- A
No additional configuration is needed; Azure Files uses SMB encryption by default and cannot be disabled.
Why wrong: Azure Files supports SMB 3.0 encryption, but it is not enforced by default. The 'Secure transfer required' setting must be enabled to require encryption.
- B
Enable 'Secure transfer required' in the storage account's configuration to enforce SMB 3.0 encryption.
When 'Secure transfer required' is enabled, the storage account accepts only encrypted connections (HTTPS and SMB 3.0 with encryption). For Azure Files, this means clients must use SMB 3.0 encryption to connect.
- C
Configure a network security group (NSG) rule to block SMB traffic on port 445 that does not use encryption.
Why wrong: NSGs do not inspect encryption; they filter traffic based on IP and port. They cannot enforce encryption requirements on the SMB protocol itself. That is a storage-level setting.
- D
Set the Azure Files share to use the 'Premium' performance tier; encryption is only available on premium shares.
Why wrong: While CMK for Azure Files is only available on premium shares, SMB encryption enforcement is available on both standard and premium shares via the 'Secure transfer required' setting.
AZ-500 Secure compute, storage, and databases Practice Question
This AZ-500 practice question tests your understanding of secure compute, storage, and databases. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. A key principle to apply: 'Secure transfer required' enforces SMB 3.0 encryption for Azure Files.. 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 company stores sensitive files in Azure Files shares. They require that data is encrypted at rest using a customer-managed key (CMK) stored in Azure Key Vault, and that all client connections use SMB 3.0 encryption for end-to-end encryption in transit. They create a premium Azure Files share in a storage account and configure encryption at rest with a CMK. However, clients are unable to connect without SMB encryption. What additional configuration is necessary to enforce SMB encryption for all connections?
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
Enable 'Secure transfer required' in the storage account's configuration to enforce SMB 3.0 encryption.
Option B is correct because enabling 'Secure transfer required' on the storage account enforces that all client connections use SMB 3.0 with encryption, which is necessary for end-to-end encryption in transit. Even though encryption at rest is configured with a CMK, the storage account does not automatically require encrypted connections; this setting explicitly denies unencrypted SMB 2.1 or SMB 3.0 without encryption.
Key principle: 'Secure transfer required' enforces SMB 3.0 encryption for Azure Files.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
No additional configuration is needed; Azure Files uses SMB encryption by default and cannot be disabled.
Why it's wrong here
Azure Files supports SMB 3.0 encryption, but it is not enforced by default. The 'Secure transfer required' setting must be enabled to require encryption.
- ✓
Enable 'Secure transfer required' in the storage account's configuration to enforce SMB 3.0 encryption.
Why this is correct
When 'Secure transfer required' is enabled, the storage account accepts only encrypted connections (HTTPS and SMB 3.0 with encryption). For Azure Files, this means clients must use SMB 3.0 encryption to connect.
Related concept
'Secure transfer required' enforces SMB 3.0 encryption for Azure Files.
- ✗
Configure a network security group (NSG) rule to block SMB traffic on port 445 that does not use encryption.
Why it's wrong here
NSGs do not inspect encryption; they filter traffic based on IP and port. They cannot enforce encryption requirements on the SMB protocol itself. That is a storage-level setting.
- ✗
Set the Azure Files share to use the 'Premium' performance tier; encryption is only available on premium shares.
Why it's wrong here
While CMK for Azure Files is only available on premium shares, SMB encryption enforcement is available on both standard and premium shares via the 'Secure transfer required' setting.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume encryption at rest (CMK) automatically implies encryption in transit, but Azure requires a separate explicit setting ('Secure transfer required') to enforce SMB 3.0 encryption for all client connections.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The 'Secure transfer required' setting on the storage account enforces the use of SMB 3.0 with encryption by rejecting connections that attempt SMB 2.1 or SMB 3.0 without encryption. Under the hood, this setting modifies the storage account's security policy to require the 'SMB Encryption' capability, which is negotiated during the SMB dialect selection; clients that do not support SMB 3.0 encryption (e.g., older Windows versions) will be denied. In a real-world scenario, if this setting is not enabled, a client could connect using SMB 3.0 without encryption, leaving data in transit vulnerable even though encryption at rest is configured.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- 'Secure transfer required' enforces SMB 3.0 encryption for Azure Files.
- This setting is configured at the Azure storage account level.
- It also enforces HTTPS for REST API access to the storage account.
- Enabling it rejects unencrypted SMB connections to Azure Files shares.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
'Secure transfer required' enforces SMB 3.0 encryption for Azure Files.
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 'Secure transfer required' enforces SMB 3.0 encryption for Azure Files., then practise related AZ-500 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-500 question test?
Secure compute, storage, and databases — This question tests Secure compute, storage, and databases — 'Secure transfer required' enforces SMB 3.0 encryption for Azure Files..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable 'Secure transfer required' in the storage account's configuration to enforce SMB 3.0 encryption. — Option B is correct because enabling 'Secure transfer required' on the storage account enforces that all client connections use SMB 3.0 with encryption, which is necessary for end-to-end encryption in transit. Even though encryption at rest is configured with a CMK, the storage account does not automatically require encrypted connections; this setting explicitly denies unencrypted SMB 2.1 or SMB 3.0 without encryption.
What should I do if I get this AZ-500 question wrong?
Review 'Secure transfer required' enforces SMB 3.0 encryption for Azure Files., then practise related AZ-500 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
'Secure transfer required' enforces SMB 3.0 encryption for Azure Files.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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