- A
Deploy Azure Web Application Firewall (WAF) on Application Gateway to protect against SQL injection, configure Azure Redis Cache with a private endpoint and disable public network access, and use Azure Key Vault with a managed identity to inject the Redis connection string into the application.
WAF blocks SQL injection without code changes, private endpoint secures Redis, Key Vault with managed identity protects secrets.
- B
Enable Azure Web Application Firewall (WAF) on an Application Gateway in front of AKS to block SQL injection, move Redis to a private endpoint with a firewall rule, and use Azure Key Vault with a managed identity to inject the Redis connection string.
Why wrong: WAF protects against SQL injection without code changes, private endpoint secures Redis, but firewall rule is redundant. Key Vault integration is correct.
- C
Move all SQL queries to stored procedures, enable Redis persistence with AOF, and store the connection string in a Kubernetes secret.
Why wrong: Stored procedures require code changes, Redis persistence does not address exposure, Kubernetes secrets are not encrypted at rest.
- D
Refactor the microservices to use parameterized SQL queries, configure Azure Redis Cache firewall to allow only AKS node IPs, and store the connection string in Azure Key Vault with a managed identity.
Why wrong: Requires code changes for SQL, and Redis firewall with node IPs may not be static.
Quick Answer
The answer is to deploy Azure Web Application Firewall (WAF) on Application Gateway, configure Azure Redis Cache with a private endpoint and disable public network access, and use Azure Key Vault with a managed identity to inject the Redis connection string. This solution directly addresses SQL injection at the network layer via WAF’s built-in rule sets, eliminates internet exposure of the Redis cache by isolating it to the virtual network, and removes plain-text secrets from configuration files by leveraging managed identity for secure, runtime secret injection—all without requiring code changes. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this scenario tests your ability to layer Azure-native security controls (WAF, private endpoints, Key Vault) to protect AKS microservices while respecting performance and minimal-code constraints. A common trap is choosing application-level fixes like parameterized queries, which require code changes, or forgetting to disable public network access on Redis. Memory tip: “WAF blocks injection, private endpoint hides cache, Key Vault injects secrets—no code, no exposure.”
SC-100 Design a strategy for data and applications Practice Question
This SC-100 practice question tests your understanding of design a strategy for data and applications. 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 the security architect for Contoso Ltd., a company that runs a critical e-commerce application on Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS). The application consists of multiple microservices that communicate over HTTP. The application uses Azure SQL Database for transactional data and Azure Redis Cache for session state. Recently, a security audit revealed that several microservices are vulnerable to SQL injection attacks because they construct SQL queries by concatenating user input. Additionally, the Redis cache is exposed to the internet with no firewall rules, and the connection string is stored in plain text in the application configuration file. The development team is concerned about performance and wants to minimize changes to the codebase. You need to design a strategy to mitigate these vulnerabilities with minimal code changes. Which of the following is the best course of action?
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.
Clue:
"minimum / minimize"Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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
Deploy Azure Web Application Firewall (WAF) on Application Gateway to protect against SQL injection, configure Azure Redis Cache with a private endpoint and disable public network access, and use Azure Key Vault with a managed identity to inject the Redis connection string into the application.
Option A is correct because it addresses all three vulnerabilities with minimal code changes: Azure WAF on Application Gateway provides network-layer SQL injection protection without modifying application code; configuring Azure Redis Cache with a private endpoint and disabling public network access secures the cache without code changes; and using Azure Key Vault with a managed identity injects the Redis connection string securely at runtime, eliminating plain-text storage without altering the application's configuration loading logic.
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.
- ✓
Deploy Azure Web Application Firewall (WAF) on Application Gateway to protect against SQL injection, configure Azure Redis Cache with a private endpoint and disable public network access, and use Azure Key Vault with a managed identity to inject the Redis connection string into the application.
Why this is correct
WAF blocks SQL injection without code changes, private endpoint secures Redis, Key Vault with managed identity protects secrets.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "best", "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Enable Azure Web Application Firewall (WAF) on an Application Gateway in front of AKS to block SQL injection, move Redis to a private endpoint with a firewall rule, and use Azure Key Vault with a managed identity to inject the Redis connection string.
Why it's wrong here
WAF protects against SQL injection without code changes, private endpoint secures Redis, but firewall rule is redundant. Key Vault integration is correct.
- ✗
Move all SQL queries to stored procedures, enable Redis persistence with AOF, and store the connection string in a Kubernetes secret.
Why it's wrong here
Stored procedures require code changes, Redis persistence does not address exposure, Kubernetes secrets are not encrypted at rest.
- ✗
Refactor the microservices to use parameterized SQL queries, configure Azure Redis Cache firewall to allow only AKS node IPs, and store the connection string in Azure Key Vault with a managed identity.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose a technically correct but code-heavy solution (like parameterized queries) over a network-layer defense (WAF) that achieves the same goal with minimal code changes, failing to prioritize the 'minimal code changes' constraint in the question.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure WAF's SQL injection rule set (part of the OWASP Core Rule Set) inspects HTTP request bodies and query strings for SQL injection patterns, blocking malicious payloads before they reach the application — this works at layer 7 and does not require application awareness. Azure Redis Cache private endpoints use Azure Private Link to assign a private IP from the virtual network, completely removing public internet exposure; disabling public network access enforces that only traffic from the private endpoint is accepted. Azure Key Vault with a managed identity allows the AKS pod to authenticate to Key Vault without storing any secrets, using the Azure AD pod identity or workload identity to retrieve the connection string at runtime via the Key Vault Provider for Secrets Store CSI Driver.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SC-100 question test?
Design a strategy for data and applications — This question tests Design a strategy for data and applications — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Deploy Azure Web Application Firewall (WAF) on Application Gateway to protect against SQL injection, configure Azure Redis Cache with a private endpoint and disable public network access, and use Azure Key Vault with a managed identity to inject the Redis connection string into the application. — Option A is correct because it addresses all three vulnerabilities with minimal code changes: Azure WAF on Application Gateway provides network-layer SQL injection protection without modifying application code; configuring Azure Redis Cache with a private endpoint and disabling public network access secures the cache without code changes; and using Azure Key Vault with a managed identity injects the Redis connection string securely at runtime, eliminating plain-text storage without altering the application's configuration loading logic.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best", "minimum / minimize". 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?
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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