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Plan and implement data platform resourceseasyMultiple SelectObjective-mapped

DP-300 Plan and implement data platform resources Practice Question

You need to secure an Azure SQL Database. The requirements are: (1) encrypt sensitive columns such as credit card numbers, (2) prevent unauthorized users from seeing the full credit card number even if they have access to the database, and (3) allow authorized applications to decrypt the data. Which two features should you implement? (Choose TWO.)

⚠ Common exam trap

Candidates often confuse Dynamic Data Masking with encryption, assuming obfuscation provides the same security as Always Encrypted, but masking does not protect data from privileged users or direct database access.

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

Always Encrypted

Always Encrypted is correct because it encrypts sensitive columns like credit card numbers at the client-side, ensuring the data remains encrypted at rest, in transit, and during processing. This prevents unauthorized users, including database administrators, from viewing the plaintext data, while authorized applications with the column encryption key can decrypt it transparently. Column-level security is also correct because it allows administrators to restrict access to specific columns (e.g., credit card numbers) by granting permissions only to authorized users or applications. This ensures that even if a user has access to the database, they cannot query the sensitive columns without explicit permission. Together, Always Encrypted provides encryption and Column-level security provides fine-grained access control, meeting all requirements.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

  • Transparent Data Encryption (TDE)

    Why it's wrong here

    TDE encrypts at rest, not column-level.

  • Dynamic Data Masking

    Why it's wrong here

    Only masks data, not encryption.

  • Always Encrypted

    Why this is correct

    Encrypts specific columns and keeps data encrypted from DB engine.

  • Row-level security

    Why it's wrong here

    Restricts rows, not columns.

  • Column-level security

    Why this is correct

    Restricts access to columns.

About these practice questions

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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.