DP-300 Implement a secure environment Practice Question
You are a database administrator for a healthcare organization that uses Azure SQL Database to store protected health information (PHI). The compliance team requires that you implement controls to prevent unauthorized access and detect potential data exfiltration. Which TWO actions should you take?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse TDE (encryption at rest) with data masking (protection during use), or assume auditing alone satisfies detection requirements, missing that Defender for SQL provides active threat detection beyond passive logging.
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
✓
Implement dynamic data masking for columns containing PHI
Dynamic data masking (B) limits exposure of PHI by obfuscating sensitive data in query results to non-privileged users, directly preventing unauthorized viewing. Microsoft Defender for SQL (D) provides advanced threat detection and alerts for anomalous activities like SQL injection or data exfiltration attempts, meeting the detection requirement. Together, they address both prevention and detection of unauthorized access and data exfiltration.
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) on the database
Why it's wrong here
TDE encrypts data at rest but does not prevent data exfiltration by authorized users or mask data from unauthorized users.
- ✓
Implement dynamic data masking for columns containing PHI
Why this is correct
Dynamic data masking obfuscates sensitive data from non-privileged users, reducing the risk of exposure.
- ✗
Enable change tracking on the database
Why it's wrong here
Change tracking is used for data synchronization, not for security controls.
- ✓
Enable Microsoft Defender for SQL on the server
Why this is correct
Microsoft Defender for SQL provides threat detection, including alerts for data exfiltration and anomalous access patterns.
- ✗
Enable auditing on the database
Why it's wrong here
Auditing logs database events but does not actively prevent data exfiltration.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Overview of Azure Data Platform Options
Key term
Azure SQL Performance Tuning
Azure SQL Performance Tuning is the process of optimizing the speed and efficiency of queries and database operations in Microsoft Azure SQL Database or SQL Managed Instance to reduce latency and improve throughput.
Key term
Azure SQL Threat Detection
Azure SQL Threat Detection is a built-in security feature that continuously monitors your Azure SQL database for suspicious activities and sends alerts when potential threats are found.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This DP-300 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the DP-300 exam.