Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A company has an Azure SQL Database that stores personally identifiable information (PII) in columns. They need to encrypt those columns so that only authorized applications can decrypt the data, and even database administrators cannot view the plaintext. Additionally, they need to support equality comparisons (WHERE clauses) on the encrypted columns. Which encryption technology should they use?
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
Best answer
Always Encrypted with deterministic encryption
Deterministic encryption supports equality comparisons because the same plaintext always produces the same ciphertext, allowing the database to perform WHERE clauses.
B
Distractor review
Always Encrypted with randomized encryption
Randomized encryption produces different ciphertext for the same plaintext, so equality comparisons are not supported.
C
Distractor review
Transparent Data Encryption (TDE)
TDE encrypts data at rest but DBAs with appropriate permissions can still query the data in plaintext.
D
Distractor review
Dynamic Data Masking
Dynamic Data Masking only hides data in query results; the actual data in the database is not encrypted and can be read by DBAs.
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 with deterministic encryption — Always Encrypted with deterministic encryption allows encrypted columns to be used in equality comparisons (WHERE column = value). Randomized encryption does not support such comparisons. Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) encrypts the entire database at rest but does not protect data from DBAs who have access to the database. Dynamic Data Masking only masks data in query results, but the underlying data remains in plaintext. Therefore, Always Encrypted with deterministic encryption is the only option that meets both requirements: preventing DBA access and supporting equality queries.
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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