The answer is to enable 'Capture NTLM hashes' in the Microsoft Defender for Identity sensor configuration. This is correct because pass-the-hash attacks exploit NTLM hashes extracted from memory to authenticate laterally across a network; by capturing these hashes from network traffic, Defender for Identity can compare them against known user behavior and flag anomalies like a hash originating from an unexpected device or logon attempt. On the SC-200 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how Defender for Identity’s sensor settings directly counter lateral movement techniques—a common trap is confusing this with enabling 'Kerberos capture' or 'VPN integration,' which address different attack vectors. Remember the memory tip: “Hash it out, don’t pass it on”—if you see a question about detecting lateral movement with NTLM reuse, the first priority is always enabling NTLM hash capture.
SC-200 Manage a security operations environment Practice Question
This SC-200 practice question tests your understanding of manage a security operations environment. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 organization has a hybrid identity environment with Microsoft Entra ID and on-premises Active Directory. You are configuring Microsoft Defender for Identity to protect against lateral movement attacks. Which configuration should you prioritize to detect pass-the-hash attacks?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable 'Capture NTLM hashes' in the Microsoft Defender for Identity sensor configuration
Option D is correct because enabling 'Capture NTLM hashes' in the Microsoft Defender for Identity sensor configuration allows the sensor to extract NTLM hashes from network traffic. Pass-the-hash attacks rely on capturing and reusing NTLM hashes to authenticate laterally; by capturing these hashes, Defender for Identity can detect anomalies such as a hash being used from a different source or for suspicious logon attempts, directly identifying the attack.
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.
✗
Configure port mirroring for domain controllers
Why it's wrong here
Port mirroring captures network traffic but is not the primary detection method for pass-the-hash.
✗
Enable 'SAM-R' (Remote SAM) in the Microsoft Defender for Identity sensor configuration
Why it's wrong here
SAM-R is used for lateral movement path detection, not pass-the-hash.
✗
Configure Windows Event Forwarding (WEF) for domain controllers
Why it's wrong here
WEF collects Windows events but does not directly detect pass-the-hash.
✓
Enable 'Capture NTLM hashes' in the Microsoft Defender for Identity sensor configuration
Why this is correct
Enabling this setting allows the sensor to capture NTLM hashes for pass-the-hash detection.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse prerequisites (port mirroring) or supporting features (SAM-R for lateral movement paths, WEF for event collection) with the specific configuration needed to detect pass-the-hash, which is the direct capture of NTLM hashes from network traffic.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Pass-the-hash attacks exploit the NTLM challenge-response protocol by reusing a captured hash to authenticate without knowing the plaintext password. Defender for Identity's 'Capture NTLM hashes' setting enables the sensor to extract the NTLM hash from network packets (e.g., during NTLM authentication) and correlate it with logon events; if the same hash is used from a different source IP or for a privileged account, an alert is generated. This detection is distinct from event-based detection, as it requires deep packet inspection of NTLM traffic, which is why port mirroring (option A) is a prerequisite but not the configuration itself.
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.
TExam Day Tips
→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.
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: Enable 'Capture NTLM hashes' in the Microsoft Defender for Identity sensor configuration — Option D is correct because enabling 'Capture NTLM hashes' in the Microsoft Defender for Identity sensor configuration allows the sensor to extract NTLM hashes from network traffic. Pass-the-hash attacks rely on capturing and reusing NTLM hashes to authenticate laterally; by capturing these hashes, Defender for Identity can detect anomalies such as a hash being used from a different source or for suspicious logon attempts, directly identifying the attack.
What should I do if I get this SC-200 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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