SC-200 Exam Overview & Study Strategy
Understanding the Concept
The SC-200: Microsoft Security Operations Analyst certification validates your ability to investigate, respond to, and hunt for threats using Microsoft Defender XDR, Microsoft Sentinel, and Microsoft Defender for Cloud. It is designed for professionals in SOC analyst, incident responder, and security engineer roles.
The exam is divided into four domains: Manage a security operations environment (20-25%), Configure protections and detections (15-20%), Manage incident response (25-30%), and Manage security threats (15-20%). The passing score is 700 out of 1000.
This training is structured to align with all four exam domains. Each lesson includes specific exam tips to help you focus on the most testable concepts and scenarios.
Key Points
- SC-200 validates security operations and threat mitigation skills
- Four domains: Security ops environment, Protections, Incident response, Threats
- Incident response has the highest weight at 25-30%
- Passing score: 700/1000
- Hands-on experience with Defender XDR and Sentinel is critical
Why This Matters in Real Organizations
The SC-200 certification demonstrates to employers that you can effectively operate Microsoft's security stack. With the cybersecurity talent shortage exceeding 3.5 million unfilled positions globally, certified security operations professionals command premium salaries and career opportunities.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Interview Tips
- Mention your SC-200 certification as proof of practical security skills
- Discuss specific scenarios you practiced during certification prep
- Highlight KQL proficiency as a differentiating skill
Exam Tips (SC-200)
- Prioritize incident response topics - they carry the most weight
- Practice KQL queries extensively - they appear throughout the exam
- Use Microsoft Learn free sandbox labs for hands-on practice
- Focus on Defender XDR portal navigation and incident investigation workflow
Course Complete!
You've finished all lessons