The answer is to create contained database users mapped to Azure AD identities. This is correct because contained database users in Azure SQL Database are authenticated directly at the database level using Azure AD identities, eliminating the need for a server-level login in the logical server’s master database. By mapping an Azure AD user or group to a contained user within the database itself, you enforce authentication strictly within that database scope, meeting the requirement for granular, database-level access control. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this concept tests your understanding of identity and access management for PaaS databases, often appearing in scenarios that contrast contained users with traditional server-level logins. A common trap is assuming you must first create a server-level Azure AD admin or login, but contained users bypass that entirely—they are self-contained within the database. Memory tip: think “contained = confined to the database,” so no server-level dependency is needed.
SC-100 Design security for infrastructure Practice Question
This SC-100 practice question tests your understanding of design security for infrastructure. 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.
A company is deploying Azure SQL Database with Azure Active Directory authentication for their application. They want to ensure that only specific Azure AD users can access the database, and that these users are authenticated at the database level. What should they do?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create contained database users mapped to Azure AD identities
Option D is correct because contained database users in Azure SQL Database are authenticated directly at the database level using Azure AD identities, without requiring a server-level login. This allows you to grant access to specific Azure AD users or groups while enforcing authentication within the database itself, aligning with the requirement for database-level authentication.
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.
✗
Create a server-level login for each user
Why it's wrong here
Server logins are authenticated at the server level, not database level.
✗
Assign the Azure AD admin to the SQL server
Why it's wrong here
This grants server-level admin, not granular database access.
✗
Configure firewall rules to allow specific IPs
Why it's wrong here
Firewall rules control network access, not authentication.
✓
Create contained database users mapped to Azure AD identities
Why this is correct
Contained users authenticate at the database level and are mapped to Azure AD users.
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 server-level Azure AD admin assignment (which enables Azure AD authentication at the server level) with the ability to control specific user access at the database level, leading them to select Option B instead of understanding that contained database users are required for granular, database-scoped authentication.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Contained database users are created with the `CREATE USER [user@domain.com] FROM EXTERNAL PROVIDER` syntax, which maps directly to an Azure AD user or group without a corresponding server login. Under the hood, Azure SQL Database validates the Azure AD token during the connection handshake using OAuth 2.0, and the database-level user is resolved from the token’s `oid` claim, ensuring that only the specified Azure AD identities can authenticate. A real-world scenario is a multi-tenant application where each tenant’s database must isolate access to their own Azure AD users without granting server-wide permissions.
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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this SC-100 question in full detail.
Design security for infrastructure — This question tests Design security for infrastructure — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create contained database users mapped to Azure AD identities — Option D is correct because contained database users in Azure SQL Database are authenticated directly at the database level using Azure AD identities, without requiring a server-level login. This allows you to grant access to specific Azure AD users or groups while enforcing authentication within the database itself, aligning with the requirement for database-level authentication.
What should I do if I get this SC-100 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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