The answer is to enable Azure Defender for SQL at the subscription level and to ensure Microsoft Defender for Cloud has the Microsoft Defender for SQL plan enabled. This works because enabling the plan at the subscription scope automatically applies threat detection to all existing and future Azure SQL databases, centralizing security without requiring per-database configuration. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this tests your understanding of Defender for Cloud’s policy-driven inheritance—a common trap is confusing individual database audit policies or Advanced Threat Protection settings with the subscription-level plan toggle. Remember that subscription-level enablement is the “master switch” for threat detection, while per-database settings like vulnerability assessments are separate features. A useful memory tip: think “Plan at the top, protection drops down”—if you enable the Microsoft Defender for SQL plan at the subscription level, threat detection cascades to every SQL database underneath.
SC-100 Practice Question: Design security solutions for applications and data
This SC-100 practice question tests your understanding of design security solutions for applications and data. 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 uses Microsoft Defender for Cloud to secure their Azure workloads. They need to ensure that all Azure SQL databases have threat detection enabled. Which TWO actions should they take? (Choose two.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable Microsoft Defender for Cloud's 'SQL servers on machines' plan
Enabling Azure Defender for SQL at the subscription level (Option A) automatically enables threat detection for all SQL databases. Option C is correct because Defender for Cloud can enable Microsoft Defender for SQL as a plan. Option B is wrong because enabling individual audit policies is not necessary for threat detection. Option D is wrong because Advanced Threat Protection is part of the Azure SQL security settings, but the plan is enabled at the subscription level. Option E is wrong because vulnerability assessment is a separate feature.
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 Microsoft Defender for Cloud's 'SQL servers on machines' plan
Why this is correct
This plan enables threat detection for SQL servers, including Azure SQL databases
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Enable Azure Defender for SQL at the subscription level
Why this is correct
Enabling Azure Defender for SQL at the subscription level covers all SQL databases
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Configure SQL Vulnerability Assessment
Why it's wrong here
Vulnerability assessment identifies vulnerabilities but does not provide threat detection
✗
Enable Advanced Threat Protection on each SQL server individually
Why it's wrong here
This is an alternative but not as efficient as enabling at the subscription level via Defender for Cloud
✗
Configure SQL auditing on each database
Why it's wrong here
Auditing tracks database events but does not enable threat detection
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this SC-100 question in full detail.
Identify which SC-100 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Design security solutions for applications and data — This question tests Design security solutions for applications and data — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable Microsoft Defender for Cloud's 'SQL servers on machines' plan — Enabling Azure Defender for SQL at the subscription level (Option A) automatically enables threat detection for all SQL databases. Option C is correct because Defender for Cloud can enable Microsoft Defender for SQL as a plan. Option B is wrong because enabling individual audit policies is not necessary for threat detection. Option D is wrong because Advanced Threat Protection is part of the Azure SQL security settings, but the plan is enabled at the subscription level. Option E is wrong because vulnerability assessment is a separate feature.
What should I do if I get this SC-100 question wrong?
Identify which SC-100 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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. Your organization uses Microsoft Defender for Cloud to protect Azure workloads. You need to ensure that all Azure SQL Databases have Threat Detection enabled and Advanced Threat Protection notifications are sent to the security team. What should you do?
medium
✓ A.Enable Advanced Threat Protection on the SQL Server and configure email notifications for all databases.
B.Create an Azure Policy to audit Threat Detection settings and remediate non-compliant databases.
C.Enable Threat Detection on each individual Azure SQL Database and set the email recipients in the server's diagnostic settings.
D.Configure Microsoft Sentinel to monitor Azure SQL Databases and trigger alerts.
Why A: Option C is correct because the SQL Server's Defender for Cloud settings include an option to enable Advanced Threat Protection for all databases and configure email notifications. Option A is wrong because Azure Policy can enforce settings but doesn't configure notifications directly. Option B is wrong because Microsoft Sentinel setup is not required for this. Option D is wrong because enabling at the database level is less efficient and doesn't cover new databases.
Variation 2. Your organization uses Microsoft Defender for Cloud to protect Azure SQL databases. You notice that a particular database is flagged with a high-severity recommendation to enable 'Advanced Data Security'. What does enabling Advanced Data Security provide?
hard
A.It restricts access to the database to specific IP addresses.
B.It encrypts the database at rest using TDE.
✓ C.It provides vulnerability assessments and threat detection.
D.It enables automatic backup encryption.
Why C: Option C is correct because Advanced Data Security (ADS) includes vulnerability assessments, threat detection, and data discovery/classification. Option A is wrong because transparent data encryption (TDE) is a separate feature. Option B is wrong because ADS does not restrict network access; that is firewall or VNet rules. Option D is wrong because backup encryption is handled by Azure Storage encryption.
Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
Question Discussion
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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.
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