- A
Deploy the Log Analytics agent to the SQL servers
Why wrong: The Log Analytics agent collects logs but is not the primary reason for missing alerts; the Defender plan must be enabled.
- B
Configure Azure Firewall logs for SQL traffic
Why wrong: Azure Firewall logs are not related to SQL server specific alerts in Defender for Cloud.
- C
Assign the 'Configure Azure Defender for SQL agents on virtual machines' policy
Why wrong: Assigning a policy enforces configuration on VMs, but the issue is about on-premises SQL servers with Azure Arc; the plan must be enabled first.
- D
Enable the 'SQL servers on machines' plan in Microsoft Defender for Cloud
The plan for SQL servers on machines must be enabled at the subscription level to start receiving alerts for on-premises SQL servers.
AZ-500 Practice Question: Secure Azure using Microsoft Defender for Cloud and Microsoft Sentinel
This AZ-500 practice question tests your understanding of secure azure using microsoft defender for cloud and microsoft sentinel. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 Microsoft Defender for Cloud to protect its hybrid workloads. Security administrators report that critical alerts for SQL servers are not appearing in the Defender for Cloud dashboard. The SQL servers are on-premises and have Azure Arc enabled. Which configuration step should be verified first?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"first"Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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 the 'SQL servers on machines' plan in Microsoft Defender for Cloud
Option B is correct because for on-premises SQL servers with Azure Arc, the SQL servers must be registered as Azure Arc-enabled SQL Server instances and the Microsoft Defender for Cloud plan for SQL servers must be enabled at the subscription level. Option A is wrong because Azure Policy can enforce but doesn't directly cause missing alerts. Option C is wrong because Log Analytics workspace is used for data collection, but the core issue is plan enablement. Option D is wrong because Azure Firewall logs are unrelated to SQL specific alerts.
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.
- ✗
Deploy the Log Analytics agent to the SQL servers
Why it's wrong here
The Log Analytics agent collects logs but is not the primary reason for missing alerts; the Defender plan must be enabled.
- ✗
Configure Azure Firewall logs for SQL traffic
Why it's wrong here
Azure Firewall logs are not related to SQL server specific alerts in Defender for Cloud.
- ✗
Assign the 'Configure Azure Defender for SQL agents on virtual machines' policy
Why it's wrong here
Assigning a policy enforces configuration on VMs, but the issue is about on-premises SQL servers with Azure Arc; the plan must be enabled first.
- ✓
Enable the 'SQL servers on machines' plan in Microsoft Defender for Cloud
Why this is correct
The plan for SQL servers on machines must be enabled at the subscription level to start receiving alerts for on-premises SQL servers.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which AZ-500 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
- →
Secure Azure using Microsoft Defender for Cloud and Microsoft Sentinel — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-500 question test?
Secure Azure using Microsoft Defender for Cloud and Microsoft Sentinel — This question tests Secure Azure using Microsoft Defender for Cloud and Microsoft Sentinel — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable the 'SQL servers on machines' plan in Microsoft Defender for Cloud — Option B is correct because for on-premises SQL servers with Azure Arc, the SQL servers must be registered as Azure Arc-enabled SQL Server instances and the Microsoft Defender for Cloud plan for SQL servers must be enabled at the subscription level. Option A is wrong because Azure Policy can enforce but doesn't directly cause missing alerts. Option C is wrong because Log Analytics workspace is used for data collection, but the core issue is plan enablement. Option D is wrong because Azure Firewall logs are unrelated to SQL specific alerts.
What should I do if I get this AZ-500 question wrong?
Identify which AZ-500 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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 →
Last reviewed: Jun 21, 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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