Question 321 of 1,411

Search-UnifiedAuditLog PowerShell Cmdlet

This SC-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe the capabilities of microsoft compliance 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

Search-UnifiedAuditLog -StartDate (Get-Date).AddDays(-90) -EndDate (Get-Date) -Operations FileAccessed,FileModified -RecordType SharePoint -ObjectId "https://contoso.sharepoint.com/sites/hr"

Refer to the exhibit. An administrator runs this PowerShell command. What is the purpose of this command?

Exhibit

Search-UnifiedAuditLog -StartDate (Get-Date).AddDays(-90) -EndDate (Get-Date) -Operations FileAccessed,FileModified -RecordType SharePoint -ObjectId "https://contoso.sharepoint.com/sites/hr"

Answer choices

Why each option matters

Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.

Correct answer & explanation

To retrieve audit records of file access and modifications in the HR SharePoint site from the last 90 days.

The PowerShell cmdlet `Search-UnifiedAuditLog` is used to retrieve audit records from the Microsoft 365 unified audit log. The `-StartDate` and `-EndDate` parameters define the time range (last 90 days), and the `-RecordType` parameter filters for SharePoint audit events. The `-Operations` parameter with `FileAccessed` and `FileModified` specifies that only file access and modification events should be returned, making this command's purpose to retrieve audit records of file access and modifications in the HR SharePoint site from the last 90 days.

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.

  • To set a retention policy for the HR site.

    Why it's wrong here

    Retention policies are not set via this command.

  • To apply a retention label to all files in the HR site.

    Why it's wrong here

    No labeling action is performed.

  • To delete all files in the HR site that were accessed in the last 90 days.

    Why it's wrong here

    The command only searches audit logs, not deletes content.

  • To retrieve audit records of file access and modifications in the HR SharePoint site from the last 90 days.

    Why this is correct

    The command searches for specific operations (FileAccessed, FileModified) on a specific site.

    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 may confuse the `Search-UnifiedAuditLog` cmdlet with cmdlets that manage retention or deletion, because the question mentions 'files' and '90 days' which can mislead test-takers into thinking it applies a policy or deletes data, when in fact it only retrieves audit records.

Trap categories for this question

  • Command / output trap

    Retention policies are not set via this command.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

The unified audit log in Microsoft 365 captures events from Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, OneDrive for Business, Azure AD, and other services. The `Search-UnifiedAuditLog` cmdlet queries the AuditLog service via the Office 365 Management Activity API, and results can be exported or piped to other cmdlets for analysis. In real-world scenarios, this command is often used for forensic investigations or compliance audits to track user activity, such as identifying unauthorized access or data exfiltration attempts.

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.

Quick reference

Common DNS Record Types

RecordPurposeExample
AIPv4 address mappingexample.com → 93.184.216.34
AAAAIPv6 address mappingexample.com → 2606:2800::1
CNAMEAlias to another hostnamewww → example.com
MXMail server for domainexample.com → mail.example.com (priority 10)
TXTText data (SPF, DKIM, verification)v=spf1 include:_spf.example.com ~all
NSAuthoritative name serversexample.com NS ns1.example.com
PTRReverse DNS (IP → hostname)34.216.184.93.in-addr.arpa → example.com
SOAZone authority recordPrimary NS, admin email, serial, TTL defaults

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this SC-900 question test?

Describe the capabilities of Microsoft compliance solutions — This question tests Describe the capabilities of Microsoft compliance solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: To retrieve audit records of file access and modifications in the HR SharePoint site from the last 90 days. — The PowerShell cmdlet `Search-UnifiedAuditLog` is used to retrieve audit records from the Microsoft 365 unified audit log. The `-StartDate` and `-EndDate` parameters define the time range (last 90 days), and the `-RecordType` parameter filters for SharePoint audit events. The `-Operations` parameter with `FileAccessed` and `FileModified` specifies that only file access and modification events should be returned, making this command's purpose to retrieve audit records of file access and modifications in the HR SharePoint site from the last 90 days.

What should I do if I get this SC-900 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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Same concept, more angles

1 more ways this is tested on SC-900

These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.

Variation 1. Refer to the exhibit. An administrator runs the PowerShell command shown. What is the purpose of this command?

easy
  • A.Delete all files modified by a user in the last 90 days
  • B.Modify permissions on files uploaded by a user
  • C.Search audit logs for file activities performed by a specific user
  • D.Block a user from uploading files

Why C: The command searches the unified audit log for file-related operations by a specific user in the last 90 days. Option C is correct. It does not delete files, modify permissions, or block the user.

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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026

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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.