Question 665 of 953

Plan and implement data platform resources →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The correct answer is to enable SQL Server Audit on the database and create a database audit specification that captures SELECT and UPDATE on the sensitive columns. This combination works because SQL Server Audit in Azure SQL Database supports column-level auditing, allowing you to log the actual data values when specific sensitive columns are accessed, rather than just recording that a query occurred. For the Microsoft Azure Database Administrator Associate DP-300 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to meet granular security requirements for PII, often appearing as a trap where candidates mistakenly choose server-level audit or simpler logging options that lack data value capture. A common pitfall is assuming that Azure SQL Database’s built-in threat detection or vulnerability assessment provides this level of detail, but only a database audit specification with column-level action groups like SCHEMA_OBJECT_ACCESS_GROUP will log the actual values. Memory tip: think “Spec for Specifics” — a database audit specification is required to capture specific column data, not just the fact of access.

DP-300 Plan and implement data platform resources Practice Question

This DP-300 practice question tests your understanding of plan and implement data platform resources. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 company is deploying a new Azure SQL Database that will store Personally Identifiable Information (PII). The security team requires that all queries against the database are audited and that any access to sensitive columns is logged with the actual data values. Which combination of features should you enable?

Question 1mediummultiple choice

Read the full NAT/PAT explanation →

A
Enable Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) and configure a server-level audit specification for schema changes.
Why wrong: Incorrect: TDE encrypts data at rest but does not provide auditing of data access.
B
Enable Dynamic Data Masking on the sensitive columns and use Azure SQL Database Auditing.
Why wrong: Incorrect: Dynamic Data Masking hides data from users but does not log access; auditing logs queries but not values.
C
Enable SQL Server Audit on the database and create a database audit specification that captures SELECT and UPDATE on the sensitive columns.
Correct: SQL Server Audit can capture actual data values when auditing data modification operations.
D
Enable Azure SQL Database Auditing and configure the diagnostic settings to send logs to a Log Analytics workspace.
Why wrong: Incorrect: Auditing logs queries but does not capture the actual data values accessed unless configured with data modification events.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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 SQL Server Audit on the database and create a database audit specification that captures SELECT and UPDATE on the sensitive columns.

Option C is correct because SQL Server Audit (available in Azure SQL Database) allows you to create a database audit specification that captures SELECT and UPDATE operations on specific columns, including the actual data values accessed. This meets the security requirement to log access to sensitive columns with the actual data, whereas other options either lack column-level detail or do not capture the data values.

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.

✗
Enable Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) and configure a server-level audit specification for schema changes.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: TDE encrypts data at rest but does not provide auditing of data access.
✗
Enable Dynamic Data Masking on the sensitive columns and use Azure SQL Database Auditing.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Dynamic Data Masking hides data from users but does not log access; auditing logs queries but not values.
✓
Enable SQL Server Audit on the database and create a database audit specification that captures SELECT and UPDATE on the sensitive columns.
Why this is correct
Correct: SQL Server Audit can capture actual data values when auditing data modification operations.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Enable Azure SQL Database Auditing and configure the diagnostic settings to send logs to a Log Analytics workspace.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Auditing logs queries but does not capture the actual data values accessed unless configured with data modification events.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates often confuse Dynamic Data Masking (which only hides data at query time) with auditing that captures actual values, or they assume Azure SQL Database Auditing alone logs data values, when in fact it only logs metadata about the query, not the sensitive data itself.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

SQL Server Audit in Azure SQL Database uses extended events to capture detailed information about database operations, including the actual data values when configured with the 'data_sensitivity_information' action or by auditing specific columns. Under the hood, the audit writes to the audit log (e.g., .xel files or Azure Storage blobs) and can be queried via sys.fn_get_audit_file. In a real-world scenario, this is critical for compliance with regulations like GDPR or HIPAA, where you must prove that access to PII was monitored and that the exact data exposed is traceable.

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.

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this DP-300 question test?

Plan and implement data platform resources — This question tests Plan and implement data platform resources — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Enable SQL Server Audit on the database and create a database audit specification that captures SELECT and UPDATE on the sensitive columns. — Option C is correct because SQL Server Audit (available in Azure SQL Database) allows you to create a database audit specification that captures SELECT and UPDATE operations on specific columns, including the actual data values accessed. This meets the security requirement to log access to sensitive columns with the actual data, whereas other options either lack column-level detail or do not capture the data values.

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.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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