Microsoft Certified: Security Operations Analyst Associate Study Guide: Everything You Need to Know 2025
Your complete roadmap to passing the SC-200 certification exam. This comprehensive study guide covers all 3 exam domains with detailed explanations, study tips, and practice resources.
Quick Start
Essential steps to begin your preparation
Review Exam Objectives
View all domains →Take Assessment Quiz
Free practice test →Follow Study Plan
8-week roadmap →Full Practice Exams
Start practicing →Exam Domains & Objectives
Master these 3 domains to pass the SC-200 exam
Mitigate Threats Using Microsoft 365 Defender
Mitigate Threats Using Defender for Cloud
Mitigate Threats Using Microsoft Sentinel
8-Week Study Plan
Follow this structured plan to prepare for your Microsoft Certified: Security Operations Analyst Associate exam
Foundation
Understand core concepts and exam objectives
Focus Areas:
- Mitigate Threats Using Microsoft 365 Defender
- Mitigate Threats Using Defender for Cloud
Deep Dive
Master advanced topics and practical applications
Focus Areas:
- Mitigate Threats Using Microsoft Sentinel
Practice & Review
Take practice exams and review weak areas
Focus Areas:
Final Prep
Full practice exams and last-minute review
Focus Areas:
- Full-length practice tests
- Review all domains
Curated Study Resources
AI-curated resources with real links to help you prepare for the Microsoft Certified: Security Operations Analyst Associate exam
Complete Study Guide for Microsoft Certified: Security Operations Analyst Associate (SC-200)
The SC-200 certification validates your ability to investigate, respond to, and hunt for threats using Microsoft Sentinel, Microsoft Defender for Cloud, and Microsoft 365 Defender. This certification is ideal for security operations professionals who want to demonstrate expertise in threat mitigation, monitoring, and response using Microsoft's security solutions.
Who Should Take This Exam
- Security Operations Analysts
- Security Engineers
- SOC Analysts
- Incident Response Professionals
- Threat Intelligence Analysts
- IT Security Professionals transitioning to cloud security
Prerequisites
- Fundamental understanding of Microsoft 365 and Azure services
- Basic knowledge of security concepts (SIEM, SOAR, threat hunting)
- Familiarity with KQL (Kusto Query Language) recommended
- Understanding of networking and endpoint security concepts
- Experience with log analysis and security investigations preferred
Official Resources
SC-200 Official Certification Page
Official exam page with skills measured, registration information, and exam updates
View ResourceMicrosoft Sentinel Documentation
Comprehensive documentation covering Microsoft Sentinel deployment, configuration, and operations
View ResourceMicrosoft 365 Defender Documentation
Official documentation for Microsoft 365 Defender unified security platform
View ResourceMicrosoft Defender for Cloud Documentation
Complete guide to cloud workload protection and security posture management
View ResourceKusto Query Language (KQL) Documentation
Essential KQL reference for querying logs in Sentinel and Defender
View ResourceMicrosoft Learn: SC-200 Learning Path
Official Microsoft training modules aligned with exam objectives
View ResourceMicrosoft Security Best Practices
Security best practices and guidance for Microsoft cloud services
View ResourceRecommended Courses
Microsoft Sentinel Training - Complete Tutorial
YouTube - Azure Academy • 4 hours
View CourseRecommended Books
Exam Ref SC-200 Microsoft Security Operations Analyst
by Yuri Diogenes, Jake Mowrer
Official Microsoft exam reference covering all SC-200 objectives with hands-on scenarios and practice questions
View on AmazonMicrosoft 365 Security Administration: MS-500 Exam Guide
by Peter Rising
While focused on MS-500, provides excellent foundation for Microsoft 365 security concepts applicable to SC-200
View on AmazonMicrosoft Azure Sentinel: Planning and implementing Microsoft's cloud-native SIEM solution
by Yuri Diogenes, Dr. Erdal Ozkaya
Deep dive into Microsoft Sentinel covering 50% of the SC-200 exam content with practical implementation guidance
View on AmazonPractice & Hands-On Resources
SC-200 Official Practice Assessment
Microsoft's official practice test with exam-format questions
View ResourceMeasureUp SC-200 Practice Test
Comprehensive practice exams with detailed explanations, industry-standard preparation tool
View ResourceMicrosoft Sentinel Training Lab
Free hands-on lab environment for practicing Sentinel deployment and configuration
View ResourceMicrosoft 365 Developer Program
Free Microsoft 365 E5 developer sandbox for 90 days to practice with all Defender products
View ResourceAzure Free Account
12 months of free services including Sentinel and Defender for Cloud for hands-on practice
View ResourceKQL Learning Resources
Interactive KQL tutorials and sample queries for mastering query language
View ResourceMicrosoft Sentinel GitHub Repository
Community-contributed analytics rules, hunting queries, playbooks, and workbooks
View ResourceDefender for Cloud Labs
Step-by-step labs for implementing cloud workload protection scenarios
View ResourceCommunity & Forums
Microsoft Tech Community - Security
Official Microsoft community for security discussions, announcements, and expert answers
Join Communityr/AzureCertification
Active Reddit community for Azure certification discussions, study tips, and exam experiences
Join Communityr/MicrosoftSentinel
Dedicated subreddit for Microsoft Sentinel discussions and troubleshooting
Join CommunityMicrosoft Security Blog
Official blog with latest security insights, threat intelligence, and product updates
Join CommunityRod Trent's Microsoft Sentinel Blog
Must-read blog for Sentinel content, tips, and community resources
Join CommunityAzure Security Podcast
Weekly podcast covering Microsoft security topics and best practices
Join CommunityTechExams SC-200 Forum
Dedicated forum for Microsoft certification discussions and study groups
Join CommunityStudy Tips
Master KQL (Kusto Query Language)
- KQL is fundamental to success on SC-200 - invest significant time practicing queries
- Start with the 'Must Learn KQL' tutorial series on Microsoft Learn
- Practice writing queries daily in your lab environment (Sentinel, Defender, Log Analytics)
- Focus on common operators: where, project, summarize, join, union, extend, parse
- Understand time-based queries and datetime functions - frequently tested
- Save useful queries as functions for reusability across workspaces
- Practice advanced hunting queries in both M365 Defender and Sentinel portals
Hands-On Lab Experience is Critical
- Set up Microsoft 365 E5 trial through Developer Program - essential for Defender products
- Deploy Sentinel in Azure free tier - you need real portal experience
- Practice the complete incident lifecycle: detection, investigation, response, remediation
- Create at least 5-10 custom analytics rules from scratch
- Build 3-5 playbooks using Logic Apps for different automation scenarios
- Connect multiple data sources and understand connector types (agent-based, API, Syslog)
- Simulate attacks using Azure Attack Simulation feature to trigger real alerts
Understand Product Integration
- Know how M365 Defender, Defender for Cloud, and Sentinel work together
- Understand bidirectional connector between Sentinel and M365 Defender
- Learn how alerts flow from Defender for Cloud into Sentinel
- Memorize which product handles which threat types (endpoint, email, identity, cloud)
- Understand when to use unified M365 Defender portal vs. Sentinel portal
- Know how UEBA enriches incidents across all platforms
- Practice cross-product hunting scenarios using advanced hunting
Focus on Automation and Orchestration
- Understand automation rules vs. playbooks and when to use each
- Learn Logic Apps connectors commonly used in security workflows
- Practice creating playbooks for: incident enrichment, user response, threat blocking
- Know how to trigger playbooks automatically vs. manually from incidents
- Understand playbook permissions and managed identity requirements
- Study common SOAR use cases: isolation, blocking, data enrichment, notifications
- Memorize which actions can be automated in automation rules without playbooks
Analytics Rules and Detection Engineering
- Understand all analytics rule types: scheduled, near real-time (NRT), anomaly, fusion
- Know when to use each rule type based on scenario requirements
- Practice creating rules from templates and customizing them
- Understand query scheduling, lookback periods, and alert thresholds
- Learn how to reduce false positives through tuning and entity mapping
- Know how to use watchlists in analytics rules for dynamic allow/block lists
- Understand alert grouping and incident creation logic
Exam-Specific Preparation
- The exam heavily weighs Sentinel (50%) - allocate study time accordingly
- Expect case study scenarios requiring multi-step solutions
- Know PowerShell cmdlets for Microsoft 365 Defender and Sentinel configuration
- Memorize default retention periods for different log types
- Understand pricing models - questions may ask about cost optimization
- Practice with interactive lab simulations if available - exam may include them
- Review the official skills measured document weekly - it's your exam blueprint
- Take notes on configuration blade locations in portals - you may need to identify them
Threat Intelligence and UEBA
- Understand threat intelligence platforms (TIP) and TAXII feeds integration
- Learn how to correlate threat indicators with analytics rules
- Know UEBA entity types and how behavioral analytics work
- Understand anomaly detection and machine learning analytics
- Practice investigating entities and viewing their activity timeline
- Learn how MITRE ATT&CK framework maps to detections in Microsoft products
- Understand threat intelligence workbooks and how to visualize IOCs
Exam Day Tips
- 1Review KQL cheat sheet and common query patterns the morning of the exam
- 2Arrive 15 minutes early if testing at a center; ensure quiet environment for online proctoring
- 3Read each question carefully - many are scenario-based requiring multiple considerations
- 4For case study questions, read the entire scenario before looking at questions
- 5Watch for keywords like 'minimize cost', 'least privilege', 'minimum administrative effort'
- 6If unsure, eliminate obviously wrong answers first to improve odds
- 7Flag difficult questions for review - don't get stuck on one question
- 8Time management is critical with 40-60 questions in 100 minutes - aim for 2 minutes per question
- 9In hands-on lab questions (if present), follow the exact instructions provided
- 10Remember that some questions test best practices and Microsoft recommendations, not just technical capability
- 11Trust your hands-on experience - if you've practiced in the labs, you'll recognize scenarios
- 12Review all flagged questions if time permits before submitting the exam
Study guide generated on January 14, 2026
Pro Study Tips
Expert advice to maximize your study effectiveness
Active Learning Strategies
- Hands-on practice: Apply concepts in real scenarios
- Teach others: Explain concepts to reinforce learning
- Take notes: Write summaries in your own words
Exam Day Preparation
- Get enough sleep: Rest well the night before
- Review key points: Go through your notes and cheat sheets
- Time management: Practice pacing with timed exams
Continue Your Preparation
More resources to help you succeed
Complete Microsoft Certified: Security Operations Analyst Associate Study Guide
This comprehensive study guide will help you prepare for the SC-200 certification exam offered by Microsoft Azure. Whether you are a beginner or experienced professional, this guide covers everything you need to know to pass on your first attempt.
What You Will Learn
Our study guide covers all 3 exam domains in detail:
- Mitigate Threats Using Microsoft 365 Defender (25%)
- Mitigate Threats Using Defender for Cloud (20%)
- Mitigate Threats Using Microsoft Sentinel (50%)
Recommended Timeline
Most candidates need 6-8 weeks of dedicated study to pass the Microsoft Certified: Security Operations Analyst Associate exam. We recommend studying 1-2 hours daily and taking practice exams weekly to track your progress.
Next Step: Start with our free practice test to assess your current knowledge level.