DP-203 Design and implement data storage Practice Question
A healthcare organization stores patient data in Azure SQL Database. They need to encrypt sensitive columns (e.g., SSN) such that only authorized users can decrypt the data at query time. Which feature should they use?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) with column-level encryption, mistakenly thinking TDE protects individual columns at query time, when in fact TDE only encrypts data at rest and does not control who can decrypt data during queries.
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
✓
Always Encrypted (with secure enclaves)
Always Encrypted with secure enclaves is the correct choice because it allows sensitive columns (e.g., SSN) to be encrypted at rest and in memory, with decryption occurring only on the client side using keys that are never exposed to the database engine. This ensures that only authorized users with the proper encryption keys can decrypt the data at query time, meeting the requirement for column-level encryption with client-side key management.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Transparent Data Encryption (TDE)
Why it's wrong here
Encrypts entire database, not column-level.
- ✗
Azure Information Protection labels
Why it's wrong here
Classification, not encryption at column level.
- ✓
Always Encrypted (with secure enclaves)
Why this is correct
Column-level encryption, decrypted on the client.
- ✗
Dynamic Data Masking
Why it's wrong here
Masks data but does not encrypt; can be bypassed.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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