- A
Azure Private Endpoint
Correct. An Azure Private Endpoint assigns a private IP address from the virtual network to the Azure SQL Database, ensuring all traffic stays within the Microsoft backbone network and never traverses the public internet. The database is accessible only from the specified VNet.
- B
Azure Service Endpoint
Why wrong: Incorrect. A Service Endpoint routes traffic to the Azure SQL Database over the Microsoft backbone, but it still uses the public endpoint of the service. While traffic does not leave the Azure network, the database remains accessible via its public IP, which could allow data exfiltration if not combined with additional controls. It does not meet the requirement that traffic never traverses the public internet at any network layer.
- C
VNet Peering
Why wrong: Incorrect. VNet Peering connects two Azure virtual networks so that resources in each VNet can communicate. It does not directly connect a VNet to an Azure PaaS service like SQL Database and does not provide a private endpoint for that service.
- D
Azure Firewall
Why wrong: Incorrect. Azure Firewall is a managed network security service that filters traffic based on rules. While it can be used to control outbound traffic from a VNet, it does not provide a private network interface for the Azure SQL Database and does not ensure traffic stays off the public internet.
Quick Answer
The answer is Azure Private Endpoint, which is the correct choice because it assigns a private IP address from your virtual network directly to the Azure SQL Database, ensuring all traffic stays on the Microsoft backbone network and never traverses the public internet. This creates a secure, private connection between your application VMs and the database, meeting the mandate that all communication remain entirely within Azure’s internal network. On the AZ-900 exam, this tests your understanding of network security and private connectivity options, often appearing in scenario-based questions about keeping traffic off the public internet. A common trap is confusing Azure Private Endpoint with Service Endpoints—remember that Private Endpoint gives a dedicated private IP, while Service Endpoints only extend your VNet’s identity. For a memory tip, think “Private IP = Private Path” to recall that Private Endpoint keeps SQL traffic on the Azure backbone.
AZ-900 Describe Azure architecture and services Practice Question
This AZ-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe azure architecture and services. 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.
A company runs an Azure SQL Database that stores sensitive customer data. The security team mandates that all traffic to the database must remain entirely within the Microsoft Azure backbone network and never traverse the public internet. The database can only be accessed by a specific application running on virtual machines in a specific Azure virtual network. Which Azure feature should they configure to meet this requirement?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"never"Why it matters: Absolute qualifier. True only if the statement has zero exceptions — be cautious of options that seem obvious but break down in edge cases.
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
Azure Private Endpoint
Azure Private Endpoint assigns a private IP address from your virtual network to the Azure SQL Database, allowing traffic to reach the database over the Microsoft backbone network without ever leaving the Azure network or traversing the public internet. This ensures that all communication between the application VMs and the database remains private and secure, meeting the mandate that traffic must never traverse the public internet.
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.
- ✓
Azure Private Endpoint
Why this is correct
Correct. An Azure Private Endpoint assigns a private IP address from the virtual network to the Azure SQL Database, ensuring all traffic stays within the Microsoft backbone network and never traverses the public internet. The database is accessible only from the specified VNet.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "never" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Azure Service Endpoint
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. A Service Endpoint routes traffic to the Azure SQL Database over the Microsoft backbone, but it still uses the public endpoint of the service. While traffic does not leave the Azure network, the database remains accessible via its public IP, which could allow data exfiltration if not combined with additional controls. It does not meet the requirement that traffic never traverses the public internet at any network layer.
- ✗
VNet Peering
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. VNet Peering connects two Azure virtual networks so that resources in each VNet can communicate. It does not directly connect a VNet to an Azure PaaS service like SQL Database and does not provide a private endpoint for that service.
- ✗
Azure Firewall
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Azure Firewall is a managed network security service that filters traffic based on rules. While it can be used to control outbound traffic from a VNet, it does not provide a private network interface for the Azure SQL Database and does not ensure traffic stays off the public internet.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Azure Service Endpoint with Private Endpoint, thinking that Service Endpoint also keeps traffic entirely off the public internet, but Service Endpoint still uses the service's public endpoint and does not provide a private IP address for the resource.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure Private Endpoint uses a network interface with a private IP from your VNet, leveraging Azure Private Link to route traffic to the PaaS service over the Microsoft backbone. Under the hood, DNS resolution for the database's FQDN is remapped to the private IP, so all traffic stays within the Azure network and never hits the public internet. In a real-world scenario, this is critical for compliance with regulations like PCI DSS or HIPAA, where data must not traverse public networks.
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.
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.
- →
Describe Azure architecture and services — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Describe Azure architecture and services practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All AZ-900 questions
1,031 questions across all exam domains
- →
Microsoft Azure Fundamentals AZ-900 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
AZ-900 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related AZ-900 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Describe cloud concepts practice questions
Practise AZ-900 questions linked to Describe cloud concepts.
Describe Azure architecture and services practice questions
Practise AZ-900 questions linked to Describe Azure architecture and services.
Describe Azure management and governance practice questions
Practise AZ-900 questions linked to Describe Azure management and governance.
AZ-900 Azure services practice questions
Practise AZ-900 questions linked to AZ-900 Azure services.
AZ-900 pricing and support practice questions
Practise AZ-900 questions linked to AZ-900 pricing and support.
AZ-900 security and compliance practice questions
Practise AZ-900 questions linked to AZ-900 security and compliance.
AZ-900 governance practice questions
Practise AZ-900 questions linked to AZ-900 governance.
Practice this exam
Start a free AZ-900 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-900 question test?
Describe Azure architecture and services — This question tests Describe Azure architecture and services — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Azure Private Endpoint — Azure Private Endpoint assigns a private IP address from your virtual network to the Azure SQL Database, allowing traffic to reach the database over the Microsoft backbone network without ever leaving the Azure network or traversing the public internet. This ensures that all communication between the application VMs and the database remains private and secure, meeting the mandate that traffic must never traverse the public internet.
What should I do if I get this AZ-900 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "never". Absolute qualifier. True only if the statement has zero exceptions — be cautious of options that seem obvious but break down in edge cases.
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 11, 2026
This AZ-900 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-900 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.