hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
Azure Data Factory Encryption in Transit and At Rest
A company uses Azure Data Factory to copy sensitive data from on-premises SQL Server to Azure Blob Storage. They must ensure that data is encrypted in transit and at rest. Which combination of features should they use?
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to configure the copy activity to use TLS and enable Azure Storage Service Encryption. This combination directly addresses the dual requirement for Azure Data Factory encryption in transit and at rest because TLS secures the data channel between the on-premises SQL Server and Azure Blob Storage, while Storage Service Encryption (SSE) automatically encrypts the data at rest using 256-bit AES encryption once it lands in the blob container. On the Microsoft Azure Data Engineer Associate DP-203 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that Data Factory handles transit security via the copy activity’s protocol settings, not through separate VPNs or gateways, and that at-rest encryption is a storage-layer feature, not a Data Factory configuration. A common trap is assuming you need to enable Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) on the source SQL Server or manually manage encryption keys, but SSE is automatic and sufficient for Azure Storage. Memory tip: Think “TLS for travel, SSE for storage” to quickly recall which service handles each encryption layer.
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse HTTPS with TLS, thinking HTTPS is the encryption mechanism for Data Factory copy activities, when in fact TLS is the underlying protocol used by the self-hosted integration runtime for secure data transfer.
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
✓
Configure the copy activity to use TLS and enable Azure Storage Service Encryption.
Azure Data Factory's copy activity uses TLS (Transport Layer Security) to encrypt data in transit between the on-premises SQL Server and Azure Blob Storage, and Azure Storage Service Encryption (SSE) automatically encrypts data at rest using 256-bit AES encryption. This combination satisfies both encryption requirements without additional complexity.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use Always Encrypted in SQL Server and customer-managed keys in Blob Storage.
Why it's wrong here
Always Encrypted encrypts columns but not the entire data flow.
- ✗
Set up a VPN between on-premises and Azure, and use Azure Disk Encryption.
Why it's wrong here
VPN encrypts the connection but not data at rest; Disk Encryption is for VMs.
- ✓
Configure the copy activity to use TLS and enable Azure Storage Service Encryption.
Why this is correct
TLS encrypts data in transit; Storage Service Encryption encrypts at rest automatically.
- ✗
Use HTTPS for the copy activity and enable Azure Storage Service Encryption.
Why it's wrong here
HTTPS is not sufficient; TLS is required for in-transit encryption.
Quick reference
Symmetric Encryption Algorithm Comparison
| Algorithm | Key Size | Block Size | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AES-128 | 128-bit | 128-bit | Current standard | NIST approved; WPA3, TLS |
| AES-256 | 256-bit | 128-bit | Current standard | Preferred for sensitive / govt data |
| 3DES | 112-bit effective | 64-bit | Deprecated (2023) | Replaced by AES |
| DES | 56-bit | 64-bit | Broken | Cracked in < 24 h; never deploy |
| ChaCha20 | 256-bit | Stream cipher | Current | TLS 1.3, WireGuard |
Go deeper
Related to this question
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on DP-203
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company is using Azure Data Factory to copy data from an on-premises SQL Server to Azure Blob Storage. The data must be encrypted in transit using TLS 1.2. The on-premises SQL Server is configured to support TLS 1.2. Which Data Factory property should be configured?
hard- A.The encryptedCredential property in the linked service
- ✓ B.The typeProperties property in the linked service to include 'Encrypt=True' in the connection string
- C.The connectVia property in the linked service
- D.The integrationRuntime property in the dataset
Why B: TLS 1.2 encryption for data in transit between Azure Data Factory and an on-premises SQL Server is enforced by adding 'Encrypt=True' and 'TrustServerCertificate=False' to the connection string within the typeProperties of the linked service. This ensures the SQL Server Native Client uses TLS 1.2 for the connection, aligning with the requirement.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This DP-203 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 DP-203 exam.