Cybersecurity-Apprentice Security Operations Practice Question
An analyst is writing a complex XQL (XDR Query Language) query in Cortex XDR to find all process executions where a PowerShell script was executed with hidden window styles. Which syntax structure correctly filters datasets for this query?
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
✓
dataset = xdr_data | filter event_type = 'PROCESS_START' and command_line contains 'Hidden'
XQL queries begin with the dataset name (e.g., dataset = xdr_data) followed by a pipe (|) and filter conditions using standard operators like filter or ~=.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
search xdr_data | stats count by command_line | where command_line = 'Hidden'
Why it's wrong here
Using stats before filtering the specific process execution is inefficient and syntactically incorrect for raw process searches.
- ✓
dataset = xdr_data | filter event_type = 'PROCESS_START' and command_line contains 'Hidden'
Why this is correct
This syntax correctly targets the dataset, uses the pipe operator, filters by event type, and checks the command line.
- ✗
SELECT * FROM xdr_data WHERE event_type == 'PROCESS_START' AND command_line LIKE '%Hidden%'
Why it's wrong here
XQL does not use standard SQL SELECT syntax; it uses dataset name and pipe notation.
- ✗
collect xdr_data where event_type = 'PROCESS_START' | parse command_line as Hidden
Why it's wrong here
'collect' is not the correct command to initiate an XQL search stream.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed August 2026 · checked against the official Palo Alto Networks exam blueprint
This Cybersecurity-Apprentice practice question is part of Courseiva's free Palo Alto Networks 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 Cybersecurity-Apprentice exam.