DP-300 Plan and implement data platform resources Practice Question
You are configuring a new Azure SQL Database. The application that will use the database requires that all connections be encrypted and that the database be protected against SQL injection attacks. You also need to minimize administrative effort for monitoring and threat detection. What should you implement?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse data-at-rest encryption with connection encryption and assuming that firewall rules alone can prevent SQL injection.
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
✓
Enforce SSL connections and enable Azure Defender for SQL (Advanced Threat Protection) with vulnerability assessment.
Enforcing SSL connections ensures encrypted communication, and Azure Defender for SQL provides advanced threat detection, including SQL injection alerts, along with vulnerability assessment. This combination directly meets the requirements for encrypted connections, SQL injection protection, and reduced monitoring effort. Other options either address different security aspects or do not provide the necessary threat detection and connection encryption.
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 Dynamic Data Masking and configure Azure Monitor alerts for failed logins.
Why it's wrong here
Dynamic Data Masking limits data exposure to non-privileged users but does not encrypt connections or prevent SQL injection. Azure Monitor alerts for failed logins can indicate brute-force attempts but do not detect SQL injection specifically. This option lacks the required encryption and advanced threat detection capabilities, and it does not minimize administrative effort for comprehensive threat monitoring.
- ✗
Configure Always Encrypted with column encryption and enable auditing to a storage account.
Why it's wrong here
Always Encrypted protects sensitive data at the column level, but it does not encrypt all connections or prevent SQL injection. Auditing records activities but does not actively detect or block threats. While these features enhance security, they do not provide the required connection encryption and threat protection, and they require more administrative effort to configure and monitor.
- ✗
Enable Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) and configure a firewall rule to allow only the application's IP address.
Why it's wrong here
TDE encrypts data at rest, not connections in transit, and firewall rules restrict network access but do not protect against SQL injection. While these measures improve security, they do not meet the requirement for encrypted connections or SQL injection protection. Additional features like Advanced Threat Protection and forced SSL connections are needed to address the specific security and monitoring needs.
- ✓
Enforce SSL connections and enable Azure Defender for SQL (Advanced Threat Protection) with vulnerability assessment.
Why this is correct
Enforcing SSL connections ensures that all data in transit is encrypted. Azure Defender for SQL provides advanced threat detection, including alerts for potential SQL injection attacks, and vulnerability assessment helps identify and remediate security misconfigurations. This combination addresses encrypted connections, SQL injection protection, and minimizes monitoring effort through automated alerts, making it the correct solution for the scenario.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Monitoring Database Performance with Azure Tools
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 and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Microsoft exam blueprint
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.