DP-300 Implement a secure environment Practice Question
Your company uses Azure SQL Database and needs to protect sensitive columns (e.g., credit card numbers) from being accessed by unauthorized users. You implement Always Encrypted. However, some queries that perform pattern matching on the encrypted column are failing because the column cannot be searched. What should you do to allow pattern matching while maintaining security?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently confuse deterministic encryption (which enables equality) with the ability to perform pattern matching, or they mistakenly think Dynamic Data Masking or row-level security can substitute for encrypted search capabilities.
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
✓
Enable Always Encrypted with secure enclaves and use a column master key that supports enclave computations.
Always Encrypted with secure enclaves allows computations, including pattern matching (LIKE, equality, comparisons), on encrypted columns by using a trusted execution environment (e.g., Intel SGX). The column master key must support enclave computations (enclave-enabled key) to permit the SQL Server engine to offload operations to the enclave. This preserves encryption at rest and in transit while enabling rich query patterns.
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 Always Encrypted with secure enclaves and use a column master key that supports enclave computations.
Why this is correct
Secure enclaves enable rich computations on encrypted data, including pattern matching.
- ✗
Implement row-level security (RLS) to filter rows based on user identity.
Why it's wrong here
RLS controls row access, not column encryption or pattern matching.
- ✗
Change the encryption type from randomized to deterministic encryption.
Why it's wrong here
Deterministic encryption allows equality searches but not pattern matching.
- ✗
Use Dynamic Data Masking (DDM) to mask the column for unauthorized users instead of encryption.
Why it's wrong here
DDM does not encrypt data; authorized users can still see plaintext.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every DP-300 question from scratch — 906 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.