This AZ-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe cloud concepts. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 uses Azure SQL Database (PaaS). According to the shared responsibility model, who is responsible for applying security patches to the underlying operating system that runs the database service?
Microsoft
Microsoft handles OS patching for PaaS services like Azure SQL Database.
The customer
Why wrong: The customer does not have access to the underlying OS in PaaS.
Both
Why wrong: Only Microsoft is responsible for OS patches in PaaS.
Neither
Why wrong: Microsoft does provide security patching for the OS.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Microsoft
Microsoft is responsible for applying security patches to the underlying operating system that hosts Azure SQL Database because it is a Platform as a Service (PaaS) offering. In the PaaS shared responsibility model, the cloud provider manages the infrastructure, including the OS, runtime, and network, while the customer is responsible for data and access management. Azure SQL Database abstracts the OS layer entirely, so Microsoft handles all patching and maintenance to ensure security and compliance.
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.
Microsoft
Why this is correct
Microsoft handles OS patching for PaaS services like Azure SQL Database.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
The customer
Why it's wrong here
The customer does not have access to the underlying OS in PaaS.
Both
Why it's wrong here
Only Microsoft is responsible for OS patches in PaaS.
Neither
Why it's wrong here
Microsoft does provide security patching for the OS.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse PaaS with IaaS, where the customer would be responsible for OS patching, leading them to incorrectly select 'The customer' or 'Both'.
Detailed technical explanation
Azure SQL Database runs on a managed Windows Server cluster where Microsoft applies OS patches during maintenance windows, often using rolling updates to minimize downtime. The service uses SQL Server in a multitenant or elastic pool architecture, and customers interact only through TDS (Tabular Data Stream) protocol on port 1433, with no direct OS access. In a real-world scenario, if a critical OS vulnerability like CVE-2023-23397 emerges, Microsoft patches the host OS automatically without customer intervention, while the customer must still patch their own client applications or connection libraries.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Describe cloud concepts — This question tests Describe cloud concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Microsoft — Microsoft is responsible for applying security patches to the underlying operating system that hosts Azure SQL Database because it is a Platform as a Service (PaaS) offering. In the PaaS shared responsibility model, the cloud provider manages the infrastructure, including the OS, runtime, and network, while the customer is responsible for data and access management. Azure SQL Database abstracts the OS layer entirely, so Microsoft handles all patching and maintenance to ensure security and compliance.
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-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.
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