Quick Answer
The answer is Always Encrypted with deterministic encryption. This is correct because deterministic encryption ensures that a given plaintext value, such as a specific CreditLimit amount, always generates the same ciphertext, enabling the database to perform equality searches like WHERE CreditLimit = 5000 without decrypting the data on the server. The encryption is handled transparently by the client driver, so the application code requires minimal changes—authorized users see the decrypted values, while the data remains encrypted at rest and in transit. On the DP-300 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of balancing compliance requirements with query functionality; a common trap is choosing randomized encryption, which prevents equality searches entirely. Remember the key distinction: deterministic for exact-match lookups, randomized for maximum security without search support. A helpful memory tip is “Deterministic for Direct matches”—if you need to search for an exact value, choose deterministic.
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.
You are managing an Azure SQL Database that hosts a customer relationship management (CRM) application. The database has a table named 'Contacts' with columns: ContactID (int, primary key), Name (nvarchar(100)), Email (nvarchar(200)), Phone (nvarchar(20)), and CreditLimit (decimal(18,2)). The compliance team requires that the CreditLimit column be encrypted so that only authorized users can view it. The application must be able to search for exact matches on CreditLimit values. You need to implement encryption without changing the application code significantly. Which encryption method should you use?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Always Encrypted with randomized encryption
Why wrong: Randomized encryption does not support searching.
Always Encrypted with deterministic encryption
Deterministic encryption supports equality searches.
Transparent Data Encryption
Why wrong: TDE encrypts the entire database at rest, not column-level.
Dynamic Data Masking
Why wrong: Masking does not encrypt data; it only hides it from some users.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Always Encrypted with deterministic encryption
Always Encrypted with deterministic encryption is correct because it encrypts the CreditLimit column at the client driver level, ensuring data remains encrypted at rest and in transit, while still allowing exact-match searches (e.g., WHERE CreditLimit = 5000) since deterministic encryption always produces the same ciphertext for a given plaintext. This meets the compliance requirement without requiring significant application code changes, as the Azure SQL Database driver handles encryption and decryption transparently for authorized users.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Always Encrypted with randomized encryption
Why it's wrong here
Randomized encryption does not support searching.
Always Encrypted with deterministic encryption
Why this is correct
Deterministic encryption supports equality searches.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Transparent Data Encryption
Why it's wrong here
TDE encrypts the entire database at rest, not column-level.
Dynamic Data Masking
Why it's wrong here
Masking does not encrypt data; it only hides it from some users.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse Dynamic Data Masking with encryption, thinking masking satisfies compliance requirements, but masking is a presentation-layer feature that does not protect data from privileged users or direct database access.
Detailed technical explanation
Always Encrypted uses a two-tier key hierarchy: a column encryption key (CEK) protected by a column master key (CMK) stored in Azure Key Vault or Windows Certificate Store. Deterministic encryption uses an initialization vector (IV) derived from the plaintext value, ensuring repeatable ciphertext for equality comparisons, but it is more vulnerable to frequency analysis attacks if the column has low cardinality. The encryption is performed by the client driver (e.g., ADO.NET, ODBC) before sending data to the server, so the database engine never sees the plaintext.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Plan and implement data platform resources — This question tests Plan and implement data platform resources — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Always Encrypted with deterministic encryption — Always Encrypted with deterministic encryption is correct because it encrypts the CreditLimit column at the client driver level, ensuring data remains encrypted at rest and in transit, while still allowing exact-match searches (e.g., WHERE CreditLimit = 5000) since deterministic encryption always produces the same ciphertext for a given plaintext. This meets the compliance requirement without requiring significant application code changes, as the Azure SQL Database driver handles encryption and decryption transparently for authorized users.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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