- A
Enable SQL Auditing and set the destination to a Log Analytics workspace in a different region.
Why wrong: Log Analytics workspaces are regional and logs stored there are not automatically replicated across regions for disaster recovery. A storage account in a different region provides better geo-redundancy.
- B
Enable SQL Auditing and set the destination to an Event Hub namespace in the same region.
Why wrong: Event Hub is a streaming destination, not a persistent storage. It does not provide long-term storage or disaster recovery across regions by itself.
- C
Enable SQL Auditing and set the destination to an Azure Storage account in a different region.
Azure Storage accounts can be configured with geo-redundant storage (GRS) and can be placed in a different region. This provides a durable, long-term audit log storage with cross-region disaster recovery.
- D
Enable Advanced Threat Protection for Azure SQL Database and configure email notifications.
Why wrong: Advanced Threat Protection is for detecting threats, not for auditing failed logins. It does not provide custom audit log storage.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to enable SQL Auditing and set the destination to an Azure Storage account in a different region. This works because Azure SQL Database auditing can write audit logs directly to a storage account, and by choosing a storage account in a different Azure region, you ensure the logs survive a regional outage, meeting the disaster recovery requirement. The audit logs capture all database events, including failed login attempts, which directly satisfies the compliance need for auditing failed logins. On the AZ-500 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of Azure SQL auditing destinations and regional resilience—a common trap is thinking you need a separate Log Analytics workspace or a diagnostic setting, but the direct storage account destination is the simplest compliant solution. Memory tip: think “audit logs survive region loss” to remember that the storage account must be in a different region for disaster recovery.
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. 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 company uses Azure SQL Database with Azure Active Directory authentication. To meet compliance requirements, they need to audit all failed login attempts and store the audit logs in a storage account located in a different Azure region for disaster recovery. What should they configure?
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 SQL Auditing and set the destination to an Azure Storage account in a different region.
Option C is correct because Azure SQL Database auditing can be configured to write audit logs directly to an Azure Storage account. Storing the logs in a storage account located in a different Azure region meets the disaster recovery requirement by ensuring logs survive a regional outage. The audit logs capture all database events, including failed login attempts, which satisfies the compliance need.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Enable SQL Auditing and set the destination to a Log Analytics workspace in a different region.
Why it's wrong here
Log Analytics workspaces are regional and logs stored there are not automatically replicated across regions for disaster recovery. A storage account in a different region provides better geo-redundancy.
- ✗
Enable SQL Auditing and set the destination to an Event Hub namespace in the same region.
Why it's wrong here
Event Hub is a streaming destination, not a persistent storage. It does not provide long-term storage or disaster recovery across regions by itself.
- ✓
Enable SQL Auditing and set the destination to an Azure Storage account in a different region.
Why this is correct
Azure Storage accounts can be configured with geo-redundant storage (GRS) and can be placed in a different region. This provides a durable, long-term audit log storage with cross-region disaster recovery.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Enable Advanced Threat Protection for Azure SQL Database and configure email notifications.
Why it's wrong here
Advanced Threat Protection is for detecting threats, not for auditing failed logins. It does not provide custom audit log storage.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse auditing with threat detection or choose a Log Analytics workspace for centralized logging, overlooking the explicit requirement for durable, cross-region storage for compliance and disaster recovery.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure SQL Database auditing writes audit logs as .xel files to Azure Blob Storage when configured with a storage account destination. To achieve cross-region disaster recovery, the storage account must be in a different region, and you can optionally enable geo-redundant storage (GRS) for additional resilience. The audit policy captures both successful and failed login attempts (e.g., SQL injection or brute-force attacks) at the server or database level, with granular control over event categories.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
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
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Secure compute, storage, and databases — study guide chapter
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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 — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable SQL Auditing and set the destination to an Azure Storage account in a different region. — Option C is correct because Azure SQL Database auditing can be configured to write audit logs directly to an Azure Storage account. Storing the logs in a storage account located in a different Azure region meets the disaster recovery requirement by ensuring logs survive a regional outage. The audit logs capture all database events, including failed login attempts, which satisfies the compliance need.
What should I do if I get this AZ-500 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This AZ-500 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-500 exam.
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