- A
Enable 'Allow trusted Microsoft services to bypass this firewall' in the Key Vault firewall settings.
Correct. This setting allows Azure SQL Database (a trusted service) to bypass the Key Vault firewall and access the CMK for TDE operations.
- B
Disable public network access on the Key Vault.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Disabling public network access would block all access from the internet and Azure services, preventing Azure SQL Database from reaching the Key Vault.
- C
Add the SQL Database server's system-assigned managed identity to the Key Vault access policy.
Why wrong: Incorrect. This is required for permissions (get, wrap, unwrap) but does not resolve the firewall block. Both are typically needed.
- D
Enable soft-delete on the Key Vault.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Soft-delete protects against accidental deletion but does not affect network connectivity or firewall bypass.
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: azure Key Vault firewalls block all but explicitly allowed traffic.. 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 Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) encrypted using a customer-managed key (CMK) stored in Azure Key Vault. The Key Vault is protected by a firewall and virtual network service endpoints. The storage account used for TDE logs is in the same Azure region. What additional configuration is necessary in the Key Vault to allow Azure SQL Database to access the CMK for TDE operations?
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 'Allow trusted Microsoft services to bypass this firewall' in the Key Vault firewall settings.
Azure SQL Database uses TDE with a customer-managed key stored in Key Vault. When the Key Vault has a firewall enabled, Azure SQL Database must be able to bypass that firewall to access the key. Enabling 'Allow trusted Microsoft services to bypass this firewall' is required because Azure SQL Database is a trusted Microsoft service that needs to reach the Key Vault endpoint for TDE operations, even when the firewall blocks public network access.
Key principle: Azure Key Vault firewalls block all but explicitly allowed traffic.
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 'Allow trusted Microsoft services to bypass this firewall' in the Key Vault firewall settings.
Why this is correct
Correct. This setting allows Azure SQL Database (a trusted service) to bypass the Key Vault firewall and access the CMK for TDE operations.
Related concept
Azure Key Vault firewalls block all but explicitly allowed traffic.
- ✗
Disable public network access on the Key Vault.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Disabling public network access would block all access from the internet and Azure services, preventing Azure SQL Database from reaching the Key Vault.
- ✗
Add the SQL Database server's system-assigned managed identity to the Key Vault access policy.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. This is required for permissions (get, wrap, unwrap) but does not resolve the firewall block. Both are typically needed.
- ✗
Enable soft-delete on the Key Vault.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Soft-delete protects against accidental deletion but does not affect network connectivity or firewall bypass.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often think adding a managed identity or disabling public access is sufficient, but they miss that the Key Vault firewall explicitly requires the 'Allow trusted Microsoft services' bypass for Azure SQL Database to access the CMK.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Azure SQL Database's TDE with CMK uses the SQL Server resource's Azure Active Directory identity to authenticate to Key Vault. The Key Vault firewall's 'Allow trusted Microsoft services' setting leverages the Azure platform's internal network infrastructure to permit traffic from services like Azure SQL Database, bypassing the public endpoint restrictions. This is critical because the Key Vault firewall blocks all traffic by default, and without this bypass, the SQL Database cannot retrieve the key for decryption, causing TDE operations to fail.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Azure Key Vault firewalls block all but explicitly allowed traffic.
- Azure SQL Database is a 'trusted Microsoft service'.
- The 'Allow trusted Microsoft services' setting bypasses Key Vault network restrictions.
- This bypass is essential when Key Vault uses VNet service endpoints or private endpoints.
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
Azure Key Vault firewalls block all but explicitly allowed traffic.
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 azure Key Vault firewalls block all but explicitly allowed traffic., 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 — Azure Key Vault firewalls block all but explicitly allowed traffic..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable 'Allow trusted Microsoft services to bypass this firewall' in the Key Vault firewall settings. — Azure SQL Database uses TDE with a customer-managed key stored in Key Vault. When the Key Vault has a firewall enabled, Azure SQL Database must be able to bypass that firewall to access the key. Enabling 'Allow trusted Microsoft services to bypass this firewall' is required because Azure SQL Database is a trusted Microsoft service that needs to reach the Key Vault endpoint for TDE operations, even when the firewall blocks public network access.
What should I do if I get this AZ-500 question wrong?
Review azure Key Vault firewalls block all but explicitly allowed traffic., then practise related AZ-500 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Azure Key Vault firewalls block all but explicitly allowed traffic.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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