The correct answer is to enable Always Encrypted with secure enclaves (Intel SGX) and create an enclave-enabled key. This configuration allows a reporting application to query encrypted columns without having access to the column encryption key because the enclave—a trusted execution environment inside the SQL Server or Azure SQL Database—decrypts the data and performs operations like equality and pattern matching entirely within its secure boundary. The application never sees the raw encryption key or the plaintext data, only the query results. On the DP-300 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how secure enclaves extend Always Encrypted beyond simple retrieval to rich computations, often appearing as a distractor against the standard Always Encrypted option, which requires the client to hold the key. A common trap is assuming column master key rotation or application-side caching solves this, but only enclaves remove the key from the application entirely. Memory tip: think of the enclave as a “black box” that does the work for the app—no key, no plaintext, just results.
DP-300 Implement a secure environment Practice Question
This DP-300 practice question tests your understanding of implement a secure environment. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
Your Azure SQL Database uses Always Encrypted to protect sensitive columns. You need to allow a reporting application to query encrypted columns without having access to the column encryption key. What should you configure?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "always"
Why it matters: Absolute qualifier. An answer using 'always' is only correct if there are genuinely no exceptions — absolute statements are often wrong in networking.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable Always Encrypted with secure enclaves (Intel SGX) and create an enclave-enabled key.
Option C is correct because enabling Always Encrypted with secure enclaves (Intel SGX) allows the reporting application to perform computations on encrypted columns (e.g., equality, pattern matching) without ever exposing the column encryption key to the application. The enclave decrypts the data inside a trusted execution environment, so the application only sees the results of queries, not the raw encryption keys. This meets the requirement of querying encrypted columns without key access.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Rotate the column master key to a hardware security module (HSM).
Why it's wrong here
Rotation does not enable queries without keys.
✗
Remove the Always Encrypted configuration from the columns.
Why it's wrong here
This would expose data in plaintext.
✓
Enable Always Encrypted with secure enclaves (Intel SGX) and create an enclave-enabled key.
Why this is correct
Enclaves allow computations on encrypted data within the enclave.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "always" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Provide the application with the column master key and column encryption key.
Why it's wrong here
This gives the application access to plaintext data.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think rotating the master key to an HSM (Option A) solves the key access problem, but HSMs only protect the master key storage, not the application's need for the column encryption key to decrypt data.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Always Encrypted with secure enclaves uses a hardware-based trusted execution environment (Intel SGX) to perform decryption and query processing inside the enclave, ensuring that even the database engine cannot see plaintext data. The enclave-enabled column encryption key is provisioned to the enclave via attestation protocols, and the application only receives encrypted results. This feature is available in Azure SQL Database and SQL Server 2019+ with specific hardware and configuration requirements.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this DP-300 question in full detail.
Implement a secure environment — This question tests Implement a secure environment — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable Always Encrypted with secure enclaves (Intel SGX) and create an enclave-enabled key. — Option C is correct because enabling Always Encrypted with secure enclaves (Intel SGX) allows the reporting application to perform computations on encrypted columns (e.g., equality, pattern matching) without ever exposing the column encryption key to the application. The enclave decrypts the data inside a trusted execution environment, so the application only sees the results of queries, not the raw encryption keys. This meets the requirement of querying encrypted columns without key access.
What should I do if I get this DP-300 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "always". Absolute qualifier. An answer using 'always' is only correct if there are genuinely no exceptions — absolute statements are often wrong in networking.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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