- A
Create an Azure Policy assignment using the built-in policy 'Advanced Threat Protection should be enabled on your SQL servers' with a 'Deny' effect.
Why wrong: The built-in policy typically uses AuditIfNotExists, not Deny. There is no built-in policy with Deny effect for this.
- B
Create a custom Azure Policy with a 'Deny' effect that prevents setting the Advanced Threat Protection setting to 'Disabled' on SQL databases.
A custom policy with Deny effect will block any attempt to disable ATP, enforcing the protection.
- C
Enable the 'Azure SQL databases' plan in Defender for Cloud at the subscription level.
Why wrong: This enables Defender for Cloud but does not enforce ATP at the database level.
- D
Create an Azure Policy assignment that audits if Advanced Threat Protection is enabled on SQL databases, and remediate non-compliant resources.
Why wrong: Audit and remediate will enable ATP on existing databases but does not enforce future compliance; also, it does not prevent disabling.
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.
Your company has deployed Microsoft Defender for Cloud in all subscriptions. You need to ensure that all Azure SQL databases are protected by Advanced Threat Protection (ATP). You want to enable ATP at the subscription level so that new databases are automatically protected. The security policy must be enforced to prevent administrators from disabling ATP on individual databases. What should you do?
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
Create a custom Azure Policy with a 'Deny' effect that prevents setting the Advanced Threat Protection setting to 'Disabled' on SQL databases.
Option B is correct because it uses a custom Azure Policy with a 'Deny' effect to enforce that Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) cannot be disabled on any SQL database, including new ones. This approach ensures that the security policy is enforced at the subscription level, preventing administrators from turning off ATP on individual databases, which aligns with the requirement for automatic protection and enforcement.
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 an Azure Policy assignment using the built-in policy 'Advanced Threat Protection should be enabled on your SQL servers' with a 'Deny' effect.
Why it's wrong here
The built-in policy typically uses AuditIfNotExists, not Deny. There is no built-in policy with Deny effect for this.
- ✓
Create a custom Azure Policy with a 'Deny' effect that prevents setting the Advanced Threat Protection setting to 'Disabled' on SQL databases.
Why this is correct
A custom policy with Deny effect will block any attempt to disable ATP, enforcing the protection.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Enable the 'Azure SQL databases' plan in Defender for Cloud at the subscription level.
Why it's wrong here
This enables Defender for Cloud but does not enforce ATP at the database level.
- ✗
Create an Azure Policy assignment that audits if Advanced Threat Protection is enabled on SQL databases, and remediate non-compliant resources.
Why it's wrong here
Audit and remediate will enable ATP on existing databases but does not enforce future compliance; also, it does not prevent disabling.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse enabling a Defender for Cloud plan (which only activates threat detection) with enforcing a security configuration via Azure Policy, failing to realize that only a 'Deny' effect can prevent administrators from disabling ATP on individual databases.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Azure Policy with a 'Deny' effect works by intercepting resource creation or update requests via Azure Resource Manager, evaluating the request against the policy rule, and rejecting the request if it violates the policy. In this scenario, the custom policy would target the 'Microsoft.Sql/servers/databases/securityAlertPolicies' resource type and deny any PUT request that sets the 'state' property to 'Disabled', ensuring ATP remains enabled even if an administrator attempts to disable it through the portal, CLI, or API.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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: Create a custom Azure Policy with a 'Deny' effect that prevents setting the Advanced Threat Protection setting to 'Disabled' on SQL databases. — Option B is correct because it uses a custom Azure Policy with a 'Deny' effect to enforce that Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) cannot be disabled on any SQL database, including new ones. This approach ensures that the security policy is enforced at the subscription level, preventing administrators from turning off ATP on individual databases, which aligns with the requirement for automatic protection and enforcement.
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.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 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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