Quick Answer
The answer is Always Encrypted with secure enclaves for richer operations. This is correct because Always Encrypted performs encryption on the client side, ensuring that sensitive column data remains encrypted at all times within the SQL database engine, so database administrators never see plaintext values even when querying the database directly. On the Microsoft Azure Security Engineer Associate AZ-500 exam, this concept tests your understanding of column-level encryption to protect against privileged users like DBAs, often appearing in scenario-based questions where you must choose between Always Encrypted and Transparent Data Encryption. A common trap is selecting TDE, which only protects data at rest but does not prevent DBAs from viewing plaintext during queries. Remember the key distinction: Always Encrypted protects data from the database engine itself, while TDE protects the files on disk. Memory tip: “Always Encrypted = Always hidden from the DBA.”
This AZ-500 practice question tests your understanding of secure compute, storage, and databases. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 SQL workload needs to protect sensitive column values from database administrators who should not see plaintext. Which two features may be relevant depending on the query requirement?
Always Encrypted
Correct for the stated requirement.
Transparent Data Encryption only
Why wrong: This does not meet the stated requirement as directly as the correct option.
Secure enclaves with Always Encrypted for richer operations
Correct for the stated requirement.
Basic server firewall rule
Why wrong: This does not meet the stated requirement as directly as the correct option.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Always Encrypted
Always Encrypted (Option A) is correct because it ensures that sensitive column data is encrypted at the client side and never exposed in plaintext to the database engine, preventing database administrators from viewing the actual values. This feature protects data at rest and in transit between the client and server, making it ideal for scenarios where DBAs should not see plaintext column values.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Always Encrypted
Why this is correct
Correct for the stated requirement.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Transparent Data Encryption only
Why it's wrong here
This does not meet the stated requirement as directly as the correct option.
Secure enclaves with Always Encrypted for richer operations
Why this is correct
Correct for the stated requirement.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Basic server firewall rule
Why it's wrong here
This does not meet the stated requirement as directly as the correct option.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) with column-level encryption, assuming TDE protects against DBA access, when in fact TDE only encrypts data at rest and does not prevent authorized users from reading plaintext data via queries.
Detailed technical explanation
Always Encrypted uses a two-tier key hierarchy: a column encryption key (CEK) that is encrypted by a column master key (CMK), with the CMK stored outside SQL Server (e.g., in Azure Key Vault or Windows Certificate Store). When a client application queries an encrypted column, the SQL Server driver (e.g., ADO.NET) decrypts the data using the CEK, ensuring the database engine never sees the plaintext; this is enforced by the client-side driver and the server-side enclave (if used). Secure enclaves (Option C) extend Always Encrypted by allowing richer operations (e.g., pattern matching, equality comparisons) on encrypted data inside a hardware-based trusted execution environment (like Intel SGX), without exposing plaintext to the DBA.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
What to study next
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FAQ
Secure compute, storage, and databases — This question tests Secure compute, storage, and databases — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Always Encrypted — Always Encrypted (Option A) is correct because it ensures that sensitive column data is encrypted at the client side and never exposed in plaintext to the database engine, preventing database administrators from viewing the actual values. This feature protects data at rest and in transit between the client and server, making it ideal for scenarios where DBAs should not see plaintext column values.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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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