The answer is to enable forced tunneling for all internet-bound traffic, use ExpressRoute with Azure Firewall, and deploy Azure Bastion for VM management. Forced tunneling ensures all outbound traffic from Azure virtual networks is routed through an on-premises or Azure firewall for inspection, preventing bypass of security policies and data exfiltration. ExpressRoute with Azure Firewall provides a dedicated, private connection with stateful inspection, while Azure Bastion eliminates public IPs on VMs by offering secure RDP/SSH access directly through the portal. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this question tests your understanding of the defense-in-depth principle applied to hybrid connectivity—common traps include selecting a single VPN gateway (a single point of failure) or opening all ports to a management subnet (violating least privilege). Remember the mnemonic “FEB” for the three correct choices: Forced tunneling, ExpressRoute with Firewall, and Bastion.
SC-100 Design security solutions for infrastructure Practice Question
This SC-100 practice question tests your understanding of design security solutions 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.
Which THREE of the following are best practices for designing a secure hybrid network architecture with Azure?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use Azure Bastion for secure VM access without public IPs
Option A is correct because using ExpressRoute with Azure Firewall provides secure, dedicated connectivity and inspection. Option B is correct because forcing tunneling ensures all internet-bound traffic goes through the firewall for inspection. Option C is correct because Azure Bastion eliminates the need for public IPs on VMs. Option D is wrong because opening all ports to a management subnet violates least privilege. Option E is wrong because a single VPNgateway is a single point of failure.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Use Azure Bastion for secure VM access without public IPs
Why this is correct
Eliminates public IP exposure for management.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
✗
Open all ports to a management subnet for ease of administration
Why it's wrong here
Violates least privilege.
✓
Use ExpressRoute with Azure Firewall for traffic inspection
Why this is correct
Provides secure, dedicated connectivity with inspection.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
✗
Use a single VPN gateway for all regions
Why it's wrong here
Single point of failure.
✓
Enable forced tunneling for all internet-bound traffic
Why this is correct
Ensures all internet traffic goes through firewall.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Authentication checks who the user is.
Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
→Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
→Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
→Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
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.
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related SC-100 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
Design security solutions for infrastructure — This question tests Design security solutions for infrastructure — Authentication checks who the user is..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use Azure Bastion for secure VM access without public IPs — Option A is correct because using ExpressRoute with Azure Firewall provides secure, dedicated connectivity and inspection. Option B is correct because forcing tunneling ensures all internet-bound traffic goes through the firewall for inspection. Option C is correct because Azure Bastion eliminates the need for public IPs on VMs. Option D is wrong because opening all ports to a management subnet violates least privilege. Option E is wrong because a single VPN gateway is a single point of failure.
What should I do if I get this SC-100 question wrong?
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related SC-100 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Authentication checks who the user is.
About these practice questions
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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. You are designing a secure hybrid network connectivity solution between an on-premises datacenter and Azure. The requirement is to have encrypted traffic and high availability. Which service should you use?
medium
A.Azure Front Door
B.Azure ExpressRoute
✓ C.Azure VPN Gateway
D.Azure Bastion
Why C: Option C is correct because VPN Gateway provides encrypted site-to-site VPN with active-active configuration for high availability. Option A is wrong because ExpressRoute offers private connectivity but encryption is optional. Option B is wrong because Azure Bastion is for RDP/SSH access. Option D is wrong because Azure Front Door is a global load balancer.
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Question Discussion
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