Question 539 of 982

Identify considerations for relational data on Azure →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The answer is Always Encrypted, because it is the only Azure SQL feature that prevents a DBA from viewing sensitive data while still allowing them to perform administrative tasks. This works by encrypting the data on the client side and ensuring the encryption keys are never shared with the database engine, so the database itself only ever sees ciphertext. Even during query processing, the decryption happens exclusively on the client application, meaning a DBA running a SELECT statement in SQL Server Management Studio will see only encrypted values, not the plaintext customer data. On the DP-900 exam, this question tests your understanding of data protection features under the "secure data in a database" objective, and it often appears as a trap where you might confuse Always Encrypted with Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) or Dynamic Data Masking. Remember: TDE protects data at rest but does not hide data from the DBA during queries, while Always Encrypted protects data in use. A simple memory tip: "Always Encrypted keeps the DBA Always Excluded" from seeing the plaintext.

DP-900 Practice Question: Identify considerations for relational data on Azure

This DP-900 practice question tests your understanding of identify considerations for relational data on azure. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.

A company is migrating an on-premises SQL Server database to Azure. They want to ensure that database administrators (DBAs) can perform administrative tasks but cannot view sensitive customer data in query results. Which Azure SQL feature should they implement?

Question 1mediummultiple choice

Full question →

A
Dynamic Data Masking
Why wrong: Dynamic Data Masking hides sensitive data in query results for non-privileged users, but DBAs (with the 'UNMASK' permission) can still see the original data.
B
Always Encrypted
Always Encrypted encrypts data on the client side, so the database never sees plaintext. DBAs cannot access the encryption keys and therefore cannot view the sensitive data.
C
Transparent Data Encryption
Why wrong: Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) encrypts the database at rest (on disk) but does not protect data from being viewed by users with query permissions, including DBAs.
D
Row-Level Security
Why wrong: Row-Level Security restricts row access based on user context, but a DBA with database owner privileges can bypass the security policy and see all rows.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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 ensures that sensitive data is encrypted at all times, including during query processing, and that the encryption keys are never revealed to the database engine. This allows DBAs to perform administrative tasks (e.g., backups, index maintenance) while being unable to view the plaintext data in query results, because the decryption occurs only on the client side.

Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

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

✗
Dynamic Data Masking
Why it's wrong here
Dynamic Data Masking hides sensitive data in query results for non-privileged users, but DBAs (with the 'UNMASK' permission) can still see the original data.
✓
Always Encrypted
Why this is correct
Always Encrypted encrypts data on the client side, so the database never sees plaintext. DBAs cannot access the encryption keys and therefore cannot view the sensitive data.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Transparent Data Encryption
Why it's wrong here
Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) encrypts the database at rest (on disk) but does not protect data from being viewed by users with query permissions, including DBAs.
✗
Row-Level Security
Why it's wrong here
Row-Level Security restricts row access based on user context, but a DBA with database owner privileges can bypass the security policy and see all rows.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates confuse Dynamic Data Masking with Always Encrypted, assuming masking prevents DBAs from seeing data, when in fact masking can be overridden by users with higher permissions, whereas Always Encrypted cryptographically prevents any server-side access to plaintext.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Always Encrypted uses two types of keys: a column encryption key (CEK) that encrypts the data, and a column master key (CMK) that protects the CEK. The CMK is stored in a trusted key store (e.g., Azure Key Vault, Windows Certificate Store) and is never exposed to SQL Server. During query execution, the client driver (e.g., ADO.NET) decrypts the data locally, ensuring the database engine never sees the plaintext values—even for DBAs with sysadmin privileges.

KKey Concepts to Remember

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.

TExam Day Tips

Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.

Key takeaway

Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.

Real-world example

How this comes up in practice

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

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this DP-900 question test?

Identify considerations for relational data on Azure — This question tests Identify considerations for relational data on Azure — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Always Encrypted — Always Encrypted ensures that sensitive data is encrypted at all times, including during query processing, and that the encryption keys are never revealed to the database engine. This allows DBAs to perform administrative tasks (e.g., backups, index maintenance) while being unable to view the plaintext data in query results, because the decryption occurs only on the client side.

What should I do if I get this DP-900 question wrong?

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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