DP-300 Implement a secure environment Practice Question
You are the database administrator for a company that uses Azure SQL Managed Instance. You need to allow a specific application to connect to the database using a service principal. The application authenticates with Microsoft Entra ID. What should you configure?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently confuse network-level controls (firewall rules) or encryption features (Always Encrypted) with authentication mechanisms, or mistakenly think SQL authentication can be used with Microsoft Entra ID service principals, when in fact a contained user mapped to the service principal is required.
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
✓
Create a contained database user mapped to the Microsoft Entra service principal.
A contained database user mapped to a Microsoft Entra ID service principal allows the application to authenticate directly to the database using its Microsoft Entra identity, without requiring a SQL Server login. This is the correct approach because Azure SQL Managed Instance supports Microsoft Entra authentication for service principals, enabling token-based authentication from applications that authenticate with Microsoft Entra ID.
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 contained database user mapped to the Microsoft Entra service principal.
Why this is correct
This enables the service principal to authenticate to the database.
- ✗
Enable Always Encrypted and configure column master key with the service principal.
Why it's wrong here
Always Encrypted is for encryption, not authentication.
- ✗
Add a server-level firewall rule with the application's IP address.
Why it's wrong here
Firewall rules control network access, not authentication.
- ✗
Create a SQL authentication login and user for the application.
Why it's wrong here
SQL authentication does not support service principals.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Overview of Azure Data Platform Options
Key term
Azure SQL Managed Instance
Azure SQL Managed Instance is a fully managed cloud database service that gives you nearly all the features of Microsoft SQL Server on your own server, without you having to manage the hardware or operating system.
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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.