- A
Monitoring for installation of third-party software on endpoints.
Why wrong: LotL attacks use built-in tools, not third-party software.
- B
Hunting for WMI activity using Event ID 5861 and correlating with process creation events.
WMI is a built-in tool abused for lateral movement and execution.
- C
Tracking non-interactive logon sessions (Logon Type 5).
Why wrong: Logon Type 5 is for service accounts, not typical of LotL attacks.
- D
Analyzing PowerShell script block logs (Event ID 4104) for encoded commands or unusual parameters.
PowerShell is frequently used in LotL attacks; script block logging reveals malicious commands.
- E
Correlating remote service creation events (Event ID 7045) with network connections from administrative tools.
Services created remotely often use admin tools like PsExec, a common LotL technique.
Quick Answer
The answer is correlating remote service creation events (Event ID 7045) with network connections from administrative tools, anomalous PowerShell usage, and WMI lateral movement detection. These three techniques are effective for living off the land attack hunting in Microsoft Sentinel because they focus on native Windows binaries and protocols—like PsExec, PowerShell, and WMI—that attackers abuse to blend in with normal administrative activity, avoiding third-party malware. On the Microsoft Security Operations Analyst SC-200 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish LotL behaviors from traditional malware indicators; a common trap is selecting options that involve non-native binaries or generic logins, such as non-interactive logins, which are too broad for LotL specificity. Remember the mnemonic “PSW” for PowerShell, Service creation, and WMI—the three pillars of native tool abuse that Sentinel queries should target for effective hunting.
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 techniques are effective for hunting for living-off-the-land (LotL) attacks using Microsoft Sentinel?
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
Hunting for WMI activity using Event ID 5861 and correlating with process creation events.
Options A, B, and C are correct. Option A detects connections from administrative tools (e.g., PsExec). Option B identifies anomalous PowerShell usage. Option C detects WMI lateral movement. Option D is wrong because it focuses on third-party binaries, opposite of LotL. Option E is wrong because non-interactive logins are common for services, not specific to LotL.
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.
- ✗
Monitoring for installation of third-party software on endpoints.
Why it's wrong here
LotL attacks use built-in tools, not third-party software.
- ✓
Hunting for WMI activity using Event ID 5861 and correlating with process creation events.
Why this is correct
WMI is a built-in tool abused for lateral movement and execution.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Tracking non-interactive logon sessions (Logon Type 5).
Why it's wrong here
Logon Type 5 is for service accounts, not typical of LotL attacks.
- ✓
Analyzing PowerShell script block logs (Event ID 4104) for encoded commands or unusual parameters.
Why this is correct
PowerShell is frequently used in LotL attacks; script block logging reveals malicious commands.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Correlating remote service creation events (Event ID 7045) with network connections from administrative tools.
Why this is correct
Services created remotely often use admin tools like PsExec, a common LotL technique.
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 healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SC-200 question test?
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: Hunting for WMI activity using Event ID 5861 and correlating with process creation events. — Options A, B, and C are correct. Option A detects connections from administrative tools (e.g., PsExec). Option B identifies anomalous PowerShell usage. Option C detects WMI lateral movement. Option D is wrong because it focuses on third-party binaries, opposite of LotL. Option E is wrong because non-interactive logins are common for services, not specific to LotL.
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.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 21, 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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