The correct answer is to disable public network access or restrict firewall rules appropriately, combined with deploying a Private Endpoint for the Azure SQL Database logical server. This configuration is essential because a Private Endpoint assigns a private IP address from your VNet to the database, ensuring all traffic flows over the Microsoft backbone network without traversing the public internet, which directly addresses the requirement for private access to Azure SQL Database from VNet without public network exposure. On the AZ-500 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of network isolation controls and the distinction between service endpoints and Private Link; a common trap is assuming a service endpoint alone suffices, but it does not eliminate public endpoint exposure. Remember the mnemonic "PEP" — Private Endpoint plus disabled Public network — to lock down database access completely.
AZ-500 Secure networking Practice Question
This AZ-500 practice question tests your understanding of secure networking. 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.
An Azure SQL Database must be accessed privately from workloads in a VNet and should not allow public network access. Which two configurations are required?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create a Private Endpoint for the SQL server
A Private Endpoint assigns a private IP address from your VNet to the Azure SQL Database logical server, enabling traffic to reach the database entirely over the Microsoft backbone network without traversing the public internet. This is a fundamental requirement for private connectivity from workloads inside a VNet.
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.
✓
Create a Private Endpoint for the SQL server
Why this is correct
Correct for the stated requirement.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Enable service endpoint only and leave public access open
Why it's wrong here
This does not meet the stated requirement as directly as the correct option.
✓
Disable public network access or restrict firewall rules appropriately
Why this is correct
Correct for the stated requirement.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Create an inbound NAT rule on Azure Load Balancer
Why it's wrong here
This does not meet the stated requirement as directly as the correct option.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse service endpoints with private endpoints, assuming a service endpoint alone provides private-only access, but it does not block public internet traffic unless public network access is also disabled.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A Private Endpoint uses Azure Private Link to create a network interface (NIC) in the VNet subnet with a private IP from the subnet's range. DNS resolution for the SQL server's FQDN (e.g., server.database.windows.net) is then redirected to this private IP via a private DNS zone (privatelink.database.windows.net), ensuring all traffic stays within the Azure network and bypasses the public endpoint entirely. This setup is critical for compliance scenarios where data must not egress over the internet.
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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this AZ-500 question in full detail.
Secure networking — This question tests Secure networking — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a Private Endpoint for the SQL server — A Private Endpoint assigns a private IP address from your VNet to the Azure SQL Database logical server, enabling traffic to reach the database entirely over the Microsoft backbone network without traversing the public internet. This is a fundamental requirement for private connectivity from workloads inside a VNet.
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.
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Question Discussion
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