Describe considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure →easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
DP-900 Practice Question: Describe considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure
A company uses Azure Table Storage to store user session data. The data must be encrypted at rest. What should you do?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often think encryption at rest requires explicit configuration (like enabling SSE or TDE), not realizing that Azure Storage encrypts all data at rest by default, making options B, C, and D unnecessary or incorrect for this specific scenario.
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
✓
No action is required; Azure Storage encrypts data at rest by default.
Azure Table Storage, as part of Azure Storage, automatically encrypts all data at rest using Azure Storage Service Encryption (SSE) with 256-bit AES encryption. This encryption is enabled by default for all new and existing storage accounts, including Table Storage, and cannot be disabled. Therefore, no additional action is required to meet the encryption-at-rest requirement.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
No action is required; Azure Storage encrypts data at rest by default.
Why this is correct
Azure Storage (including Table storage) automatically encrypts all data written to the service using 256-bit AES encryption, with keys managed by Microsoft (or customer-managed keys). This server-side encryption is enabled by default for all storage accounts and requires no configuration or additional cost. Therefore, user session data stored in Azure Table Storage is already protected at rest without any admin action.
- ✗
Enable Azure Storage Service Encryption (SSE).
Why it's wrong here
Storage Service Encryption (SSE) is not something you need to enable because it is already enabled by default on every Azure Storage account, including Table storage. The phrase 'SSE' historically referred to the feature, but currently all data is automatically encrypted with platform-managed keys; if you attempt to enable it, you'll find no such toggle because it's always on. Thus, performing this step is redundant and cannot be done manually.
- ✗
Use Azure SQL Database Transparent Data Encryption (TDE).
Why it's wrong here
TDE is a feature specific to Azure SQL Database and SQL Server, performing real-time I/O encryption of database files, and has no applicability to Table storage. Azure Table Storage is a NoSQL key-value store, not a relational database, so SQL-level TDE is irrelevant. Moreover, Table storage already has its own default encryption mechanism, making TDE an entirely unnecessary action.
- ✗
Implement client-side encryption before storing data.
Why it's wrong here
Client-side encryption — encrypting data in the application before sending it to Azure — is an optional defense-in-depth measure, not a requirement for at-rest protection. Azure Storage already provides mandatory server-side encryption at rest, so without client-side encryption the data is still encrypted on disk. Adding client-side encryption solely for at-rest encryption is redundant and introduces key management complexity and performance overhead.
Quick reference
Symmetric Encryption Algorithm Comparison
| Algorithm | Key Size | Block Size | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AES-128 | 128-bit | 128-bit | Current standard | NIST approved; WPA3, TLS |
| AES-256 | 256-bit | 128-bit | Current standard | Preferred for sensitive / govt data |
| 3DES | 112-bit effective | 64-bit | Deprecated (2023) | Replaced by AES |
| DES | 56-bit | 64-bit | Broken | Cracked in < 24 h; never deploy |
| ChaCha20 | 256-bit | Stream cipher | Current | TLS 1.3, WireGuard |
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Data Roles and Core Concepts
Key term
Data
Data is raw, unprocessed information, like numbers, words, or measurements, that can be stored, processed, and analyzed by computers.
Key term
Service
A service is a software component or system that performs a specific function and is available to be used by other programs or users over a network.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This DP-900 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-900 exam.