Quick Answer
The answer is Playbooks, Automated Investigation and Response (AIR), and Self-Healing capabilities. These three features work together within Microsoft Defender XDR to automate incident response by using machine learning and security signals across endpoints, email, and identities to investigate alerts and contain threats without manual intervention—for example, isolating a compromised device or blocking a malicious file directly in the workflow. On the SC-200 exam, this question tests your understanding of how AIR orchestrates playbooks to run automated remediation steps, and a common trap is confusing manual response actions with automated ones; remember that true automation requires no human approval to execute. A helpful memory tip is to think of the acronym PAS: Playbooks execute the steps, AIR triggers the investigation, and Self-Healing applies the fix—all without you lifting a finger.
This SC-200 practice question tests your understanding of manage a security operations environment. 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 features are available in Microsoft Defender XDR to help automate incident response? (Choose three.)
Automated investigation and response (AIR)
AIR is a core feature of Microsoft Defender XDR.
Microsoft Power Automate
Why wrong: Power Automate is a separate automation platform.
Advanced hunting
Advanced hunting is a query-based threat hunting tool.
Playbooks
Playbooks in Microsoft Defender XDR automate response actions.
Microsoft Sentinel fusion rule
Why wrong: Fusion rules are part of Microsoft Sentinel, not Defender XDR.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Automated investigation and response (AIR)
Automated investigation and response (AIR) in Microsoft Defender XDR automatically runs playbooks on alerts to investigate and remediate threats without manual intervention. It leverages machine learning and security signals across endpoints, email, and identities to contain malicious activity, such as isolating a compromised device or blocking a malicious file, directly within the incident response workflow.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Automated investigation and response (AIR)
Why this is correct
AIR is a core feature of Microsoft Defender XDR.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Microsoft Power Automate
Why it's wrong here
Power Automate is a separate automation platform.
Advanced hunting
Why this is correct
Advanced hunting is a query-based threat hunting tool.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Playbooks
Why this is correct
Playbooks in Microsoft Defender XDR automate response actions.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Microsoft Sentinel fusion rule
Why it's wrong here
Fusion rules are part of Microsoft Sentinel, not Defender XDR.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates may confuse Microsoft Power Automate as a native Defender XDR feature for automation, when in fact it is an external tool that requires custom configuration and is not part of Defender XDR's built-in automated investigation and response capabilities.
Detailed technical explanation
Automated investigation and response (AIR) uses a set of predefined playbooks that execute actions like collecting forensic data, running antivirus scans, and applying remediation steps such as deleting malicious files or blocking IP addresses. These playbooks are triggered automatically based on alert severity and type, and they leverage the Microsoft Graph Security API to coordinate responses across Defender for Endpoint, Defender for Office 365, and Defender for Identity. In a real-world scenario, if a user clicks a phishing link, AIR can automatically isolate the device, disable the user account, and remove the email from all mailboxes within minutes, reducing manual triage time.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Manage a security operations environment — This question tests Manage a security operations environment — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Automated investigation and response (AIR) — Automated investigation and response (AIR) in Microsoft Defender XDR automatically runs playbooks on alerts to investigate and remediate threats without manual intervention. It leverages machine learning and security signals across endpoints, email, and identities to contain malicious activity, such as isolating a compromised device or blocking a malicious file, directly within the incident response workflow.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 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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