SC-900 Practice Question: Describe the capabilities of Microsoft security solutions
This SC-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe the capabilities of microsoft security solutions. 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
{
"exhibit": "Refer to the exhibit. The following is a KQL query run in Microsoft Sentinel: \nSecurityEvent | where TimeGenerated > ago(7d) | where EventID == 4625 | summarize FailedLogins = count() by Account, Computer | where FailedLogins > 10 | project Account, Computer, FailedLogins | sort by FailedLogins desc"
}
Refer to the exhibit. A security analyst runs this KQL query in Microsoft Sentinel. What is the most likely 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: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
{
"exhibit": "Refer to the exhibit. The following is a KQL query run in Microsoft Sentinel: \nSecurityEvent | where TimeGenerated > ago(7d) | where EventID == 4625 | summarize FailedLogins = count() by Account, Computer | where FailedLogins > 10 | project Account, Computer, FailedLogins | sort by FailedLogins desc"
}
A
To identify successful logins after multiple failures
Why wrong: The query only counts failed logins, not successful ones.
B
To detect privilege escalation events
Why wrong: Privilege escalation events have different EventIDs (e.g., 4672).
C
To detect accounts that have been locked out
Why wrong: Account lockouts have a different EventID; this query focuses on failed logins.
D
To identify potential brute-force attack attempts
High number of failed logins from a single account is a common sign of brute-force attacks.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
To identify potential brute-force attack attempts
Option C is correct because the query counts failed login events (EventID 4625) per account and computer, filtering for accounts with more than 10 failures, which indicates a potential brute-force attack. Option A is wrong because the query does not check for account lockouts. Option B is wrong because the query does not check for successful logins. Option D is wrong because the query does not check for privilege escalation.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
To identify successful logins after multiple failures
Why it's wrong here
The query only counts failed logins, not successful ones.
✗
To detect privilege escalation events
Why it's wrong here
Privilege escalation events have different EventIDs (e.g., 4672).
✗
To detect accounts that have been locked out
Why it's wrong here
Account lockouts have a different EventID; this query focuses on failed logins.
✓
To identify potential brute-force attack attempts
Why this is correct
High number of failed logins from a single account is a common sign of brute-force attacks.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Authentication checks who the user is.
Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
→Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
→Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
→Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this SC-900 question in full detail.
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related SC-900 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
Describe the capabilities of Microsoft security solutions — This question tests Describe the capabilities of Microsoft security solutions — Authentication checks who the user is..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: To identify potential brute-force attack attempts — Option C is correct because the query counts failed login events (EventID 4625) per account and computer, filtering for accounts with more than 10 failures, which indicates a potential brute-force attack. Option A is wrong because the query does not check for account lockouts. Option B is wrong because the query does not check for successful logins. Option D is wrong because the query does not check for privilege escalation.
What should I do if I get this SC-900 question wrong?
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related SC-900 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Authentication checks who the user is.
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-900 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-900 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.