Question 288 of 963

Implement a secure environment →hardMultiple SelectObjective-mapped

Encrypt Data in Transit and Prevent DBA Access with Always Encrypted | DP-300

This DP-300 practice question tests your understanding of implement a secure environment. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.

You are a database administrator for a manufacturing company that uses Azure SQL Database. The company has a requirement to encrypt sensitive data in transit between the application and the database. Additionally, the company wants to ensure that database administrators (DBAs) cannot view the sensitive data. Which TWO features should you implement?

A
Implement row-level security (RLS) to filter rows
Why wrong: RLS does not encrypt data and can be bypassed by users with elevated permissions.
B
Enable transparent data encryption (TDE) on the database
Why wrong: TDE encrypts data at rest, but DBAs with access to the server can still see the data when queried.
C
Configure the server to enforce TLS 1.2 by setting the 'Minimal TLS Version' property
This ensures all connections use TLS 1.2, encrypting data in transit.
D
Implement dynamic data masking on sensitive columns
Why wrong: Dynamic data masking is bypassed by users with db_owner or CONTROL permissions, such as DBAs.
E
Use Always Encrypted with a column master key stored in Azure Key Vault
Always Encrypted encrypts data in transit and at rest, and the encryption keys are stored in Azure Key Vault, inaccessible to DBAs.

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

✓

Configure the server to enforce TLS 1.2 by setting the 'Minimal TLS Version' property

Option C is correct because configuring the server to enforce TLS 1.2 by setting the 'Minimal TLS Version' property ensures that all connections to Azure SQL Database use at least TLS 1.2, which encrypts data in transit. This directly addresses the requirement to encrypt sensitive data between the application and the database. Option E is correct because Always Encrypted with a column master key stored in Azure Key Vault ensures that sensitive data is encrypted at the client side and the encryption keys are never exposed to the database engine, preventing DBAs from viewing the sensitive data.

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.

✗
Implement row-level security (RLS) to filter rows
Why it's wrong here
RLS does not encrypt data and can be bypassed by users with elevated permissions.
✗
Enable transparent data encryption (TDE) on the database
Why it's wrong here
TDE encrypts data at rest, but DBAs with access to the server can still see the data when queried.
✓
Configure the server to enforce TLS 1.2 by setting the 'Minimal TLS Version' property
Why this is correct
This ensures all connections use TLS 1.2, encrypting data in transit.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Implement dynamic data masking on sensitive columns
Why it's wrong here
Dynamic data masking is bypassed by users with db_owner or CONTROL permissions, such as DBAs.
✓
Use Always Encrypted with a column master key stored in Azure Key Vault
Why this is correct
Always Encrypted encrypts data in transit and at rest, and the encryption keys are stored in Azure Key Vault, inaccessible to DBAs.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates often confuse encryption at rest (TDE) or access control (RLS, masking) with encryption in transit and client-side encryption, leading them to select TDE or dynamic data masking instead of the correct combination of TLS enforcement and Always Encrypted.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

TLS 1.2 enforcement in Azure SQL Database is configured via the server's 'Minimal TLS Version' property, which rejects connections using TLS 1.0 or 1.1, ensuring compliance with modern encryption standards (e.g., AES-256-GCM). Always Encrypted works by encrypting sensitive columns at the client driver (e.g., ADO.NET) using a column encryption key that is protected by a column master key stored in Azure Key Vault; the database engine never sees the plaintext data or the encryption keys, so even a DBA with full server permissions cannot read the encrypted columns.

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 server to enforce TLS 1.2 by setting the 'Minimal TLS Version' property — Option C is correct because configuring the server to enforce TLS 1.2 by setting the 'Minimal TLS Version' property ensures that all connections to Azure SQL Database use at least TLS 1.2, which encrypts data in transit. This directly addresses the requirement to encrypt sensitive data between the application and the database. Option E is correct because Always Encrypted with a column master key stored in Azure Key Vault ensures that sensitive data is encrypted at the client side and the encryption keys are never exposed to the database engine, preventing DBAs from viewing the sensitive data.

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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