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Perform threat hunting →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The correct query is DeviceProcessEvents | where Timestamp > ago(7d) | where InitiatingProcessIntegrityLevel == "Low" and ProcessIntegrityLevel == "High" | summarize count() by DeviceName | top 10 by count_. This works because privilege escalation detection via integrity levels in KQL relies on identifying a jump from a low-integrity process (typically untrusted, like a browser or sandboxed app) to a high-integrity process (often running as administrator or system), which is a classic sign of an elevation-of-privilege attack. On the SC-200 exam, this tests your ability to apply Windows integrity-level concepts to advanced hunting in Microsoft Defender XDR, where common traps include filtering on the wrong fields like ProcessIntegrityLevel vs. InitiatingProcessIntegrityLevel, or forgetting to restrict the time window. A memory tip: think "Low spawns High equals red flag" — always check the initiating process, not the child, for the source of the escalation.

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.

You are a threat hunter for a company that uses Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (now part of Microsoft Defender XDR). You need to investigate a potential privilege escalation attack. You have collected process creation events from endpoints and want to identify instances where a process with low integrity level spawned a process with high integrity level. The DeviceProcessEvents table includes fields: DeviceName, AccountName, InitiatingProcessFileName, InitiatingProcessIntegrityLevel, ProcessFileName, ProcessIntegrityLevel. You need to write an advanced hunting query that returns the top 10 devices where this escalation occurred most frequently in the last 7 days. Which query should you use?

Question 1hardmultiple choice
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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

✓

DeviceProcessEvents | where Timestamp > ago(7d) | where InitiatingProcessIntegrityLevel == "Low" and ProcessIntegrityLevel == "High" | summarize count() by DeviceName | top 10 by count_

Option A correctly filters for low to high integrity transitions and counts per device. Option B uses wrong integrity levels. Option C does not filter by integrity. Option D uses wrong fields.

Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

  • ✓

    DeviceProcessEvents | where Timestamp > ago(7d) | where InitiatingProcessIntegrityLevel == "Low" and ProcessIntegrityLevel == "High" | summarize count() by DeviceName | top 10 by count_

    Why this is correct

    Correctly detects low-to-high integrity transitions.

    Related concept

    Authentication checks who the user is.

  • ✗

    DeviceProcessEvents | where Timestamp > ago(7d) | where InitiatingProcessIntegrityLevel == "Medium" and ProcessIntegrityLevel == "High" | summarize count() by DeviceName | top 10 by count_

    Why it's wrong here

    Medium to high is not necessarily privilege escalation.

  • ✗

    DeviceProcessEvents | where Timestamp > ago(7d) | where InitiatingProcessIntegrityLevel != ProcessIntegrityLevel | summarize count() by DeviceName | top 10 by count_

    Why it's wrong here

    Includes all mismatches, not just low to high.

  • ✗

    DeviceProcessEvents | where Timestamp > ago(7d) | where InitiatingProcessFileName != ProcessFileName | summarize count() by DeviceName | top 10 by count_

    Why it's wrong here

    Does not consider integrity levels.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization

Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.

KKey Concepts to Remember

  • Authentication checks who the user is.
  • Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
  • Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
  • AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.

TExam Day Tips

  • Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
  • Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
  • Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.

Key takeaway

Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.

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. Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access. 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.

Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related SC-200 questions on access control and AAA configuration.

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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 — Authentication checks who the user is..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: DeviceProcessEvents | where Timestamp > ago(7d) | where InitiatingProcessIntegrityLevel == "Low" and ProcessIntegrityLevel == "High" | summarize count() by DeviceName | top 10 by count_ — Option A correctly filters for low to high integrity transitions and counts per device. Option B uses wrong integrity levels. Option C does not filter by integrity. Option D uses wrong fields.

What should I do if I get this SC-200 question wrong?

Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related SC-200 questions on access control and AAA configuration.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Authentication checks who the user is.

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Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026

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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.