- A
Enable managed identity for the AKS cluster, integrate Key Vault with AKS using the Secrets Store CSI driver, deploy the cluster as a private cluster, and enable diagnostic settings on Key Vault to send logs to a Log Analytics workspace.
Managed identity provides secure access, CSI driver mounts secrets securely, private cluster provides network isolation, and diagnostic settings provide audit logs.
- B
Use a service principal for AKS to access Key Vault, store secrets as Kubernetes secrets, configure a private cluster, and enable audit logging on Key Vault.
Why wrong: Service principal is less secure than managed identity. Kubernetes secrets are not encrypted by default.
- C
Enable managed identity for the AKS cluster, store secrets in the cluster's native Kubernetes secrets, use a private endpoint for the AKS API server, and enable Azure Monitor for containers.
Why wrong: Kubernetes secrets are not encrypted at rest by default. Private endpoint does not make the cluster private; need private cluster.
- D
Use a service principal to access Key Vault, store secrets as encrypted Kubernetes secrets with a customer-managed key, deploy a public cluster with network policies, and enable Key Vault logging.
Why wrong: Service principal is less secure than managed identity. Public cluster does not provide network isolation.
Quick Answer
The correct design enables managed identity for the AKS cluster, integrates Key Vault with AKS using the Secrets Store CSI driver, deploys the cluster as a private cluster, and enables diagnostic settings on Key Vault to send logs to a Log Analytics workspace. This solution meets SOX compliance because managed identity provides a secure, passwordless authentication method for the AKS cluster to access secrets in Key Vault, while the Secrets Store CSI driver automatically mounts those secrets—such as database connection strings—into pods without exposing them as Kubernetes secrets. The private cluster ensures network isolation by restricting all control plane traffic to the virtual network, and diagnostic settings on Key Vault capture audit logs of every secret access, satisfying SOX logging requirements. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this scenario tests your ability to combine Azure-native security controls for regulated workloads; a common trap is choosing a service principal over managed identity or using Kubernetes secrets, which lack encryption at rest by default. Memory tip: think “MI, KV, PC, Logs” for Managed Identity, Key Vault, Private Cluster, and Log Analytics—the four pillars of a SOX-secure AKS design.
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.
Wide World Importers is deploying a critical line-of-business application on Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS). The application processes financial transactions and must meet SOX compliance. You need to design a security solution that includes: encryption of secrets (e.g., database connection strings) using Azure Key Vault, automatic certificate rotation for TLS termination, network isolation of the AKS cluster, and audit logging of all access to secrets. The solution should use a managed identity for the AKS cluster to access Key Vault. Which of the following designs meets the requirements?
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 managed identity for the AKS cluster, integrate Key Vault with AKS using the Secrets Store CSI driver, deploy the cluster as a private cluster, and enable diagnostic settings on Key Vault to send logs to a Log Analytics workspace.
Option C is correct because it uses managed identity for secure secret access, Key Vault integration for secrets, private cluster for network isolation, and diagnostic settings for audit logging. Option A is wrong because private cluster is needed for network isolation, not just a private endpoint. Option B is wrong because secrets should be stored in Key Vault, not in Kubernetes secrets. Option D is wrong because service principal is less secure than managed identity, and Kubernetes secrets are not encrypted at rest by default.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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 managed identity for the AKS cluster, integrate Key Vault with AKS using the Secrets Store CSI driver, deploy the cluster as a private cluster, and enable diagnostic settings on Key Vault to send logs to a Log Analytics workspace.
Why this is correct
Managed identity provides secure access, CSI driver mounts secrets securely, private cluster provides network isolation, and diagnostic settings provide audit logs.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✗
Use a service principal for AKS to access Key Vault, store secrets as Kubernetes secrets, configure a private cluster, and enable audit logging on Key Vault.
Why it's wrong here
Service principal is less secure than managed identity. Kubernetes secrets are not encrypted by default.
- ✗
Enable managed identity for the AKS cluster, store secrets in the cluster's native Kubernetes secrets, use a private endpoint for the AKS API server, and enable Azure Monitor for containers.
Why it's wrong here
Kubernetes secrets are not encrypted at rest by default. Private endpoint does not make the cluster private; need private cluster.
- ✗
Use a service principal to access Key Vault, store secrets as encrypted Kubernetes secrets with a customer-managed key, deploy a public cluster with network policies, and enable Key Vault logging.
Why it's wrong here
Service principal is less secure than managed identity. Public cluster does not provide network isolation.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SC-100 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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Design security solutions for applications and data — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SC-100 question test?
Design security solutions for applications and data — This question tests Design security solutions for applications and data — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable managed identity for the AKS cluster, integrate Key Vault with AKS using the Secrets Store CSI driver, deploy the cluster as a private cluster, and enable diagnostic settings on Key Vault to send logs to a Log Analytics workspace. — Option C is correct because it uses managed identity for secure secret access, Key Vault integration for secrets, private cluster for network isolation, and diagnostic settings for audit logging. Option A is wrong because private cluster is needed for network isolation, not just a private endpoint. Option B is wrong because secrets should be stored in Key Vault, not in Kubernetes secrets. Option D is wrong because service principal is less secure than managed identity, and Kubernetes secrets are not encrypted at rest by default.
What should I do if I get this SC-100 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SC-100 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
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