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. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.
Which TWO security features are available in Azure SQL Database to help protect data at rest?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Transparent data encryption (TDE)
Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) is a feature in Azure SQL Database that encrypts data at rest, including backups and transaction log files, using an AES-256 encryption algorithm. It performs real-time I/O encryption and decryption of the data without requiring changes to the application, ensuring that the physical storage media is protected against unauthorized access. Always Encrypted also protects data at rest by encrypting sensitive columns within the database, but it additionally protects data in transit and during query processing by keeping the encryption keys 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.
✗
Firewall rules
Why it's wrong here
Firewall rules control network access, not data at rest encryption.
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Dynamic data masking
Why it's wrong here
Data masking hides data from users, but does not encrypt at rest.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Azure AD authentication
Why it's wrong here
Azure AD authentication is for identity management, not encryption.
✓
Always Encrypted
Why this is correct
Always Encrypted protects sensitive data in transit and at rest in the client driver.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse dynamic data masking with encryption, or assume that authentication or network controls (like firewall rules) provide data-at-rest protection, when in fact only encryption mechanisms like TDE and Always Encrypted directly secure data stored on disk.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
TDE uses a database encryption key (DEK) stored in the database boot record, which is protected by a server-level certificate or an Azure Key Vault asymmetric key. Always Encrypted uses column-level encryption with client-side keys, meaning the database engine never sees the plaintext values, which is critical for scenarios like separating database administrators from sensitive data (e.g., PCI-DSS compliance). Both features can be used together, but TDE protects the entire database at the storage layer, while Always Encrypted protects specific columns even from the database engine itself.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this DP-900 question in full detail.
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: Transparent data encryption (TDE) — Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) is a feature in Azure SQL Database that encrypts data at rest, including backups and transaction log files, using an AES-256 encryption algorithm. It performs real-time I/O encryption and decryption of the data without requiring changes to the application, ensuring that the physical storage media is protected against unauthorized access. Always Encrypted also protects data at rest by encrypting sensitive columns within the database, but it additionally protects data in transit and during query processing by keeping the encryption keys 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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Question Discussion
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