DS0-001 Data Governance And Security Practice Question
A database administrator needs to implement column-level encryption for sensitive PII in a SQL Server environment. Which tool should be used to ensure the encryption keys are managed outside the database engine?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
SQL Server Always Encrypted with Azure Key Vault
Azure Key Vault is the industry-standard service for managing encryption keys independently of the database engine, ensuring separation of duties.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Database File Stream
Why it's wrong here
File stream is for storing BLOBs, not for column-level security.
- ✗
Transparent Data Encryption (TDE)
Why it's wrong here
TDE encrypts at the file/page level, not specific columns.
- ✗
SQL Server Data Masking
Why it's wrong here
Data masking obscures data at display but does not provide encryption-at-rest for columns.
- ✓
SQL Server Always Encrypted with Azure Key Vault
Why this is correct
This feature allows for column-level encryption where the key resides in a secure external HSM.
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every DS0-001 question from scratch — 216 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed August 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
This DS0-001 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the DS0-001 exam.