Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A company stores sensitive healthcare data in Azure SQL Database. They need to encrypt specific columns containing patient diagnosis codes so that even database administrators with the 'sysadmin' role cannot view the plaintext. The application must be able to perform equality searches (WHERE clauses) on the encrypted columns. Which encryption technology should they implement?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Distractor review
Transparent Data Encryption (TDE)
TDE encrypts the entire database at rest, but the database engine has access to the encryption keys, so DBAs with the 'sysadmin' role can still query and see plaintext data.
B
Best answer
Always Encrypted (deterministic encryption)
Always Encrypted encrypts column data such that the encryption keys are stored on the client and never revealed to the database engine. Deterministic encryption supports equality searches, making it suitable for this requirement.
C
Distractor review
Row-Level Security (RLS)
RLS restricts which rows a user can see based on predicates, but it does not encrypt data. DBAs with 'sysadmin' can bypass RLS policies and see all rows in plaintext.
D
Distractor review
Dynamic Data Masking (DDM)
DDM obfuscates data in query results based on user permissions, but the actual data is stored in plaintext and DBAs can easily query the original data.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
- Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
- Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
- The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
- Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
- Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
- Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
Related practice questions
Related AZ-500 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
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Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-500 question test?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Always Encrypted (deterministic encryption) — Always Encrypted with deterministic encryption allows you to encrypt specific columns in the database. The encryption keys are never exposed to the database engine, so DBAs cannot read the plaintext even with full database permissions. Deterministic encryption generates the same ciphertext for a given plaintext, enabling equality comparisons. Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) encrypts the entire database at rest but does not protect against DBAs who have access to the database. Row-Level Security (RLS) controls row access but does not encrypt data. Dynamic Data Masking (DDM) masks the data to users but does not encrypt it at rest, and DBAs can see the unmasked data.
What should I do if I get this AZ-500 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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