- A
Create a new Azure SQL Database with TDE enabled using a customer-managed key from Key Vault. Migrate data using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) with 'Encrypt connection' enabled.
Why wrong: Migrating data is unnecessary; you can change the TDE key protector on the existing server.
- B
Configure the Azure SQL Server to use a customer-managed key from Azure Key Vault for TDE and set 'Encrypted connection' to 'Required' on the server.
This directly meets both requirements.
- C
Enable Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) with service-managed keys and set 'Minimum TLS version' to 1.2.
Why wrong: Service-managed keys do not meet the customer-managed key requirement.
- D
Implement Always Encrypted with keys stored in Azure Key Vault and set 'Encrypted connection' to 'Required' on the server.
Why wrong: Always Encrypted is for column-level encryption, not for TDE key management.
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 company has an Azure SQL Database that stores sensitive customer data. You need to ensure that data is encrypted at rest and in transit. The database is currently using Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) with service-managed keys. Compliance requirements now mandate that you use customer-managed keys stored in Azure Key Vault. Additionally, all connections must use encrypted connections. What should you do?
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 Azure SQL Server to use a customer-managed key from Azure Key Vault for TDE and set 'Encrypted connection' to 'Required' on the server.
Option B is correct because it directly addresses both requirements: using a customer-managed key from Azure Key Vault for TDE (which replaces the service-managed key) and enforcing encrypted connections by setting 'Encrypted connection' to 'Required' on the Azure SQL Server. This configuration ensures data at rest is encrypted with a key you control, and all client connections must use TLS encryption, meeting compliance mandates without requiring a new database or data migration.
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.
- ✗
Create a new Azure SQL Database with TDE enabled using a customer-managed key from Key Vault. Migrate data using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) with 'Encrypt connection' enabled.
Why it's wrong here
Migrating data is unnecessary; you can change the TDE key protector on the existing server.
- ✓
Configure the Azure SQL Server to use a customer-managed key from Azure Key Vault for TDE and set 'Encrypted connection' to 'Required' on the server.
Why this is correct
This directly meets both requirements.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Enable Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) with service-managed keys and set 'Minimum TLS version' to 1.2.
Why it's wrong here
Service-managed keys do not meet the customer-managed key requirement.
- ✗
Implement Always Encrypted with keys stored in Azure Key Vault and set 'Encrypted connection' to 'Required' on the server.
Why it's wrong here
Always Encrypted is for column-level encryption, not for TDE key management.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Always Encrypted with TDE, thinking column-level encryption satisfies the 'at rest' requirement for the entire database, or they assume that setting 'Minimum TLS version' alone ensures all connections are encrypted, when in fact 'Encrypted connection' must be explicitly set to 'Required' to reject unencrypted connections.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When you configure an Azure SQL Server to use a customer-managed key from Azure Key Vault for TDE, the server uses the key to encrypt the database encryption key (DEK), which in turn encrypts the data files. The 'Encrypted connection' setting on the server forces all client connections to use TLS 1.2 or higher, rejecting any unencrypted connections; this is enforced at the server level via the 'Force Encryption' property in the SQL Server Network Configuration. A real-world scenario is a financial institution that must rotate encryption keys quarterly—customer-managed keys in Key Vault enable this rotation without downtime, while service-managed keys cannot be rotated on demand.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
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?
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: Configure the Azure SQL Server to use a customer-managed key from Azure Key Vault for TDE and set 'Encrypted connection' to 'Required' on the server. — Option B is correct because it directly addresses both requirements: using a customer-managed key from Azure Key Vault for TDE (which replaces the service-managed key) and enforcing encrypted connections by setting 'Encrypted connection' to 'Required' on the Azure SQL Server. This configuration ensures data at rest is encrypted with a key you control, and all client connections must use TLS encryption, meeting compliance mandates without requiring a new database or data migration.
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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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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