DP-203 Practice Question: Secure, monitor, and optimize data storage and data processing
Your organization uses Azure SQL Database with Active Geo-Replication for disaster recovery. You need to ensure that all connections to the database use Microsoft Entra ID authentication and that access is audited. You also want to minimize the attack surface by disabling SQL authentication. What should you do?
⚠ Common exam trap
DP-203 often tests the difference between authentication and authorization, and candidates may confuse Azure RBAC (authorization) with Entra ID authentication, leading them to choose RBAC options.
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
✓
Enable 'Microsoft Entra ID-only authentication' in the Azure SQL Database server settings and remove all SQL Server authenticated logins.
Enabling 'Microsoft Entra ID-only authentication' in the Azure SQL Database server settings disables SQL authentication entirely, forcing all connections to use Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD). Removing all SQL Server authenticated logins further reduces the attack surface by eliminating those credentials. This meets the requirements of using Entra ID authentication and disabling SQL authentication.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Configure Conditional Access policies to require MFA for database access.
Why it's wrong here
Does not disable SQL authentication.
- ✓
Enable 'Microsoft Entra ID-only authentication' in the Azure SQL Database server settings and remove all SQL Server authenticated logins.
Why this is correct
Disables SQL authentication and enforces Entra ID.
- ✗
Create a server-level firewall rule to allow only specific IP addresses and enable SQL authentication.
Why it's wrong here
SQL authentication is still allowed.
- ✗
Create an Azure RBAC role to restrict access to the database and assign it to users.
Why it's wrong here
RBAC is for management plane, not data plane.
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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
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