The answer is Azure Web Application Firewall (WAF) on Azure Application Gateway, because it is purpose-built to inspect incoming HTTP/HTTPS traffic at the network edge and block malicious payloads like SQL injection and cross-site scripting before they reach your web app. Unlike a general network firewall, Azure WAF uses OWASP core rule sets to analyze request bodies, headers, and URIs for web-specific attack patterns, providing centralized protection that scales with your application. On the Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between Azure’s security layers—a common trap is confusing Azure Firewall (layer 3/4) or Network Security Groups (basic ACLs) with the web-application-layer filtering that only WAF on Application Gateway or Front Door provides. Remember the memory tip: “WAF watches the web, Firewall guards the network.”
SC-100 Design security solutions for infrastructure Practice Question
This SC-100 practice question tests your understanding of design security solutions 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.
Your organization is deploying a new web application in Azure and needs to secure it against common web attacks like SQL injection and cross-site scripting. You need to configure a solution that provides centralized protection at the network edge. Which Azure service should you use?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Azure Web Application Firewall (WAF) on Azure Application Gateway
Option A is correct because Azure Web Application Firewall (WAF) with Application Gateway provides centralized protection against common web exploits at the network edge. Option B is wrong because Azure Firewall is a network firewall but doesn't have web-specific filtering. Option C is wrong because Azure DDoS Protection only mitigates DDoS attacks. Option D is wrong because Network Security Groups provide basic network filtering but not web application layer protection.
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.
✓
Azure Web Application Firewall (WAF) on Azure Application Gateway
Why this is correct
WAF provides centralized protection against web attacks at the edge.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Network Security Groups (NSGs)
Why it's wrong here
NSGs provide basic network access control, not web application filtering.
✗
Azure DDoS Protection
Why it's wrong here
DDoS Protection only mitigates distributed denial-of-service attacks.
✗
Azure Firewall
Why it's wrong here
Azure Firewall is a network firewall, not a web application firewall.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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 healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this SC-100 question in full detail.
Identify which SC-100 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Design security solutions for infrastructure — This question tests Design security solutions for infrastructure — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Azure Web Application Firewall (WAF) on Azure Application Gateway — Option A is correct because Azure Web Application Firewall (WAF) with Application Gateway provides centralized protection against common web exploits at the network edge. Option B is wrong because Azure Firewall is a network firewall but doesn't have web-specific filtering. Option C is wrong because Azure DDoS Protection only mitigates DDoS attacks. Option D is wrong because Network Security Groups provide basic network filtering but not web application layer protection.
What should I do if I get this SC-100 question wrong?
Identify which SC-100 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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