SC-200 Respond to security incidents Practice Question
You are responding to a ransomware incident where multiple devices are encrypted. The incident is captured in Microsoft Sentinel. Which TWO actions should you take first to contain the incident?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap is confusing containment with recovery or investigation; candidates pick password resets or backup restoration because they sound urgent, but those are later phases — the first actions must stop the spread by isolating devices and disabling accounts.
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
✓
Disable user accounts associated with the affected devices in Microsoft Entra ID.
Option A is correct because disabling the associated user accounts in Microsoft Entra ID immediately blocks the compromised identities from authenticating and prevents the attacker from using those credentials to move laterally or re-access resources during containment. Option B is correct because isolating affected devices through Microsoft Defender for Endpoint severs network communication while preserving the device state for forensic investigation, which is the standard first containment step for ransomware. Option C is not a first containment action; password resets are remediation steps that come after disabling accounts and can be performed later without stopping active spread. Option D is incorrect because malware analysis is a post-containment investigative activity, not an immediate containment measure. Option E is incorrect because restoring from backups is a recovery action and should only occur after the threat is fully contained and eradicated, otherwise restored data can be re-encrypted.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Disable user accounts associated with the affected devices in Microsoft Entra ID.
Why this is correct
Disabling the associated accounts in Microsoft Entra ID revokes authentication tokens and prevents the attacker reusing compromised credentials to re-encrypt or pivot. This satisfies containment by cutting the identity path, since ransomware operators routinely retain valid accounts to re-establish access after device-level cleanup.
- ✓
Isolate affected devices using Microsoft Defender for Endpoint.
Why this is correct
Isolating encrypted endpoints via Microsoft Defender for Endpoint immediately severs command-and-control and lateral-movement channels, satisfying the containment requirement before remediation. Device isolation halts further encryption and blocks the attacker's remote access, which is the priority while Sentinel preserves the incident timeline for investigation.
- ✗
Reset passwords for all affected users.
Why it's wrong here
Password resets do not decrypt files or sever the attacker's existing access tokens and sessions, so containment is not achieved. It is tempting because credential rotation is a standard response to suspected account compromise, and would be correct where stolen credentials, rather than active encryption, are the confirmed vector.
- ✗
Run a malware analysis on a sample of the ransomware.
Why it's wrong here
Malware analysis is investigation, not containment; the ransomware continues encrypting other devices while the sample is examined. It tempts because understanding the strain guides later remediation, but the first containment actions are isolating the affected devices and disabling compromised accounts in Microsoft Entra ID.
- ✗
Restore encrypted files from backups.
Why it's wrong here
Restoring from backups is recovery, not containment; encrypted devices remain on the network spreading the ransomware while files are copied back. It tempts because backups are the ultimate remedy, but containment first requires isolating affected devices and disabling compromised accounts in Microsoft Entra ID.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Microsoft exam blueprint
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.