- A
Azure SQL Database firewall rules, Transparent Data Encryption (TDE), and Always Encrypted
Why wrong: While TDE and Always Encrypted provide encryption, firewall rules alone do not prevent data exfiltration.
- B
Azure SQL Database with IP firewall rules, TLS 1.2, and Azure Information Protection
Why wrong: IP firewall rules and TLS do not prevent data exfiltration; Azure Information Protection is for classification, not access control.
- C
Azure SQL Database with Managed Identity, Azure Private Link, and Transparent Data Encryption (TDE)
Private Link prevents exposure to the internet, Managed Identity ensures only authorized identities can connect, and TDE encrypts data at rest.
- D
Azure SQL Database with Microsoft Entra ID authentication, Azure Key Vault, and Azure Storage Service Encryption
Why wrong: Storage Service Encryption is for Azure Storage, not SQL Database.
Quick Answer
The answer is B: Azure SQL Database with Managed Identity, Azure Private Link, and Transparent Data Encryption (TDE). This combination directly prevents data exfiltration by routing all traffic through Azure Private Link, which keeps SQL traffic within the Microsoft backbone and never exposes it to the public internet, while Managed Identity ensures only authorized Microsoft Entra ID users can authenticate and access the database. TDE then handles encryption at rest, and TLS in transit is enforced by default. On the AZ-305 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of defense-in-depth for regulated data—specifically that firewall rules alone cannot prevent exfiltration if a service is publicly reachable. A common trap is choosing Always Encrypted or IP firewall rules, which protect data at the column level or restrict IPs but do not eliminate network exposure. Remember the mnemonic “P-ME”: Private Link for network isolation, Managed Identity for identity control, and Encryption (TDE) for data protection.
AZ-305 Design infrastructure solutions Practice Question
This AZ-305 practice question tests your understanding of design infrastructure solutions. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A financial services company is designing a data platform on Azure that must comply with strict regulatory requirements. The platform will store sensitive customer data in Azure SQL Database. The company needs to prevent data exfiltration and ensure that only authorized Microsoft Entra ID users can access the data. The solution must also encrypt data at rest and in transit. Which combination of Azure services should the company implement?
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
Azure SQL Database with Managed Identity, Azure Private Link, and Transparent Data Encryption (TDE)
Option A (Azure SQL Database firewall + Transparent Data Encryption + Always Encrypted) meets encryption requirements but does not prevent data exfiltration. Option B (Azure SQL Database with Managed Identity + Azure Private Link + Transparent Data Encryption) provides private connectivity, identity-based access, and encryption. Option C (Azure SQL Database with Azure AD authentication + Azure Key Vault + Azure Storage Service Encryption) is partially correct but Azure Storage Service Encryption is not relevant. Option D (Azure SQL Database with IP firewall rules + TLS 1.2 + Azure Information Protection) does not prevent exfiltration. The best answer is B because Private Link ensures traffic stays within the Microsoft backbone, Managed Identity restricts access, and TDE encrypts at rest.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Azure SQL Database firewall rules, Transparent Data Encryption (TDE), and Always Encrypted
Why it's wrong here
While TDE and Always Encrypted provide encryption, firewall rules alone do not prevent data exfiltration.
- ✗
Azure SQL Database with IP firewall rules, TLS 1.2, and Azure Information Protection
- ✓
Azure SQL Database with Managed Identity, Azure Private Link, and Transparent Data Encryption (TDE)
- ✗
Azure SQL Database with Microsoft Entra ID authentication, Azure Key Vault, and Azure Storage Service Encryption
Why it's wrong here
Storage Service Encryption is for Azure Storage, not SQL Database.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related AZ-305 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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Design infrastructure solutions — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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Design infrastructure solutions practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-305 question test?
Design infrastructure solutions — This question tests Design infrastructure solutions — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Azure SQL Database with Managed Identity, Azure Private Link, and Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) — Option A (Azure SQL Database firewall + Transparent Data Encryption + Always Encrypted) meets encryption requirements but does not prevent data exfiltration. Option B (Azure SQL Database with Managed Identity + Azure Private Link + Transparent Data Encryption) provides private connectivity, identity-based access, and encryption. Option C (Azure SQL Database with Azure AD authentication + Azure Key Vault + Azure Storage Service Encryption) is partially correct but Azure Storage Service Encryption is not relevant. Option D (Azure SQL Database with IP firewall rules + TLS 1.2 + Azure Information Protection) does not prevent exfiltration. The best answer is B because Private Link ensures traffic stays within the Microsoft backbone, Managed Identity restricts access, and TDE encrypts at rest.
What should I do if I get this AZ-305 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related AZ-305 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
This AZ-305 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft 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 AZ-305 exam.
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