DP-203 Practice Question: Secure, monitor, and optimize data storage and data processing
You are designing a data pipeline in Azure Data Factory that copies data from Azure Blob Storage to Azure SQL Database. The data contains personally identifiable information (PII). What should you use to protect the data during transit?
⚠ Common exam trap
DP-203 often tests the distinction between encryption in transit (TLS/HTTPS) and encryption at rest (SSE, Disk Encryption, TDE), so candidates who see 'PII' and reflexively pick a storage encryption option fall for the at-rest distractor.
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
✓
Encryption over HTTPS/TLS
Encryption over HTTPS/TLS protects data while it is moving between Azure Blob Storage and Azure SQL Database, which is exactly what 'in transit' means. Azure Data Factory uses the HTTPS endpoint of Blob Storage and TLS-encrypted connections to Azure SQL Database by default, so enforcing TLS 1.2+ ensures PII cannot be intercepted in cleartext. This is the only option that addresses the transport layer rather than data at rest or classification.
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 Information Protection
Why it's wrong here
Azure Information Protection classifies and labels documents, applying encryption to files at rest and in use; it does not encrypt data in transit within a Data Factory copy activity. It is tempting because it protects PII, but that scenario concerns labelling and rights management of files, not pipeline transport encryption.
- ✓
Encryption over HTTPS/TLS
Why this is correct
HTTPS/TLS encrypts the payload while the Copy activity moves data between Blob Storage and Azure SQL Database, so PII cannot be read if intercepted in transit. This directly satisfies the requirement to protect data during transit, since encryption at rest does not cover the network path.
- ✗
Azure Disk Encryption
Why it's wrong here
Azure Disk Encryption encrypts OS and data disks at rest on VMs, so it cannot protect data moving between Blob Storage and Azure SQL Database. It is tempting because it secures stored data, and would be correct when the requirement is encryption of virtual machine disks rather than pipeline transit.
- ✗
Azure Storage Service Encryption
Why it's wrong here
Azure Storage Service Encryption encrypts blob data at rest within the storage account, so it does not secure data in transit to Azure SQL Database. It is tempting because it protects the source data, and would be correct when the requirement is encryption at rest for Azure Storage.
Quick reference
Azure Blob Storage Tier Comparison
| Tier | Storage Cost | Retrieval Cost | Latency | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hot | Highest | Lowest | Immediate | Active data, frequent reads |
| Cool | Lower | Higher | Immediate | Data accessed < once / month |
| Cold | Lower still | Higher | Immediate | Data accessed < once / quarter |
| Archive | Lowest | Highest + rehydration delay | Hours | Long-term compliance retention |
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. Your team uses Azure Data Factory to copy data from on-premises SQL Server to Azure Blob Storage. You need to ensure that data in transit is encrypted using TLS 1.2. What should you configure?
easy- ✓ A.Ensure the Azure Data Factory pipeline uses HTTPS for the copy activity.
- B.Set up a site-to-site VPN between the on-premises network and Azure.
- C.Configure the on-premises SQL Server to use SSL certificates.
- D.Use Azure ExpressRoute with private peering.
Why A: Azure Data Factory uses HTTPS by default, which enforces TLS encryption for data in transit. Option B is wrong because VPN is not required for TLS encryption. Option C is wrong because configuring the on-premises SQL Server to use SSL certificates is necessary but not sufficient; Azure Data Factory must also use HTTPS. Option D is wrong because Azure ExpressRoute provides a private connection but does not replace TLS.
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Microsoft exam blueprint
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.