Tutorial / Cram Notes
One primary responsibility of a security operations analyst is ensuring that data is retained for the appropriate amount of time as per the organization’s policy and regulatory requirements. Microsoft provides various solutions to manage data retention effectively:
Azure Monitor Logs:
Azure Monitor Logs stores log data in Log Analytics workspaces. Data retention policies can be tailored per workspace. You can configure the retention period anywhere between 30 to 730 days, depending on your requirements. For instance:
| RetentionPolicy (Days) | WorkSpace 1 | Workspace 2 | Workspace 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| DataRetentionInDays | 180 | 365 | 90 |
Retaining data beyond the default retention period could incur additional costs, so a balance between requirements and costs should be considered.
Azure Sentinel:
When using Azure Sentinel, its retention policies are typically aligned with those in Azure Monitor Logs. By default, Azure Sentinel offers 90 days of free data retention but allows for custom retention periods tailored to organizational needs.
Alert Notification Management
Alert notifications are vital in keeping relevant stakeholders informed about security incidents as they arise.
Azure Security Center:
Azure Security Center provides a central view of security alerts and can send notifications via email to specified email addresses when new alerts are triggered. It can be configured to send alerts for high severity issues or according to specific criteria through:
| Alert Severity Level | Email Recipients |
|---|---|
| High | [email protected] |
| Low | [email protected] |
Email Notifications:
In addition to Azure Security Center, Azure Monitor and Azure Sentinel can also be set up to send email notifications based on alerts. Automation rules can trigger notifications or run playbooks to respond to specific alert types or severities.
Advanced Features
For a Security Operations Analyst, making use of the advanced features of Microsoft’s security tools is necessary for a robust security posture.
Advanced Hunting in Microsoft 365 Defender:
The Advanced Hunting capability allows you to proactively hunt for threats across devices, emails, apps, and identities in your organization. It uses a Kusto query language (KQL) to sift through historical data. For example:
DeviceLogonEvents
| where Timestamp > ago(30d)
| where AccountName == “suspiciousUser”
| summarize Count = count() by DeviceName
This query checks for logon events in the past 30 days related to “suspiciousUser” and summarizes the count by device.
Threat Intelligence:
Microsoft Threat Intelligence provides insights about the threat landscape which can be leveraged to secure the organization’s entities better. It analyzes data from your organization, the industry, and globally, providing actionable intelligence.
Security Orchestration Automated Response (SOAR):
SOAR, as part of Azure Sentinel, offers the functionality to automate responses to specific alerts. Using playbooks (based on Azure Logic Apps), responses range from simple notifications to complex remediations.
Ensuring that you have a comprehensive understanding of managing data retention, alert notifications, and the aforementioned advanced features is crucial for the exam. Moreover, it is also imperative for a security operations analyst to implement these practices in the context of protecting an organization’s digital assets.
Practice Test with Explanation
True or False: In Microsoft 365 Defender, you can set data retention policies for up to 365 days.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Microsoft 365 Defender allows setting data retention policies for varying durations up to 365 days according to different types of data.
True or False: Alerts in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint can be configured to be sent via email to security operation teams.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Alerts can indeed be configured in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint to notify security operation teams through email.
Which of the following can be used for setting up automated responses in Microsoft 365 Defender? (Select ALL that apply)
- Microsoft Power Automate
- Manual response only
- Azure Logic Apps
- Automated investigation and response (AIR)
Answer: Microsoft Power Automate, Azure Logic Apps, Automated investigation and response (AIR)
Explanation: Both Microsoft Power Automate and Azure Logic Apps can be integrated to automate responses, as well as the built-in Automated investigation and response feature.
True or False: Azure Sentinel can only retain data for up to 90 days.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Azure Sentinel allows you to retain data for varying durations based on your need, and it can exceed 90 days.
In what format are Microsoft Defender for Identity alerts exported when using the “Export to Excel” feature?
- XLSX
- CSV
- TXT
Answer: XLSX
Explanation: The “Export to Excel” feature in Microsoft Defender for Identity exports alerts in the XLSX format.
True or False: Azure Sentinel allows you to create custom analytics rules to detect specific threats.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Azure Sentinel indeed offers the capability to create custom analytics rules for tailored threat detection.
Which Azure service is primarily used for creating alert notification rules?
- Azure Monitor
- Azure Security Center
- Azure Functions
- Azure Automation
Answer: Azure Monitor
Explanation: Azure Monitor is commonly used for creating and managing alert notification rules across Azure services.
What is the main purpose of data retention policies in security operations?
- Ensuring compliance with industry regulations
- Enhancing system performance by deleting old data
- Storing all data indefinitely
- Increasing the storage costs
Answer: Ensuring compliance with industry regulations
Explanation: The main purpose of data retention policies is to ensure data is stored in compliance with industry regulations and organization requirements.
True or False: You can integrate Microsoft Defender for Office 365 with third-party SIEM solutions.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Microsoft Defender for Office 365 offers integration capabilities with third-party SIEM solutions for enhanced monitoring and management.
Which of the following is a requirement for configuring automated responses in Microsoft 365 Defender?
- An active Power BI subscription
- An existing playbook in Azure Sentinel
- Permissions to create Microsoft Teams
- Appropriate role permissions in Microsoft 365 Defender
Answer: Appropriate role permissions in Microsoft 365 Defender
Explanation: Configuring automated responses requires having the necessary role permissions within Microsoft 365 Defender.
Interview Questions
What are data retention settings in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint?
Data retention settings in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint allow organizations to control how long data is retained by the solution.
Why are data retention settings important for organizations?
Data retention settings are important for organizations as they can help ensure compliance with regulations such as GDPR or CCPA.
Can organizations create custom data retention policies in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint?
Yes, organizations can create custom data retention policies for specific types of data.
What is alert notification in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint?
Alert notification in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint allows organizations to customize how they are notified when a security event occurs.
How can organizations customize alert notifications in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint?
Organizations can customize alert notifications by specifying the recipients, priority level, and frequency of the alert.
What is endpoint detection and response (EDR) in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint?
Endpoint detection and response (EDR) in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint provides real-time visibility into an organization’s endpoints.
What is attack surface reduction (ASR) in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint?
Attack surface reduction (ASR) in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint helps prevent attacks by blocking malicious activity and reducing an organization’s attack surface.
How can network protection in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint help organizations?
Network protection in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint helps prevent attacks by blocking malicious network activity.
How can organizations use the Microsoft Defender Security Center to manage security features in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint?
Organizations can use the Microsoft Defender Security Center as a central hub for managing security features in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint.
What are some advanced security features in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint?
Advanced security features in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint include EDR, ASR, and network protection.
Can organizations customize advanced security features in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint?
Yes, organizations can customize advanced security features in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint to fit their specific security needs.
How can organizations ensure that they are taking full advantage of the features in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint?
Organizations can regularly review and update their security policies to ensure that they are taking full advantage of the features in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint.
Why is ease of management important in security solutions like Microsoft Defender for Endpoint?
Ease of management is important in security solutions like Microsoft Defender for Endpoint as it allows security teams to quickly and easily configure and update security policies.
What are some best practices for using Microsoft Defender for Endpoint?
Best practices for using Microsoft Defender for Endpoint include regularly reviewing and updating security policies, customizing alert notifications, and enabling advanced security features.
Can Microsoft Defender for Endpoint be integrated with other security solutions?
Yes, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint can be integrated with other security solutions to provide a comprehensive security posture.
I’m really struggling with setting up data retention policies in Microsoft Sentinel. Any tips?
Thanks for the info!
Is anyone using automated alert notifications? How reliable are they in your experience?
The blog post was quite informative. Appreciate it!
What are some advanced features in SC-200 that people often overlook?
I’m having issues with the alert notifications not triggering. Any ideas why?
Is it possible to customize the data retention period for different data types in Sentinel?
How effective is machine learning in reducing false positives in alert notifications?