The answer is to create an automation rule in Sentinel that triggers when an incident is created with the relevant conditions and runs the playbook. This is the most efficient method because automation rules are designed to respond to incident creation or update events, and they can directly invoke a playbook—in this case, the existing playbook that applies a session policy in Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps to block downloads for the anomalous user. On the SC-200 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how Sentinel’s automation rules bridge detection and remediation, specifically for automating session policy from Sentinel without manual intervention. A common trap is confusing analytics rules (which generate alerts, not run playbooks) or incident creation rules (which define incidents, not automate responses). Remember the memory tip: “Automation rules run the playbook; analytics rules only hook the catch.”
SC-200 Respond to security incidents Practice Question
This SC-200 practice question tests your understanding of respond to security incidents. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.
Your company uses Microsoft Sentinel and Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps (MCAS). A security analyst detects that a user is accessing a sanctioned cloud app from an unusual location. The analyst creates an incident in Sentinel. You need to automatically apply a session policy in MCAS to block downloads from that user for the next hour. You have an existing playbook that can apply session policies. What is the most efficient way to automate this response?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create an automation rule in Sentinel that triggers when an incident is created with the relevant conditions and runs the playbook.
To automate the response, you can create an automation rule that triggers on incident creation and runs the playbook. Option A is correct. Option B is wrong because analytics rules do not run playbooks directly. Option C is wrong because the incident creation rule is not for automated response. Option D is wrong because manual actions are not automated.
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 an automation rule in Sentinel that triggers when an incident is created with the relevant conditions and runs the playbook.
Why this is correct
Automation rules are designed for automated response.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Instruct the analyst to run the playbook manually from the incident page each time.
Why it's wrong here
Manual action is not automated.
✗
Configure the incident creation rule in MCAS to automatically run the playbook.
Why it's wrong here
Incident creation rule is for creating incidents, not running playbooks.
✗
Modify the analytics rule that detected the anomaly to run the playbook as an automated response.
Why it's wrong here
Analytics rules do not support running playbooks 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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
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.
Respond to security incidents — This question tests Respond to security incidents — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create an automation rule in Sentinel that triggers when an incident is created with the relevant conditions and runs the playbook. — To automate the response, you can create an automation rule that triggers on incident creation and runs the playbook. Option A is correct. Option B is wrong because analytics rules do not run playbooks directly. Option C is wrong because the incident creation rule is not for automated response. Option D is wrong because manual actions are not automated.
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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