The answer is to create a playbook that runs on a schedule, such as daily, to query and close incidents older than 90 days with a status of 'New'. This is the most efficient method because Microsoft Sentinel playbooks, built on Azure Logic Apps, can execute recurring time-based triggers and use KQL queries to filter incidents by creation date and status, whereas automation rules lack a condition for incident age and cannot be triggered by time alone. On the SC-200 exam, this question tests your understanding of the distinct roles of automation rules versus playbooks—automation rules handle real-time triggers like incident creation or status change, while scheduled playbooks are the only native way to handle time-based bulk operations like auto-close stale incidents. A common trap is choosing automation rules, but remember: automation rules are event-driven, not time-driven. Memory tip: “Playbooks plan by the clock; automation rules react to the knock.”
SC-200 Manage a security operations environment Practice Question
This SC-200 practice question tests your understanding of manage a security operations environment. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 using Microsoft Sentinel to manage incidents. You want to automatically close incidents that are older than 90 days and have a status of 'New'. What is the most efficient way to achieve this?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create a playbook that runs on a schedule (e.g., daily) and closes incidents that meet the criteria.
Option D is correct because you can use a playbook to query incidents and close them based on conditions. Automation rules do not have a condition for incident age. Option A is wrong because automation rules cannot be triggered by time. Option B is wrong because analytics rules generate alerts, not close incidents. Option C is wrong because workbooks are for visualization.
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.
✗
Create a workbook that shows old incidents and manually close them.
Why it's wrong here
Workbooks are for reporting, not automation.
✓
Create a playbook that runs on a schedule (e.g., daily) and closes incidents that meet the criteria.
Why this is correct
A scheduled playbook can query incidents by age and close them.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Modify the analytics rule to automatically close incidents after 90 days.
Why it's wrong here
Analytics rules do not have a setting to close incidents.
✗
Create an automation rule that triggers on incident update and closes the incident if the created time is older than 90 days.
Why it's wrong here
Automation rules cannot evaluate time-based conditions like age.
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.
Manage a security operations environment — This question tests Manage a security operations environment — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a playbook that runs on a schedule (e.g., daily) and closes incidents that meet the criteria. — Option D is correct because you can use a playbook to query incidents and close them based on conditions. Automation rules do not have a condition for incident age. Option A is wrong because automation rules cannot be triggered by time. Option B is wrong because analytics rules generate alerts, not close incidents. Option C is wrong because workbooks are for visualization.
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.
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Question Discussion
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