The answer is to use a hub-and-spoke topology with a firewall appliance in the hub. This configuration is correct because Zero Trust network encryption inspection requires that all traffic between virtual networks be forced through a central inspection point, eliminating any possibility of direct, unmonitored communication. By deploying Azure Virtual Network Manager to establish a hub-and-spoke model, you ensure that inter-VNet traffic is routed through the firewall, which can enforce encryption and perform deep packet inspection. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to implement network segmentation and inspection without relying on perimeter-based security—a common trap is assuming that Azure’s default VNet peering alone satisfies Zero Trust, but it lacks mandatory inspection. Remember the key principle: in Zero Trust, no traffic is trusted by default, so the hub firewall must be the only path. Memory tip: “Hub the traffic, or fail the inspection.”
SC-100 Design a Zero Trust strategy and architecture Practice Question
This SC-100 practice question tests your understanding of design a zero trust strategy and architecture. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 implementing a Zero Trust network strategy using Azure Virtual Network Manager (AVNM). They need to ensure that all traffic between virtual networks is encrypted and inspected by a firewall. Which configuration should they use?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use a hub-and-spoke topology with a firewall appliance in the hub
In a Zero Trust network strategy, all traffic must be encrypted and inspected regardless of source. A hub-and-spoke topology with a firewall appliance in the hub forces all inter-VNet traffic through the firewall, enabling deep packet inspection and encryption enforcement. Azure Virtual Network Manager (AVNM) can deploy this topology and route traffic via the hub, ensuring no direct VNet-to-VNet communication bypasses inspection.
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.
✗
Enable VNet peering between all VNets and use network security groups
Why it's wrong here
VNet peering does not encrypt traffic and NSGs do not provide inspection.
✗
Use a mesh topology with direct connectivity between VNets
Why it's wrong here
Mesh topology does not force traffic through a firewall.
✓
Use a hub-and-spoke topology with a firewall appliance in the hub
Why this is correct
Hub-and-spoke with firewall ensures traffic is routed through the firewall for inspection.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Configure service endpoints for each VNet
Why it's wrong here
Service endpoints are for accessing Azure PaaS services, not for inter-VNet traffic inspection.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume VNet peering with NSGs is sufficient for Zero Trust, but NSGs cannot inspect or encrypt traffic, and peering itself does not enforce inspection—only a hub-and-spoke topology with a firewall appliance can meet both encryption and inspection requirements.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, AVNM uses connectivity configurations to deploy either hub-and-spoke or mesh topologies. In a hub-and-spoke setup, AVNM automatically creates VNet peering between spokes and the hub, and you configure user-defined routes (UDRs) to force traffic through the firewall appliance (e.g., Azure Firewall or a third-party NVA). The firewall can enforce TLS inspection and application-level filtering, meeting the encryption and inspection requirements. A real-world scenario is a regulated enterprise that must log and inspect all cross-VNet traffic for compliance; hub-and-spoke with forced tunneling ensures no traffic bypasses the firewall.
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 healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
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 a Zero Trust strategy and architecture — This question tests Design a Zero Trust strategy and architecture — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use a hub-and-spoke topology with a firewall appliance in the hub — In a Zero Trust network strategy, all traffic must be encrypted and inspected regardless of source. A hub-and-spoke topology with a firewall appliance in the hub forces all inter-VNet traffic through the firewall, enabling deep packet inspection and encryption enforcement. Azure Virtual Network Manager (AVNM) can deploy this topology and route traffic via the hub, ensuring no direct VNet-to-VNet communication bypasses inspection.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company is designing a Zero Trust network strategy. They want to ensure that all network traffic between on-premises and Azure is inspected and logged, regardless of source or destination. Which Azure service should they use to achieve this?
medium
A.Azure Front Door
B.Azure Bastion
✓ C.Azure Firewall
D.Azure DDoS Protection
Why C: Azure Firewall is a managed, cloud-based network security service that provides inbound and outbound traffic inspection and logging for all traffic between on-premises networks and Azure, regardless of source or destination. It supports application and network-level filtering, threat intelligence-based filtering, and integrates with Azure Monitor for comprehensive logging, making it the correct choice for a Zero Trust network strategy that requires full traffic inspection and logging.
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
This SC-100 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 SC-100 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.