- A
Use Microsoft Purview Information Protection to label and encrypt the data.
Why wrong: Microsoft Purview Information Protection is for classification and labeling of files/emails, not database-level encryption.
- B
Enable Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) and enforce TLS 1.2 for connections.
TDE encrypts the database at rest automatically, and enforcing TLS ensures encryption in transit with minimal overhead.
- C
Implement Dynamic Data Masking on the customer table.
Why wrong: Dynamic Data Masking obfuscates data but does not encrypt it; it is not a true encryption solution.
- D
Enable Always Encrypted for all sensitive columns and use client-side encryption.
Why wrong: Always Encrypted protects data at rest and in transit but requires client-side driver changes and key management, adding overhead.
Quick Answer
The correct solution is to enable Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) and enforce TLS 1.2 for connections. TDE automatically encrypts your Azure SQL Database data files at rest, including backups and transaction logs, without requiring any changes to your applications, while enforcing TLS 1.2 ensures all data traveling between your client and the database is encrypted using a strong, industry-standard protocol. On the Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals DP-900 exam, this question tests your understanding of platform-managed encryption features that minimize administrative overhead—a key concept for cloud data services. A common trap is confusing TDE with Always Encrypted, but remember that TDE handles encryption at rest transparently at the storage layer, whereas Always Encrypted protects sensitive columns even from database administrators. For a quick memory tip: think “TDE for the drive, TLS for the wire.”
DP-900 Describe core data concepts Practice Question
This DP-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe core data concepts. 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.
Your organization uses Azure SQL Database and needs to ensure that all customer data is encrypted at rest and in transit with minimal administrative overhead. Which solution should you recommend?
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 Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) and enforce TLS 1.2 for connections.
Option B is correct because Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) encrypts Azure SQL Database data files at rest without requiring any application changes, and enforcing TLS 1.2 ensures all data in transit is encrypted using a strong, industry-standard protocol. This combination meets the requirement for encryption at rest and in transit with minimal administrative overhead, as TDE is managed by the platform and TLS enforcement is a simple server-level setting.
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.
- ✗
Use Microsoft Purview Information Protection to label and encrypt the data.
Why it's wrong here
Microsoft Purview Information Protection is for classification and labeling of files/emails, not database-level encryption.
- ✓
Enable Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) and enforce TLS 1.2 for connections.
- ✗
Implement Dynamic Data Masking on the customer table.
Why it's wrong here
Dynamic Data Masking obfuscates data but does not encrypt it; it is not a true encryption solution.
- ✗
Enable Always Encrypted for all sensitive columns and use client-side encryption.
Why it's wrong here
Always Encrypted protects data at rest and in transit but requires client-side driver changes and key management, adding overhead.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Dynamic Data Masking (which only hides data in results) with encryption, or they overcomplicate the solution by choosing Always Encrypted, which requires client-side changes and key management, when the question explicitly asks for minimal administrative overhead.
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 asymmetric key stored in Azure Key Vault; the encryption and decryption happen transparently at the page level when data is read from or written to disk. Enforcing TLS 1.2 for connections ensures that all client-server communications use TLS 1.2 (RFC 5246) or higher, preventing downgrade attacks and ensuring forward secrecy; Azure SQL Database rejects connections using older, insecure protocols like TLS 1.0 or 1.1 when this setting is enabled.
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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Describe core data concepts — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DP-900 question test?
Describe core data concepts — This question tests Describe core data concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) and enforce TLS 1.2 for connections. — Option B is correct because Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) encrypts Azure SQL Database data files at rest without requiring any application changes, and enforcing TLS 1.2 ensures all data in transit is encrypted using a strong, industry-standard protocol. This combination meets the requirement for encryption at rest and in transit with minimal administrative overhead, as TDE is managed by the platform and TLS enforcement is a simple server-level setting.
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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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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