- A
Enable App Service Authentication with Azure AD, configure the API to use API keys, and enable Always Encrypted on SQL
Why wrong: API keys are not as secure as Azure AD tokens, and Always Encrypted is not required.
- B
Enable HTTPS-only on App Service, enable Azure SQL Database transparent data encryption, configure Azure AD authentication for SQL, and set the SQL firewall to allow Azure services
HTTPS encrypts in transit, TDE encrypts at rest, Azure AD auth provides authorization, and firewall restricts access.
- C
Enable HTTPS-only on App Service, enable Azure SQL Database firewall to allow the API's public IP, and use SQL authentication
Why wrong: Using public IP and SQL authentication is less secure than managed identities.
- D
Use Azure Front Door with WAF, store connection strings in Azure Key Vault, and enable Azure SQL Database auditing
Why wrong: Missing encryption and access restrictions.
Quick Answer
The answer is to enable HTTPS-only on App Service, enable Azure SQL Database transparent data encryption, configure Azure AD authentication for SQL, and set the SQL firewall to allow Azure services. This configuration directly satisfies the requirements for encryption at rest and in transit, while using managed identities to eliminate stored credentials. HTTPS-only enforces TLS for all web traffic, TDE encrypts the database files at rest, Azure AD authentication allows the App Service and Functions to connect to SQL using their managed identities without passwords, and the firewall rule restricts database access to only Azure-originated traffic from the API layer. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this scenario tests your ability to layer security controls across PaaS services without overcomplicating the solution—a common trap is adding unnecessary network restrictions like service endpoints when the simpler “Allow Azure services” firewall setting suffices. Remember the mnemonic “HAT-F” for HTTPS, Azure AD, TDE, and Firewall to recall the four required steps.
SC-100 Design security for infrastructure Practice Question
This SC-100 practice question tests your understanding of design security for infrastructure. 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.
You are a security architect for a healthcare organization that is deploying a new application on Azure. The application consists of a web frontend (Azure App Service), an API layer (Azure Functions), and a database (Azure SQL Database). The organization requires that all data be encrypted at rest and in transit. Additionally, they need to ensure that only authenticated and authorized users can access the API, and that the database is accessible only from the API layer. The organization also wants to use managed identities to avoid storing credentials. You have deployed the resources. Now you need to configure the security settings. What should you do to meet 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 HTTPS-only on App Service, enable Azure SQL Database transparent data encryption, configure Azure AD authentication for SQL, and set the SQL firewall to allow Azure services
Option B is correct because it meets all requirements: HTTPS-only ensures encryption in transit for the web frontend; Azure SQL Database TDE provides encryption at rest by default; configuring Azure AD authentication for SQL eliminates stored credentials and supports managed identities; and setting the SQL firewall to 'Allow Azure services' restricts database access to Azure resources, including the API layer, without exposing a public IP.
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 App Service Authentication with Azure AD, configure the API to use API keys, and enable Always Encrypted on SQL
Why it's wrong here
API keys are not as secure as Azure AD tokens, and Always Encrypted is not required.
- ✓
Enable HTTPS-only on App Service, enable Azure SQL Database transparent data encryption, configure Azure AD authentication for SQL, and set the SQL firewall to allow Azure services
- ✗
Enable HTTPS-only on App Service, enable Azure SQL Database firewall to allow the API's public IP, and use SQL authentication
Why it's wrong here
Using public IP and SQL authentication is less secure than managed identities.
- ✗
Use Azure Front Door with WAF, store connection strings in Azure Key Vault, and enable Azure SQL Database auditing
Why it's wrong here
Missing encryption and access restrictions.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'Allow Azure services' with allowing all traffic from the internet, when in fact it only permits connections originating from Azure datacenters, and they may overlook that Azure AD authentication with managed identities eliminates the need for stored credentials.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
HTTPS-only on App Service enforces TLS 1.2/1.3 by redirecting HTTP to HTTPS, ensuring encryption in transit. Azure SQL Database TDE encrypts data at rest using AES-256, and when combined with Azure AD authentication, you can use a managed identity (e.g., from the API's Azure Functions) to authenticate to SQL without storing credentials—this is done by assigning the managed identity to the SQL server and granting it database permissions. The 'Allow Azure services' firewall rule uses a special IP range (0.0.0.0) that only permits connections from Azure datacenters, not arbitrary public IPs, but for precise control, you should use virtual network service endpoints or private endpoints.
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 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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Design security for infrastructure — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SC-100 question test?
Design security for infrastructure — This question tests Design security for infrastructure — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable HTTPS-only on App Service, enable Azure SQL Database transparent data encryption, configure Azure AD authentication for SQL, and set the SQL firewall to allow Azure services — Option B is correct because it meets all requirements: HTTPS-only ensures encryption in transit for the web frontend; Azure SQL Database TDE provides encryption at rest by default; configuring Azure AD authentication for SQL eliminates stored credentials and supports managed identities; and setting the SQL firewall to 'Allow Azure services' restricts database access to Azure resources, including the API layer, without exposing a public IP.
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.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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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