Quick Answer
The correct answer is the "Brute force attack against a user account" analytic rule template. This rule is specifically designed to detect a brute-force pattern where a single source IP address generates a high volume of failed logon attempts across multiple user accounts within a short time window, directly matching the threat hunt scenario described. On the Microsoft Security Operations Analyst SC-200 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between similar analytic rule templates, with a common trap being confusion with the "Password spray" rule, which targets a single user account from many IPs rather than many accounts from one IP. A reliable memory tip is to think of brute force as "one IP, many users" and password spray as "many IPs, one user," helping you quickly eliminate distractors like malware or geo-anomaly rules.
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.
Your threat hunt reveals a series of failed logon attempts from a single IP address across multiple user accounts. Which Microsoft Sentinel analytic rule template is best suited to alert on this brute-force pattern?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Malware detected in network traffic
Why wrong: Detects malware, not brute force.
Brute force attack against a user account
Detects multiple failed logon attempts from a single IP.
Password spray attack
Why wrong: Detects same password across many users.
Anomalous logon location
Why wrong: Detects logins from unusual locations.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Brute force attack against a user account
Option D is correct because the 'Brute force attack against a user account' rule specifically detects multiple failed logons. Option A is for malware. Option B is for anomalous logons by geo. Option C is for password spray across users.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Malware detected in network traffic
Why it's wrong here
Detects malware, not brute force.
Brute force attack against a user account
Why this is correct
Detects multiple failed logon attempts from a single IP.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
Password spray attack
Why it's wrong here
Detects same password across many users.
Anomalous logon location
Why it's wrong here
Detects logins from unusual locations.
Common exam traps
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
A healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
What to study next
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SC-200 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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FAQ
Perform threat hunting — This question tests Perform threat hunting — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
The correct answer is: Brute force attack against a user account — Option D is correct because the 'Brute force attack against a user account' rule specifically detects multiple failed logons. Option A is for malware. Option B is for anomalous logons by geo. Option C is for password spray across users.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SC-200 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
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.
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