Protect Azure App Service Web Application with WAF and SQL Encryption
You are designing a solution to protect a web application hosted on Azure App Service. The application uses Azure SQL Database and stores sensitive customer data. You need to ensure that the data is encrypted at rest and in transit, and that the application is protected from common web attacks. Which TWO of the following should you implement?
Quick Answer
The answer is Azure Web Application Firewall (WAF) on Azure Front Door and Azure SQL Database with Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) and enforced TLS. Azure WAF protects your App Service web application from common web attacks like SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS) by inspecting HTTP requests at the application layer, while Azure SQL Database uses TDE to encrypt data at rest and requires TLS enforcement to secure data in transit, ensuring end-to-end encryption. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between application-layer protections (WAF) and network-layer controls (DDoS Protection or NSGs), a common trap where candidates confuse NSGs with encryption. Remember that WAF is your shield against injection and XSS, while TDE plus TLS is your lockbox for data—think "WAF for the web, TDE+TLS for the database."
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
✓
Enforce TLS for Azure SQL Database connections
Enforce TLS for Azure SQL Database connections ensures data in transit is encrypted, meeting the encryption requirement. Option D: Azure Web Application Firewall (WAF) on Azure Front Door protects against common web attacks like SQL injection and XSS. Option A is incorrect because Azure Private Link provides private connectivity but does not directly protect against web attacks or encrypt data in transit. Option C is incorrect because Network Security Groups (NSGs) filter network traffic but do not provide encryption or web application protection. Option E is incorrect because Azure DDoS Protection Standard protects against network-layer attacks, not specifically web application attacks.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Azure Private Link for App Service
Why it's wrong here
Private Link provides private connectivity but does not encrypt data in transit or protect against web attacks.
- ✓
Enforce TLS for Azure SQL Database connections
Why this is correct
Enforcing TLS encrypts data in transit between App Service and SQL Database; TDE encrypts at rest.
- ✗
Network Security Groups (NSGs) on the subnet
Why it's wrong here
NSGs filter traffic but do not encrypt data in transit.
- ✓
Azure Web Application Firewall (WAF) on Azure Front Door
Why this is correct
WAF protects against common web vulnerabilities at the application layer.
- ✗
Azure DDoS Protection Standard
Why it's wrong here
DDoS Protection mitigates distributed denial-of-service attacks, not application-layer attacks.
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Variation 1. You are designing a solution to protect an Azure App Service web application from common web attacks like SQL injection and cross-site scripting. What should you implement?
easy- A.Azure Firewall
- B.Azure DDoS Protection
- ✓ C.Azure Web Application Firewall (WAF) policy on Azure Front Door
- D.Network Security Groups (NSGs) on the subnet
Why C: Azure Web Application Firewall (WAF) on Azure Front Door provides application-layer protection against common web attacks such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS). Option A is incorrect because Azure Firewall is a network-level firewall that filters traffic based on IP/port, not application payloads. Option B is incorrect because Azure DDoS Protection mitigates distributed denial-of-service attacks, not application-layer attacks. Option D is incorrect because Network Security Groups (NSGs) filter traffic at the subnet level based on rules, not at the application layer.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.