- A
Use Azure SQL Database with Always Encrypted using Azure Key Vault. Use Azure Storage with encryption at rest. Enforce TLS 1.2. Use Azure Traffic Manager to route traffic to EU regions. Enable SQL Auditing and export logs to an on-premises SIEM.
Why wrong: Overhead of Traffic Manager and on-premises SIEM; client-side encryption (Always Encrypted) adds complexity not required.
- B
Use Azure SQL Database with Always Encrypted using client-managed keys stored in a config file. Enforce TLS 1.2. Use Azure Storage with client-side encryption. Store keys in Azure Key Vault. Configure LRS in EU. Enable SQL Auditing.
Why wrong: Storing keys in config file is insecure; client-side encryption adds complexity.
- C
Use Azure SQL Database with SQL Server encryption (cell-level). Use Azure Storage with encryption at rest. Store keys in application code. Use Azure Backup for long-term retention. Enable auditing on SQL Database.
Why wrong: Keys in application code is insecure; cell-level encryption is complex.
- D
Use Azure SQL Database with Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) using service-managed keys. Enforce TLS 1.2 for connections. Use Azure Storage with encryption at rest using Microsoft-managed keys. Store keys in Azure Key Vault. Configure geo-redundant storage (GRS) in an EU region. Enable diagnostic settings to send logs to a Log Analytics workspace in the EU.
Meets all requirements with minimal overhead: built-in encryption, key management, geo-restriction, and logging.
Quick Answer
The answer is to use Azure SQL Database with Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) using service-managed keys, enforce TLS 1.2 for connections, and Azure Storage with encryption at rest using Microsoft-managed keys, with keys stored in Azure Key Vault, geo-redundant storage (GRS) within an EU region, and diagnostic logs sent to a Log Analytics workspace in the EU. This design is correct because TDE with service-managed keys encrypts data at rest with zero management overhead, while TLS 1.2 secures data in transit, and Microsoft-managed keys for Storage eliminate key rotation burdens—all meeting EU GDPR compliance for data encryption at rest and in transit with minimal overhead. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this scenario tests your ability to balance security requirements with operational efficiency, often trapping candidates who over-engineer with customer-managed keys when service-managed keys suffice for compliance. A key memory tip: “Service keys for simplicity, TLS for transit, GRS for residency, and Log Analytics for audit.”
SC-100 Practice Question: Design solutions that align with security best practices and priorities
This SC-100 practice question tests your understanding of design solutions that align with security best practices and priorities. 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.
Your organization is deploying a new application on Azure that will process personal data for European Union residents. The compliance team requires that the application encrypts all data at rest and in transit, that access to the data is logged and auditable, and that the data is not stored outside the EU. You need to design a solution that meets these requirements while following security best practices. The solution must also minimize operational overhead. You have decided to use Azure SQL Database, Azure Storage, and Azure Key Vault. Which design should you recommend?
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
Use Azure SQL Database with Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) using service-managed keys. Enforce TLS 1.2 for connections. Use Azure Storage with encryption at rest using Microsoft-managed keys. Store keys in Azure Key Vault. Configure geo-redundant storage (GRS) in an EU region. Enable diagnostic settings to send logs to a Log Analytics workspace in the EU.
Option D is correct because it uses Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) with service-managed keys for Azure SQL Database, which encrypts data at rest with minimal operational overhead, and enforces TLS 1.2 for data in transit. Azure Storage encryption at rest with Microsoft-managed keys meets the encryption requirement without management burden. Geo-redundant storage (GRS) within an EU region ensures data residency, and diagnostic settings sending logs to a Log Analytics workspace in the EU provides auditable logging while keeping logs within the EU, all aligning with security best practices and minimizing operational overhead.
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.
- ✗
Use Azure SQL Database with Always Encrypted using Azure Key Vault. Use Azure Storage with encryption at rest. Enforce TLS 1.2. Use Azure Traffic Manager to route traffic to EU regions. Enable SQL Auditing and export logs to an on-premises SIEM.
Why it's wrong here
Overhead of Traffic Manager and on-premises SIEM; client-side encryption (Always Encrypted) adds complexity not required.
- ✗
Use Azure SQL Database with Always Encrypted using client-managed keys stored in a config file. Enforce TLS 1.2. Use Azure Storage with client-side encryption. Store keys in Azure Key Vault. Configure LRS in EU. Enable SQL Auditing.
Why it's wrong here
Storing keys in config file is insecure; client-side encryption adds complexity.
- ✗
Use Azure SQL Database with SQL Server encryption (cell-level). Use Azure Storage with encryption at rest. Store keys in application code. Use Azure Backup for long-term retention. Enable auditing on SQL Database.
Why it's wrong here
Keys in application code is insecure; cell-level encryption is complex.
- ✓
Use Azure SQL Database with Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) using service-managed keys. Enforce TLS 1.2 for connections. Use Azure Storage with encryption at rest using Microsoft-managed keys. Store keys in Azure Key Vault. Configure geo-redundant storage (GRS) in an EU region. Enable diagnostic settings to send logs to a Log Analytics workspace in the EU.
Why this is correct
Meets all requirements with minimal overhead: built-in encryption, key management, geo-restriction, and logging.
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.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose Always Encrypted or client-side encryption thinking they provide stronger security, but for minimizing operational overhead with data at rest encryption, TDE with service-managed keys is the correct choice because it is fully managed by Azure and meets compliance requirements without the complexity of key management or client-side encryption.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) performs real-time I/O encryption and decryption of data at the page level, using a database encryption key (DEK) stored in the database boot record, protected by a server certificate or asymmetric key in Azure Key Vault. Service-managed keys in TDE automatically rotate and are managed by Azure, reducing operational overhead compared to customer-managed keys. For Azure Storage, encryption at rest using Microsoft-managed keys applies AES-256 encryption automatically to all data written to storage, with no configuration needed, and GRS within an EU region replicates data synchronously within the primary region and asynchronously to a paired region in the same geography, ensuring data never leaves the EU.
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
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SC-100 question test?
Design solutions that align with security best practices and priorities — This question tests Design solutions that align with security best practices and priorities — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use Azure SQL Database with Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) using service-managed keys. Enforce TLS 1.2 for connections. Use Azure Storage with encryption at rest using Microsoft-managed keys. Store keys in Azure Key Vault. Configure geo-redundant storage (GRS) in an EU region. Enable diagnostic settings to send logs to a Log Analytics workspace in the EU. — Option D is correct because it uses Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) with service-managed keys for Azure SQL Database, which encrypts data at rest with minimal operational overhead, and enforces TLS 1.2 for data in transit. Azure Storage encryption at rest with Microsoft-managed keys meets the encryption requirement without management burden. Geo-redundant storage (GRS) within an EU region ensures data residency, and diagnostic settings sending logs to a Log Analytics workspace in the EU provides auditable logging while keeping logs within the EU, all aligning with security best practices and minimizing operational overhead.
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 24, 2026
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