Microsoft Certified: Security Operations Analyst Associate Study Guide 2025: Updated Prep Materials
Get ready for the Microsoft Certified: Security Operations Analyst Associate certification with our comprehensive 2025 study guide. Updated with the latest exam objectives, study strategies, and expert tips to help you pass on your first attempt.
Exam Quick Facts
Why This 2025 Guide?
Prepared with the latest exam objectives and proven study strategies
2025 Updated
Reflects the latest exam objectives and content updates for 2025
Exam Aligned
Covers all current exam domains with accurate weightings
Proven Strategies
Time-tested study techniques from successful candidates
Fast Track Path
Efficient study plan to pass on your first attempt
Complete Study Materials
Comprehensive 2025 study guide for Microsoft Certified: Security Operations Analyst Associate
Complete Study Guide for Microsoft Certified: Security Operations Analyst Associate (SC-200)
The SC-200 certification validates your skills as a Security Operations Analyst who investigates, responds to, and hunts for threats using Microsoft Sentinel, Microsoft Defender XDR, and Microsoft Defender for Cloud. This associate-level certification demonstrates your ability to mitigate threats across modern security operations environments.
Who Should Take This Exam
- Security Operations Analysts
- SOC Analysts and Incident Responders
- Threat Hunters and Security Investigators
- IT professionals transitioning to security operations
- Azure security administrators expanding their skills
Prerequisites
- Fundamental understanding of Microsoft 365 services
- Basic knowledge of Azure architecture and services
- Familiarity with security concepts (SIEM, SOAR, threat intelligence)
- Understanding of KQL (Kusto Query Language) is highly beneficial
- Experience with Windows and Linux operating systems
Official Resources
SC-200 Official Exam Page
Official exam overview, skills measured, and registration information
View ResourceSC-200 Security Operations Analyst Certification
Complete certification overview and requirements
View ResourceSC-200 Study Guide - Skills Measured
Detailed breakdown of exam objectives and skills measured
View ResourceMicrosoft Sentinel Documentation
Complete documentation for Microsoft Sentinel (50% of exam)
View ResourceMicrosoft 365 Defender Documentation
Comprehensive guide to Microsoft 365 Defender (25% of exam)
View ResourceMicrosoft Defender for Cloud Documentation
Complete documentation for Defender for Cloud (20% of exam)
View ResourceKQL Quick Reference Guide
Essential KQL syntax and query examples for log analysis
View ResourceMicrosoft Learn - SC-200 Learning Path
Official Microsoft training course content
View ResourceThreat Intelligence in Microsoft Sentinel
Understanding threat intelligence integration and usage
View ResourceMicrosoft Security Blog
Latest security updates, best practices, and product announcements
View ResourceRecommended Courses
Microsoft Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate
Coursera • 40 hours
View CourseRecommended Books
Exam Ref SC-200 Microsoft Security Operations Analyst
by Yuri Diogenes, Jake Mowrer
Official Microsoft exam reference book covering all SC-200 objectives with real-world scenarios and practice questions
View on AmazonMicrosoft Sentinel in Action
by Olaf Hartong
Comprehensive guide to Microsoft Sentinel deployment, detection engineering, and threat hunting
View on AmazonMicrosoft 365 Security Administration: MS-500 Exam Guide
by Peter Rising
Covers Microsoft 365 security concepts that complement SC-200 Defender knowledge
View on AmazonKusto Query Language: The Definitive Guide
by Avi Yashar, Alon Rosenfeld
Deep dive into KQL for data analysis in Azure and Microsoft Sentinel
View on AmazonPractice & Hands-On Resources
Official Microsoft SC-200 Practice Assessment
Official practice exam with questions similar to the real exam format
View ResourceMeasureUp SC-200 Practice Tests
Comprehensive practice exams with detailed explanations and performance tracking
View ResourceMicrosoft Sentinel Training Lab
Free hands-on lab environment for Microsoft Sentinel practice
View ResourceMicrosoft 365 Defender Trial
Free trial environment to practice Microsoft 365 Defender capabilities
View ResourceAzure Free Account
12 months of free Azure services including Log Analytics for hands-on practice
View ResourceMicrosoft Sentinel Ninja Training
Advanced training materials and labs from the Sentinel product team
View ResourceWhizlabs SC-200 Practice Tests
Multiple practice exams with scenario-based questions
View ResourceMicrosoft Defender XDR Evaluation Lab
Automated lab environment for testing Microsoft Defender capabilities
View ResourceAzure Sentinel To-Go
Automated deployment scripts for quick Sentinel lab environment setup
View ResourceCommunity & Forums
Microsoft Tech Community - Sentinel
Official Microsoft community for Sentinel discussions, updates, and best practices
Join CommunityMicrosoft Tech Community - Microsoft 365 Defender
Community for Microsoft 365 Defender product discussions and Q&A
Join Communityr/AzureSentinel
Reddit community for Microsoft Sentinel discussions, tips, and study resources
Join Communityr/cybersecurity
General cybersecurity community with SOC and security operations discussions
Join CommunityMicrosoft Security Discord
Active Discord community for Microsoft security professionals and learners
Join CommunityRod Trent's Must Learn KQL Blog
Comprehensive blog series on KQL fundamentals and advanced techniques
Join CommunityMicrosoft Sentinel GitHub Repository
Official repository with detection rules, workbooks, playbooks, and hunting queries
Join CommunityStudy Tips
KQL Mastery is Critical
- KQL appears across all exam domains - spend 20-30% of study time mastering it
- Practice writing queries daily, not just reading them
- Focus on common operators: where, summarize, join, extend, project, parse
- Learn datetime manipulation and timeframe filtering - frequently tested
- Use the Log Analytics demo environment for practice without consuming Azure credits
- Create a personal KQL cheat sheet with common patterns you'll use in the exam
Hands-On Practice is Essential
- This is not a theoretical exam - you must have hands-on experience
- Deploy Microsoft Sentinel in your free Azure account and ingest real data
- Create at least 10 different analytics rules from scratch
- Build 3-5 Logic Apps playbooks for automated response
- Practice the complete incident investigation workflow multiple times
- Configure all major data connectors (Azure Activity, Microsoft 365, Security Events)
- The exam includes scenario-based questions requiring practical knowledge
Understand Product Integration
- Know how Microsoft 365 Defender integrates with Sentinel (bidirectional sync)
- Understand when to use Defender for Cloud alerts vs Sentinel analytics rules
- Learn how UEBA entities correlate across different data sources
- Study the unified incident experience in Microsoft 365 Defender portal
- Know which product handles specific threat types (email, endpoint, identity, cloud apps)
- Understand data flow from source to Sentinel to playbook execution
Focus on the 50% Domain
- Microsoft Sentinel comprises 50% of the exam - allocate your time accordingly
- Master all analytics rule types: scheduled, near real-time, anomaly, fusion, ML
- Understand data connector authentication methods and requirements
- Know workbook visualization options and when to use each
- Practice creating watchlists and using them in queries
- Understand the difference between incidents, alerts, and events
- Learn content hub solutions and how to deploy community content
Microsoft 365 Defender Specifics
- Understand advanced hunting tables schema (DeviceEvents, EmailEvents, IdentityLogonEvents, etc.)
- Know AIR capabilities and when automated investigation triggers
- Learn threat analytics and how to apply threat intelligence
- Understand attack surface reduction (ASR) rules in Defender for Endpoint
- Know how to pivot between different Defender products during investigation
- Practice creating custom detection rules in Microsoft 365 Defender
Defender for Cloud Focus Areas
- Understand the difference between Defender plans (Servers, Containers, Databases, etc.)
- Know JIT VM access configuration and when to use it
- Learn adaptive application controls allowlisting process
- Understand vulnerability assessment with Qualys vs Microsoft Defender
- Know how to create custom security policies and initiatives
- Study multi-cloud capabilities (AWS and GCP connector configuration)
- Understand workflow automation vs Logic Apps playbooks in Sentinel
Exam Strategy
- Read questions carefully - look for keywords like 'minimum effort', 'most secure', 'least cost'
- For KQL questions, trace through the query step by step before selecting answers
- Use the mark for review feature - don't get stuck on difficult questions
- Scenario questions often require understanding product limitations and capabilities
- Remember that Microsoft prefers cloud-native solutions over third-party integrations
- Case studies at the beginning cannot be revisited - take your time with them
- Time management: aim for 1.5-2 minutes per question average
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Don't confuse Log Analytics workspace retention with Azure storage retention
- Remember that not all alerts create incidents automatically in Sentinel
- Know which features require specific licensing (E5 vs E3 for Microsoft 365)
- Understand data connector prerequisites - some require specific roles or permissions
- Don't overlook UEBA requirements (90-day baseline period, specific data connectors)
- Remember that some playbooks require managed identity configuration
- Know the difference between Microsoft Sentinel roles (Reader, Responder, Contributor)
Exam Day Tips
- 1Arrive 15 minutes early if testing at a center; log in 15 minutes early for online proctoring
- 2Have valid government-issued ID ready - name must match exactly with registration
- 3For online exams, ensure your workspace is clean with no prohibited items visible
- 4Read all questions completely - Microsoft often includes distractors that seem correct
- 5For case studies, take notes on the scratch paper/whiteboard as you cannot return to them
- 6Don't overthink KQL questions - trace through the query logic systematically
- 7Use the 'Mark for Review' feature liberally - you can return to marked questions
- 8If you're stuck between two answers, choose the one that aligns with Microsoft best practices
- 9Watch your time - aim to finish with 10-15 minutes to review marked questions
- 10For scenario questions, identify the business requirement first, then select the technical solution
- 11Remember that 'minimal administrative effort' usually means using built-in features over custom solutions
- 12Trust your preparation - your first instinct is often correct
- 13Stay calm during labs/simulations - they're designed to be completed in the time allocated
- 14If you encounter a survey at the end, it doesn't count toward your score or time
Study guide generated on January 8, 2026
Microsoft Certified: Security Operations Analyst Associate 2025 Study Guide FAQs
Microsoft Certified: Security Operations Analyst Associate is a professional certification from Microsoft Azure that validates expertise in microsoft certified: security operations analyst associate technologies and concepts. The official exam code is SC-200.
The Microsoft Certified: Security Operations Analyst Associate Study Guide 2025 includes updated content reflecting the latest exam changes, new technologies, and best practices. It covers all current exam objectives and domains.
Yes, the 2025 Microsoft Certified: Security Operations Analyst Associate study guide has been updated with new content, revised exam objectives, and the latest industry trends. It reflects all changes made to the SC-200 exam.
Start by reviewing the exam objectives in the 2025 guide, then work through each section systematically. Combine your study with practice exams to reinforce your learning.
More 2025 Resources
Complete your exam preparation with these resources