Microsoft AuthorizedAssociate2026 UpdatedSOC Analyst Hire
SC-200: Security Operations Analyst Associate
Microsoft's SOC analyst credential. Detect, investigate and respond to threats using Microsoft Sentinel, Defender XDR and Defender for Cloud.
⏱Duration: 5 days / 40 hrs
💻Format: Instructor-Led + Azure Sandbox
🌐Delivery: On-site · Virtual · Hybrid
✅Pass rate: 95%
📅Next intake: 11 August 2026
🔍
Sentinel KQL fluency
Write detection and hunting queries fluently
🛡️
Defender XDR mastery
Endpoint, identity, cloud apps and email — unified response
☁️
Defender for Cloud
Continuous posture and workload protection across Azure, AWS, GCP
📝
Incident playbooks
Automate response with Logic Apps and Sentinel automation rules
What this course is
SC-200 is the Microsoft SOC role.
SC-200 is the Microsoft Security Operations Analyst Associate credential. It validates that you can use Microsoft Sentinel, Defender XDR and Defender for Cloud to detect, investigate and respond to threats across Microsoft and multi-cloud environments.
At Nexperts, SC-200 is delivered against a live Sentinel workspace ingesting attack data from a Caldera red team plus synthetic noise. You write real KQL, build real playbooks and triage real incidents.
A modern SOC analyst lives in KQL. SC-200 tests fluency, not theory. We drill fluency until it's reflex.
The 2026 update expands Defender XDR coverage, Microsoft Copilot for Security integration and multi-cloud Defender for Cloud workflows. We teach with MY-specific incident playbooks throughout.
Who should take this course
🔍
SOC analysts on Microsoft stack
The natural credential for SOCs running Sentinel and Defender.
🛡️
Security+ / CySA+ holders
Microsoft-specific specialisation step from generic security.
☁️
Cloud security engineers
Multi-cloud Defender for Cloud + Sentinel = enterprise SOC.
🏛️
Banking IR teams
BNM RMiT incident detection alignment via Microsoft stack.
🔍
Threat hunters
KQL fluency is the threat-hunting language.
📚
CySA+ alumni
Add Microsoft-specific depth to your SOC analyst credentials.
Prerequisites
✓ AZ-900 / SC-900 fundamentals or equivalent Azure literacy
✓ Security+ / CySA+ recommended
✓ Familiarity with KQL helpful but not required
✓ Comfort with M365 admin centres
→ No SC-900? Ask us about our combined SC-900 → SC-200 track.
Course Curriculum
Three domains. Microsoft SOC operations.
SC-200 is structured into Mitigate threats using Defender XDR, Mitigate threats using Defender for Cloud, and Mitigate threats using Sentinel. We sequence by attack lifecycle.
Hands-On Sentinel Workspace
36 SOC drills. Live attack data.
The Nexperts SC-200 environment is a Sentinel workspace ingesting from Defender XDR, Defender for Cloud, AWS GuardDuty (sim) and a Caldera red-team controller.
01
KQL Detection Sprint
Write 10 KQL detections aligned to MITRE ATT&CK in 90 minutes.
Detection
02
Phishing-to-Foothold
Investigate a real phishing-to-foothold across Defender XDR.
Investigation
03
Sentinel Playbook
Build a Logic Apps playbook to auto-isolate compromised endpoints.
Automation
04
Multi-Cloud Posture
Improve a multi-cloud secure score from 38 to 78.
Posture
05
Lateral Movement Hunt
Hunt and identify lateral movement from raw Defender for Identity logs.
Hunting
06
Sentinel Workbook
Build a SOC dashboard workbook for an MY fintech CISO.
Dashboards
07
Live Response Drill
Use Defender Live Response to interrogate a compromised endpoint.
Live IR
08
Copilot Investigation
Triage 5 incidents using Copilot for Security.
Copilot
09
BNM RMiT Mapping
Map Sentinel detections to BNM RMiT control catalogue.
Compliance
+ 27 additional Sentinel/Defender tasks. Workspace access for 60 days post-course.
Exam Information
One exam. Heavy on KQL.
SC-200 is heavy on KQL questions, Sentinel-specific scenarios and Defender XDR cross-product investigations. The exam tests workflow, not memorisation.
SC-200 Exam
Questions40–60 multi-format
Duration100 minutes
Passing score700 / 1000
FormatPearson VUE / Online proctor
Validity1 year (free renewal)
Industry avg pass rate~65% first attempt
Nexperts pass rate95% first attempt
Microsoft Security Path
Stacks withSC-900 → SC-200 → SC-100
MY salary upliftAverage +RM 1,800/mo post-cert
RenewalFree yearly Microsoft Learn assessment
VoucherBundled — Microsoft voucher included
ComplianceAligned with BNM RMiT detection requirements
Career fitSOC analyst, threat hunter, security engineer
Pre-bridgePathway to SC-100 cybersecurity architect
Our SC-200 3-Mock Programme
01
Diagnostic Mock
Day 2. Maps weak XDR areas. Average score: 60%.
02
KQL-Heavy Mock
Day 4. Sentinel detection-only practice. Average score: 76%.
03
Final Clearance
Day 5. Full timed simulation. 84%+ before booking. Average score: 87%.
0%
Pass Rate
95% of our SC-200 analysts pass on first attempt.
The global SC-200 first-attempt rate is around 65%. Our 95% comes from a live Sentinel workspace, dedicated KQL workshops and an instructor who runs a Microsoft-stack SOC for an MY GLC.
Live Sentinel workspaceKQL fluency workshop95% first attemptCaldera attack data60-day post-course access
Why our pass rate is 95%
Industry average: ~65%
Most candidates fail on KQL questions because they have written queries casually but never under exam time pressure.
Nexperts: 95%
We make you write 10 KQL detections in 90 minutes. We hard-gate at 84% mock. KQL becomes reflex by exam day.
Your Certification Journey
SC-200 unlocks modern SOC roles.
From SC-200 you specialise into cybersecurity architecture (SC-100), identity (SC-300) or extend into vendor-neutral CISSP / CISM tracks.
Before this
SC-900 + AZ-900
Security and cloud foundations are assumed. Without them, SC-200 feels Microsoft-specific without grounding.
