The correct answer is to find users with medium-risk sign-ins that share IP addresses with service principal sign-ins, indicating possible token theft or lateral movement. This query works by joining user sign-in logs with service principal sign-ins on the same IP address, then filtering for users whose medium-risk sign-ins from a shared IP exceed five occurrences—a threshold that suggests an attacker is pivoting between a compromised user account and a service principal from the same host. On the SC-200 exam, this scenario tests your ability to correlate identity signals across user and non-human principals, a key skill in hunting for token replay or lateral movement attacks. A common trap is confusing this with high-risk sign-ins or admin consent abuse; remember that medium risk is the deliberate filter here, not high. Memory tip: think “shared IP, medium risk, count over five” to recall the three-part filter that flags potential token theft.
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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
```kusto
// KQL query in Microsoft Sentinel hunting
let TargetUsers = dynamic(["admin@contoso.com", "user1@contoso.com"]);
SigninLogs
| where TimeGenerated > ago(7d)
| where UserPrincipalName in (TargetUsers)
| where RiskLevelDuringSignIn == "medium"
| project TimeGenerated, UserPrincipalName, IPAddress, RiskLevelDuringSignIn
| join kind=leftouter (
AADServicePrincipalSignInLogs
| where TimeGenerated > ago(7d)
| project ServicePrincipalName, IPAddress
) on IPAddress
| summarize Count = count() by UserPrincipalName
| where Count > 5
```
You are reviewing a hunting query. What is the primary purpose of this query?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Find users with medium-risk sign-ins that share IP addresses with service principal sign-ins, indicating possible token theft or lateral movement
Option C is correct because the query filters for users with medium risk sign-ins and joins with service principal sign-ins on IP address, then counts occurrences per user exceeding 5, indicating potential compromise involving both user and service principal activity from the same IP. Option A is wrong because it does not focus on service principal compromise alone. Option B is wrong because it does not look for admin consent grants. Option D is wrong because it uses only medium risk, not high.
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.
✗
List all users with any risk level during sign-in in the last 7 days
Why it's wrong here
The query filters for medium risk only and includes aggregation.
✗
Detect users who have granted admin consent to malicious OAuth apps
Why it's wrong here
There is no mention of consent grants in the query.
✓
Find users with medium-risk sign-ins that share IP addresses with service principal sign-ins, indicating possible token theft or lateral movement
Why this is correct
The join on IP address and count > 5 suggests correlation of user and service principal activity.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Identify service principals that have been compromised and are performing high-risk sign-ins
Why it's wrong here
The query focuses on users, not service principals directly.
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 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.
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: Find users with medium-risk sign-ins that share IP addresses with service principal sign-ins, indicating possible token theft or lateral movement — Option C is correct because the query filters for users with medium risk sign-ins and joins with service principal sign-ins on IP address, then counts occurrences per user exceeding 5, indicating potential compromise involving both user and service principal activity from the same IP. Option A is wrong because it does not focus on service principal compromise alone. Option B is wrong because it does not look for admin consent grants. Option D is wrong because it uses only medium risk, not high.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.