Microsoft AZ-500 Azure Security Technologies Exam Dumps and Practice Test Questions Set 8 Q141-160

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Question 141:

You need to ensure that Azure virtual machines are only accessible by approved users temporarily and that management ports are protected from brute-force attacks. Which solution should you implement?

A) Azure Defender for Servers with Just-in-Time VM Access
B) Network Security Groups only
C) Azure Policy
D) Azure Key Vault

Answer:

A) Azure Defender for Servers with Just-in-Time VM Access

Explanation:

Just-in-Time (JIT) VM Access is a feature of Azure Defender for Servers that allows administrators to secure virtual machines by temporarily opening management ports such as SSH or RDP. Typically, these ports are closed to prevent exposure to brute-force attacks and unauthorized access. When a user needs access, they submit a request specifying the source IP address and access duration. After the time window expires, the ports automatically close, significantly reducing the attack surface.

JIT provides full auditing capabilities, logging the user who requested access, the originating IP, time of request, duration, and port accessed. These logs can be integrated with Azure Monitor or Azure Sentinel for alerting, compliance, and security investigations. By limiting the window in which management ports are exposed, JIT reduces operational risk and supports zero-trust principles.

Network Security Groups alone can restrict traffic but cannot dynamically open ports for temporary use. Azure Policy enforces resource configuration standards but does not manage runtime access. Azure Key Vault secures keys but does not manage VM access.

Implementing Azure Defender for Servers with JIT VM Access ensures that administrative access is both controlled and auditable. This solution enforces least-privilege access, reduces the risk of compromise, and provides visibility for compliance audits. The combination of dynamic access control and logging strengthens operational governance, improves security posture, and aligns with best practices for securing critical workloads in Azure.

Question 142:

You need to ensure that Azure SQL Databases are encrypted at rest using keys controlled by your organization and that all encryption operations are auditable. Which solution should you implement?

A) Transparent Data Encryption with customer-managed keys
B) Network Security Groups
C) Azure Policy only
D) Azure Key Vault

Answer:

A) Transparent Data Encryption with customer-managed keys

Explanation:

Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) with customer-managed keys (CMK) ensures that all database files and backups are encrypted using keys that the organization controls. CMK provides administrators with the ability to create, rotate, revoke, and audit keys stored securely in Azure Key Vault, maintaining governance over encryption and compliance with regulatory standards.

Auditing key usage is crucial to maintain visibility into encryption and decryption operations. Logs capture details about who accessed the key, when, and what operations were performed. This allows organizations to detect unauthorized access, ensure accountability, and satisfy compliance requirements such as GDPR, HIPAA, or ISO 27001. TDE with CMK also ensures that all database backups and replicas remain encrypted using the same keys, maintaining consistent protection across all database copies.

Network Security Groups filter network traffic but cannot enforce encryption or log key usage. Azure Policy can audit configurations but cannot enforce encryption or monitor real-time key operations. Azure Key Vault alone secures keys but does not automatically encrypt database data without integration with TDE.

By implementing Transparent Data Encryption with customer-managed keys, organizations ensure strong protection for sensitive database information while maintaining control over encryption keys. Auditable logging provides visibility into key usage, enabling detection of anomalies and supporting compliance reporting. Integration with Azure Security Center allows continuous monitoring, alerting, and reporting, which strengthens the overall security posture, reduces operational risk, and ensures that encryption policies are consistently applied across all SQL Database instances.

Question 143:

You need to detect and respond to risky user sign-ins in Azure Active Directory, including impossible travel and access from unfamiliar locations. Which solution should you implement?

A) Azure AD Identity Protection with automated risk remediation
B) Network Security Groups
C) Azure Policy only
D) Azure Key Vault

Answer:

A) Azure AD Identity Protection with automated risk remediation

Explanation:

Azure AD Identity Protection provides risk-based monitoring of sign-ins, enabling organizations to detect suspicious activities such as impossible travel, access from unknown devices, or multiple failed login attempts. Each event is assigned a risk level to help prioritize remediation actions.

Automated risk remediation ensures that high-risk sign-ins are addressed in real time. Conditional access policies can enforce multi-factor authentication, block access, or require a password reset depending on the severity of the risk. Detailed logging captures who attempted to sign in, from where, at what time, and on which device. These logs can be integrated with Azure Sentinel for automated response workflows, incident correlation, and forensic investigations.

Network Security Groups cannot monitor authentication or respond to identity risks. Azure Policy enforces resource compliance but does not monitor sign-ins or remediate risks. Azure Key Vault secures secrets but does not detect risky sign-ins.

By implementing Azure AD Identity Protection with automated risk remediation, organizations strengthen identity security and enforce zero-trust principles. Automated remediation reduces administrative overhead, ensures only authorized users gain access, and maintains full auditability. Continuous monitoring provides visibility into anomalies and suspicious patterns, enabling rapid detection and mitigation of potential identity compromises, improving overall operational security and regulatory compliance.

Question 144:

You need to ensure that Azure Storage accounts are only accessible from specific virtual networks and that all access attempts are auditable. Which solution should you implement?

A) Storage account firewall with virtual network integration and logging enabled
B) Network Security Groups
C) Azure Policy only
D) Azure Key Vault

Answer:

A) Storage account firewall with virtual network integration and logging enabled

Explanation:

Azure Storage accounts support network-level security by allowing access only from specified subnets and IP ranges, ensuring that data is not exposed to the public internet. Firewall rules and virtual network integration provide strong isolation for sensitive data, reducing the risk of unauthorized access or data exfiltration.

Logging ensures that every access attempt is recorded, including the user identity, operation performed, IP address, resource accessed, and timestamp. Logs can be exported to Log Analytics, Event Hubs, or storage accounts for monitoring, auditing, and forensic investigation. Security teams can analyze these logs to detect suspicious activity, investigate anomalies, and respond proactively to potential threats. Integration with monitoring and alerting tools allows continuous oversight and operational governance.

Network Security Groups can filter traffic but cannot enforce storage account-specific access or detailed auditing. Azure Policy can audit configuration but cannot enforce real-time access or log events. Azure Key Vault secures keys and secrets but does not manage storage account access.

Implementing storage account firewall with virtual network integration and logging ensures strong network isolation while providing full visibility into storage access activity. This approach enforces least-privilege access, supports compliance with regulatory requirements, and mitigates operational risk. Continuous monitoring enables security teams to detect and respond to unauthorized attempts, providing accountability and strengthening overall governance of storage resources.

Question 145:

You need to protect Azure virtual machines from malware and ransomware, ensuring that detected threats generate alerts for the security team. Which solution should you implement?

A) Azure Defender for Servers with endpoint protection
B) Network Security Groups
C) Azure Policy only
D) Azure Key Vault

Answer:

A) Azure Defender for Servers with endpoint protection

Explanation:

Azure Defender for Servers provides continuous endpoint monitoring and protection for virtual machines. It detects malware, ransomware, and suspicious activity in real time and generates alerts for the security team to investigate and remediate. By continuously monitoring system processes, files, and configurations, it helps maintain a strong security posture for critical workloads.

Integration with Microsoft Antimalware for Windows and equivalent Linux protection solutions ensures cross-platform coverage. Alerts are centralized in Azure Security Center, allowing administrators to view all threat activity in one location. Integration with SIEM tools such as Azure Sentinel allows automated correlation, investigation, and incident response workflows, improving operational efficiency.

Network Security Groups filter network traffic but cannot detect malware or provide endpoint protection. Azure Policy enforces configuration compliance but does not offer runtime malware detection or alerting. Azure Key Vault secures keys and secrets but does not protect virtual machines from malware or ransomware.

By implementing Azure Defender for Servers with endpoint protection, organizations proactively detect threats, minimize exposure, and respond rapidly to potential attacks. Centralized alerts, detailed logging, and monitoring integration support compliance, forensic investigation, and operational governance. This approach reduces operational risk, enforces security best practices, and ensures virtual machines remain resilient against malicious activity while maintaining full visibility and accountability for all detected threats.

Question 146:

You need to ensure that Azure virtual machines are protected from unauthorized remote access and that administrative ports are only open for a limited time when needed. Which solution should you implement?

A) Azure Defender for Servers with Just-in-Time VM Access
B) Network Security Groups only
C) Azure Policy
D) Azure Key Vault

Answer:

A) Azure Defender for Servers with Just-in-Time VM Access

Explanation:

Just-in-Time (JIT) VM Access is a security feature within Azure Defender for Servers that allows administrators to minimize exposure of management ports such as RDP and SSH. These ports are frequently targeted by attackers in brute-force or credential-stuffing attacks. By default, these ports are closed, and users can request temporary access specifying the source IP address and duration. After the specified time, the ports automatically close, reducing the attack surface and limiting potential exposure.

JIT access includes auditing capabilities, logging details such as who requested access, the source IP address, the port requested, and the time of access. These logs can be monitored through Azure Monitor or Azure Sentinel for incident response, compliance reporting, and forensic investigation. Centralized logging allows security teams to detect abnormal patterns or unauthorized attempts to gain access.

Network Security Groups can restrict traffic but cannot dynamically open or close ports for temporary access. Azure Policy enforces compliance and configuration standards but does not manage runtime access. Azure Key Vault secures keys but does not manage access to VMs.

Implementing Azure Defender for Servers with JIT VM Access ensures that administrative access is secure, temporary, and auditable. It enforces the principle of least privilege, reduces the window of exposure for critical ports, and supports zero-trust principles. Detailed logging and integration with monitoring tools enhance operational governance, enabling security teams to respond quickly to anomalies and maintain compliance with internal and regulatory requirements.

Question 147:

You need to ensure that Azure SQL Databases are encrypted at rest using keys managed by your organization, and all key operations are fully auditable. Which solution should you implement?

A) Transparent Data Encryption with customer-managed keys
B) Network Security Groups
C) Azure Policy only
D) Azure Key Vault

Answer:

A) Transparent Data Encryption with customer-managed keys

Explanation:

Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) with customer-managed keys (CMK) allows complete control over encryption keys used to protect data at rest in Azure SQL Databases. By using CMK stored in Azure Key Vault, organizations can manage key creation, rotation, revocation, and auditing. This ensures that sensitive data remains protected under the organization’s governance policies and compliance requirements.

Auditing key usage is essential to maintain visibility into all encryption and decryption operations. Logs track the user, time, operation type, and result. This audit trail is critical for compliance with regulatory standards such as GDPR, HIPAA, or ISO 27001. TDE with CMK ensures encryption is applied consistently across the database, backups, and replicas, providing end-to-end data protection.

Network Security Groups filter network traffic but cannot encrypt data or provide key usage audit logs. Azure Policy can audit configurations but cannot enforce encryption or track runtime operations. Azure Key Vault alone secures keys but does not automatically encrypt SQL databases without TDE.

Implementing Transparent Data Encryption with customer-managed keys allows organizations to maintain control over encryption processes while ensuring accountability. Detailed logging provides insight into key usage, enabling detection of anomalies, investigation of unauthorized attempts, and compliance reporting. Integration with Azure Security Center provides continuous monitoring and alerts, improving the security posture and operational governance of SQL Databases. This approach strengthens confidentiality, integrity, and overall security compliance for organizational data.

Question 148:

You need to detect and respond to suspicious Azure AD sign-ins, including impossible travel and multiple failed login attempts. Which solution should you implement?

A) Azure AD Identity Protection with automated risk remediation
B) Network Security Groups
C) Azure Policy only
D) Azure Key Vault

Answer:

A) Azure AD Identity Protection with automated risk remediation

Explanation:

Azure AD Identity Protection monitors sign-ins and evaluates risk levels associated with user authentication activities. It can detect anomalies such as impossible travel, sign-ins from unfamiliar devices, multiple failed login attempts, and other suspicious behaviors. Each risk is scored to help security teams prioritize remediation.

Automated risk remediation enables organizations to define actions based on the detected risk. High-risk sign-ins can trigger conditional access policies requiring multi-factor authentication, blocking access, or enforcing a password reset. This ensures that potentially compromised accounts do not gain access to sensitive resources. Detailed logs capture information including the user identity, location, device, timestamp, and risk level, providing the necessary data for audit and forensic purposes. Integration with Azure Sentinel or other SIEM solutions allows automated workflows for incident response and correlation with other security events.

Network Security Groups cannot monitor user authentication behavior or enforce risk-based remediation. Azure Policy enforces compliance standards but does not evaluate sign-ins in real time. Azure Key Vault secures secrets but does not provide identity threat detection or automated response.

By implementing Azure AD Identity Protection with automated risk remediation, organizations enhance identity security, enforce zero-trust principles, and maintain operational governance. Automated remediation reduces administrative overhead, ensures only verified users access resources, and provides full auditability for all risky sign-in events. This proactive approach allows rapid detection and mitigation of identity-based threats, improving overall enterprise security and compliance readiness.

Question 149:

You need to ensure that Azure Storage accounts are only accessible from specific virtual networks and that all access attempts are logged for auditing purposes. Which solution should you implement?

A) Storage account firewall with virtual network integration and logging enabled
B) Network Security Groups
C) Azure Policy only
D) Azure Key Vault

Answer:

A) Storage account firewall with virtual network integration and logging enabled

Explanation:

Azure Storage accounts allow network-level access restrictions through firewalls and virtual network integration. By allowing access only from specified subnets or IP addresses, organizations prevent public internet access and unauthorized connections. This ensures that sensitive data is only accessible from trusted environments.

Enabling logging records all access attempts, including user identity, operation type, resource accessed, IP address, and timestamp. Logs can be exported to Log Analytics, Event Hubs, or storage accounts for auditing, compliance, and forensic investigation. Continuous monitoring and alerting enable security teams to detect anomalies, unauthorized access attempts, and suspicious patterns. Integration with monitoring tools such as Azure Sentinel allows automated investigation, correlation with other security events, and response workflows.

Network Security Groups filter traffic at the subnet or VM level but do not enforce storage account-specific access or capture detailed logs. Azure Policy can audit configurations but cannot enforce runtime access or logging. Azure Key Vault secures keys and secrets but does not control storage account access.

By implementing storage account firewall with virtual network integration and logging, organizations achieve strong network isolation, full visibility into access activity, and robust auditability. This approach minimizes operational risk, supports compliance with regulatory standards, and ensures that sensitive storage resources are only accessed by trusted users and networks. Continuous monitoring enables rapid detection of anomalies and proactive response to potential security incidents, strengthening overall operational governance.

Question 150:

You need to ensure that Azure virtual machines are continuously protected from malware and ransomware, and that detected threats generate alerts for the security team. Which solution should you implement?

A) Azure Defender for Servers with endpoint protection
B) Network Security Groups
C) Azure Policy only
D) Azure Key Vault

Answer:

A) Azure Defender for Servers with endpoint protection

Explanation:

Azure Defender for Servers provides continuous monitoring and protection for virtual machines against malware, ransomware, and suspicious activity. It inspects system processes, files, and configurations to detect malicious behavior in real time. Alerts are generated for security teams to investigate, ensuring that threats are identified and remediated promptly.

Integration with Microsoft Antimalware for Windows and Linux ensures cross-platform coverage. Alerts are centralized in Azure Security Center, providing a unified view of threat activity. Integration with SIEM tools like Azure Sentinel allows automated workflows for incident response, correlation of security events, and forensic investigations.

Network Security Groups filter network traffic but cannot detect malware or provide endpoint protection. Azure Policy enforces configuration compliance but does not monitor or alert on runtime threats. Azure Key Vault secures keys but does not protect virtual machines from malware or ransomware.

Implementing Azure Defender for Servers with endpoint protection ensures proactive threat detection and rapid response. Centralized logging and alerting support compliance and operational governance, while continuous monitoring reduces the risk of compromise. This solution enforces security best practices, supports zero-trust principles, and maintains the resilience of virtual machines against evolving threats. By combining malware detection, threat intelligence, alerting, and monitoring integration, organizations can effectively safeguard critical workloads and ensure full auditability of security events.

Question 151:

You need to ensure that Azure virtual machines are only accessible by authorized users for a limited period and that administrative ports are protected from unauthorized access. Which solution should you implement?

A) Azure Defender for Servers with Just-in-Time VM Access
B) Network Security Groups only
C) Azure Policy
D) Azure Key Vault

Answer:

A) Azure Defender for Servers with Just-in-Time VM Access

Explanation:

Just-in-Time (JIT) VM Access, a feature of Azure Defender for Servers, allows administrators to temporarily open management ports such as SSH and RDP only when required. This minimizes the attack surface by keeping these ports closed by default. Users requesting access must specify their source IP and the duration of access, after which the ports automatically close.

This feature provides full auditing by logging each access request, including the requesting user, source IP, port, and time of access. These logs can be integrated with Azure Monitor or Azure Sentinel for centralized alerting, forensic investigation, and compliance reporting. By restricting administrative access to specific users for limited periods, JIT VM Access reduces the risk of brute-force attacks and unauthorized access.

Network Security Groups alone can control traffic but cannot provide temporary, auditable access windows. Azure Policy enforces configuration standards but does not manage runtime access. Azure Key Vault secures keys but does not provide VM access management.

Implementing Azure Defender for Servers with JIT VM Access aligns with the principle of least privilege, strengthens zero-trust architecture, and enhances operational security. Detailed auditing and monitoring provide visibility into administrative actions, supporting compliance, and enabling quick responses to anomalies. This solution allows organizations to maintain strict control over critical management ports while ensuring that access remains traceable and secure, reducing operational risk and improving overall governance.

Question 152:

You need to ensure that Azure SQL Databases are encrypted at rest using keys controlled by your organization, and that all encryption and decryption operations are auditable. Which solution should you implement?

A) Transparent Data Encryption with customer-managed keys
B) Network Security Groups
C) Azure Policy only
D) Azure Key Vault

Answer:

A) Transparent Data Encryption with customer-managed keys

Explanation:

Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) with customer-managed keys (CMK) ensures that all data stored in Azure SQL Databases, including backups and replicas, is encrypted using keys that the organization controls. CMK stored in Azure Key Vault enables administrators to manage key creation, rotation, revocation, and auditing. This provides complete governance over encryption operations and compliance with regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, and ISO 27001.

Auditing key usage is essential for security and compliance. Logs capture the identity of the user performing the operation, the operation type, timestamp, and result. This provides a complete trail for detecting unauthorized access, investigating anomalies, and fulfilling regulatory reporting requirements. TDE with CMK ensures encryption is consistently applied across all database assets, providing end-to-end protection of sensitive data.

Network Security Groups control network traffic but do not encrypt data or provide key usage auditing. Azure Policy can audit whether encryption is applied but cannot enforce encryption or log real-time operations. Azure Key Vault secures the keys themselves but does not automatically encrypt SQL databases without TDE integration.

By implementing Transparent Data Encryption with customer-managed keys, organizations achieve strong data protection while retaining control over encryption keys. Auditing key operations provides transparency and accountability, enabling security teams to identify and remediate unauthorized actions. Integration with Azure Security Center ensures continuous monitoring, alerts, and reporting, improving overall security posture, operational governance, and regulatory compliance. This approach ensures that sensitive data remains protected and auditable, while giving organizations full control over encryption processes.

Question 153:

You need to detect and respond to suspicious sign-in activity in Azure Active Directory, including access from unusual locations and multiple failed login attempts. Which solution should you implement?

A) Azure AD Identity Protection with automated risk remediation
B) Network Security Groups
C) Azure Policy only
D) Azure Key Vault

Answer:

A) Azure AD Identity Protection with automated risk remediation

Explanation:

Azure AD Identity Protection provides continuous monitoring of sign-in activities and evaluates risk levels for authentication events. It detects anomalous behavior such as impossible travel between locations, access from unrecognized devices, and repeated failed login attempts. Each detected risk is assigned a severity score, allowing organizations to prioritize responses.

Automated risk remediation allows organizations to enforce conditional access policies based on risk levels. High-risk sign-ins can trigger multi-factor authentication, account blocking, or password reset requirements. Detailed logs provide information on the user identity, location, device, timestamp, and risk level, which can be integrated into Azure Sentinel or other SIEM platforms for automated incident management and forensic investigation.

Network Security Groups cannot evaluate user authentication or respond to identity risks. Azure Policy enforces compliance but does not monitor real-time sign-ins. Azure Key Vault secures keys and secrets but does not provide identity threat detection.

Implementing Azure AD Identity Protection with automated risk remediation strengthens identity security and supports zero-trust principles. It reduces administrative overhead by automating responses to high-risk events, ensures only verified users access resources, and provides detailed audit trails for compliance. Organizations can rapidly detect and respond to identity threats, monitor anomalies, and enforce governance over access, improving the overall security posture and operational control of Azure Active Directory environments.

Question 154:

You need to ensure that Azure Storage accounts are only accessible from specific virtual networks and that all access attempts are auditable. Which solution should you implement?

A) Storage account firewall with virtual network integration and logging enabled
B) Network Security Groups
C) Azure Policy only
D) Azure Key Vault

Answer:

A) Storage account firewall with virtual network integration and logging enabled

Explanation:

Azure Storage accounts provide network-level access control through firewall rules and virtual network integration. Administrators can restrict access to specific subnets or IP ranges, blocking all public internet access. This reduces the risk of unauthorized access, data exfiltration, and exposure to attacks.

Logging ensures that all access attempts are captured, including the identity of the user, operation type, resource accessed, IP address, and timestamp. Logs can be exported to Log Analytics, Event Hubs, or storage accounts for auditing, compliance, and forensic analysis. Security teams can analyze logs to detect anomalies, investigate suspicious activity, and respond proactively to potential threats. Integration with Azure Sentinel enables automated alerts and incident response workflows.

Network Security Groups control traffic at the subnet or VM level but do not enforce storage account-level access or logging. Azure Policy can audit storage configuration but does not provide runtime enforcement or auditing. Azure Key Vault secures keys and secrets but does not manage storage account access.

Implementing storage account firewall with virtual network integration and logging ensures strong isolation of storage resources while providing full visibility into access activity. This approach minimizes operational risk, enforces least-privilege access, and supports regulatory compliance. Continuous monitoring allows security teams to detect and respond to unauthorized attempts promptly, enhancing operational governance and protecting critical storage workloads.

Question 155:

You need to ensure that Azure virtual machines are continuously protected from malware and ransomware, and that any detected threats generate alerts for the security team. Which solution should you implement?

A) Azure Defender for Servers with endpoint protection
B) Network Security Groups
C) Azure Policy only
D) Azure Key Vault

Answer:

A) Azure Defender for Servers with endpoint protection

Explanation:

Azure Defender for Servers provides real-time endpoint protection for virtual machines, monitoring system processes, files, and configurations to detect malware, ransomware, and suspicious activity. Alerts are generated for security teams to investigate and respond promptly, ensuring threats are remediated before causing damage.

The solution integrates with Microsoft Antimalware for Windows and equivalent solutions for Linux, providing cross-platform protection. Alerts are centralized in Azure Security Center, giving administrators a unified view of threats across subscriptions. Integration with SIEM tools such as Azure Sentinel allows automated incident response workflows, correlation with other security events, and forensic investigation, improving operational efficiency and security posture.

Network Security Groups filter traffic but cannot detect malware or monitor VM processes. Azure Policy enforces configuration compliance but does not provide endpoint protection or alerting. Azure Key Vault secures keys but does not protect virtual machines from malware or ransomware.

By implementing Azure Defender for Servers with endpoint protection, organizations achieve proactive threat detection and rapid response capabilities. Continuous monitoring reduces the risk of compromise, while centralized logging and alerts support compliance and operational governance. This approach ensures that virtual machines remain resilient against threats, enforces security best practices, and provides full visibility and accountability for all security events, improving overall operational security and organizational compliance.

Question 156:

You need to ensure that Azure virtual machines are protected from unauthorized access, and that management ports are only opened for a limited time to verified users. Which solution should you implement?

A) Azure Defender for Servers with Just-in-Time VM Access
B) Network Security Groups only
C) Azure Policy
D) Azure Key Vault

Answer:

A) Azure Defender for Servers with Just-in-Time VM Access

Explanation:

Just-in-Time (JIT) VM Access is a feature within Azure Defender for Servers designed to secure virtual machines by temporarily opening management ports like SSH or RDP. By default, these ports remain closed, reducing the attack surface for brute-force attacks and unauthorized access attempts. Users must request access, specifying the source IP address and the duration for which the port should be open. Once the specified time expires, the ports automatically close, mitigating exposure.

JIT provides auditing capabilities, logging each access request with details such as user identity, source IP, requested port, and duration. These logs can be integrated with Azure Monitor or Azure Sentinel to enable centralized alerting, compliance tracking, and forensic investigation. This ensures transparency and accountability for administrative access activities.

Network Security Groups can restrict traffic but do not provide temporary or auditable access. Azure Policy enforces compliance but cannot dynamically manage access to VM ports. Azure Key Vault secures keys but does not control VM access.

Implementing Azure Defender for Servers with JIT VM Access allows organizations to enforce the principle of least privilege, reducing operational risk while strengthening security posture. Temporary access ensures that administrative ports are exposed only when necessary, preventing potential exploitation. The combination of logging, monitoring, and dynamic access control enhances governance, provides auditable evidence for compliance, and supports zero-trust principles. Organizations can therefore maintain tight control over critical VMs while ensuring that legitimate administrative tasks are not hindered.

Question 157:

You need to ensure that Azure SQL Databases are encrypted at rest using keys controlled by your organization, and that key operations are auditable for compliance. Which solution should you implement?

A) Transparent Data Encryption with customer-managed keys
B) Network Security Groups
C) Azure Policy only
D) Azure Key Vault

Answer:

A) Transparent Data Encryption with customer-managed keys

Explanation:

Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) with customer-managed keys (CMK) ensures that all data at rest in Azure SQL Databases is encrypted using keys under the organization’s control. CMK are stored in Azure Key Vault and allow administrators to manage the lifecycle of encryption keys, including creation, rotation, revocation, and auditing. This provides comprehensive control and compliance with regulatory standards such as HIPAA, GDPR, and ISO 27001.

Auditing key operations is critical to maintain accountability and detect unauthorized access. Logs capture the identity performing the operation, operation type, timestamp, and result. This audit trail provides organizations with visibility for compliance reporting, forensic investigations, and operational monitoring. TDE with CMK ensures that backups, replicas, and other copies of the database are consistently encrypted using the same keys, maintaining strong protection across all storage locations.

Network Security Groups can filter network traffic but cannot encrypt data or provide detailed key usage auditing. Azure Policy can monitor whether encryption is enabled but cannot enforce runtime operations or capture logs. Azure Key Vault alone secures keys but does not encrypt SQL databases without TDE integration.

Implementing Transparent Data Encryption with customer-managed keys strengthens data security and governance. It ensures that sensitive information remains encrypted and auditable, with full visibility into all encryption and decryption operations. Organizations can detect anomalies, enforce policies, and satisfy compliance requirements. Integration with Azure Security Center enables continuous monitoring, alerting, and reporting, improving operational governance, minimizing risks associated with data exposure, and providing confidence that sensitive database information is protected.

Question 158:

You need to detect and respond to risky sign-in activity in Azure Active Directory, including impossible travel and access from unfamiliar devices. Which solution should you implement?

A) Azure AD Identity Protection with automated risk remediation
B) Network Security Groups
C) Azure Policy only
D) Azure Key Vault

Answer:

A) Azure AD Identity Protection with automated risk remediation

Explanation:

Azure AD Identity Protection provides continuous monitoring of user sign-ins and evaluates risks based on sign-in behavior and patterns. Suspicious activity such as impossible travel between geographic locations, multiple failed login attempts, and access from unknown devices is flagged as high-risk. Each detected event is assigned a severity score to assist administrators in prioritizing remediation.

Automated risk remediation enables the enforcement of conditional access policies based on detected risks. High-risk sign-ins can trigger multi-factor authentication, block access, or enforce password reset policies. Detailed logs capture user identity, device, location, timestamp, and risk score, enabling auditing, forensic investigations, and operational monitoring. Integration with Azure Sentinel allows automated workflow orchestration, correlation with other security events, and incident response.

Network Security Groups cannot evaluate authentication behavior or provide automated remediation. Azure Policy enforces compliance but does not monitor sign-ins in real time. Azure Key Vault secures secrets but does not detect identity risks.

Implementing Azure AD Identity Protection with automated risk remediation strengthens identity security, reduces the risk of account compromise, and supports zero-trust principles. Automated remediation reduces administrative burden while ensuring only verified users gain access. Detailed logging and auditing capabilities provide transparency and accountability for all risky sign-ins. Organizations can detect anomalies, respond quickly, and enforce operational governance, improving overall security posture and compliance readiness.

Question 159:

You need to ensure that Azure Storage accounts are accessible only from specific virtual networks and that all access is auditable for compliance purposes. Which solution should you implement?

A) Storage account firewall with virtual network integration and logging enabled
B) Network Security Groups
C) Azure Policy only
D) Azure Key Vault

Answer:

A) Storage account firewall with virtual network integration and logging enabled

Explanation:

Azure Storage accounts provide network-level security through firewall rules and virtual network integration, allowing administrators to restrict access to trusted subnets or IP ranges. Public internet access can be blocked entirely, reducing the risk of unauthorized access and data leakage.

Enabling logging ensures that every access attempt is recorded. Logs capture user identity, operation type, resource accessed, source IP, and timestamp. This information is crucial for compliance reporting, auditing, and forensic investigation. Logs can be exported to Log Analytics, Event Hubs, or storage accounts for detailed monitoring. Integration with Azure Sentinel enables automated alerting and workflow-driven incident response.

Network Security Groups filter traffic at the subnet or VM level but do not provide storage account-specific access restrictions or detailed audit logging. Azure Policy can audit storage configurations but cannot enforce runtime access or logging. Azure Key Vault secures cryptographic keys but does not manage storage account access.

Implementing storage account firewall with virtual network integration and logging ensures strong isolation of storage resources while maintaining visibility into all access attempts. This minimizes operational risk, enforces least-privilege access, and supports regulatory compliance. Continuous monitoring and detailed logging allow security teams to detect anomalies, respond proactively to potential threats, and maintain accountability across storage accounts. This approach strengthens operational governance and ensures that sensitive data is protected from unauthorized access.

Question 160:

You need to ensure that Azure virtual machines are continuously protected against malware and ransomware, and that alerts are generated for the security team whenever threats are detected. Which solution should you implement?

A) Azure Defender for Servers with endpoint protection
B) Network Security Groups
C) Azure Policy only
D) Azure Key Vault

Answer:

A) Azure Defender for Servers with endpoint protection

Explanation:

Azure Defender for Servers provides continuous endpoint protection for virtual machines, monitoring files, system processes, and configurations to detect malware, ransomware, and suspicious activity in real time. Alerts are generated for the security team to investigate and remediate threats, ensuring early detection and rapid response to potential incidents.

Integration with Microsoft Antimalware for Windows and equivalent solutions for Linux ensures cross-platform protection. Alerts are centralized in Azure Security Center, giving administrators a single pane of visibility across multiple subscriptions. Integration with SIEM tools such as Azure Sentinel allows automated correlation, incident response workflows, and forensic investigations, improving operational efficiency and security posture.

Network Security Groups filter traffic but cannot detect malware or monitor VM processes. Azure Policy enforces configuration compliance but does not provide runtime malware detection or alerting. Azure Key Vault secures keys but does not protect virtual machines from malicious activity.

By implementing Azure Defender for Servers with endpoint protection, organizations ensure proactive threat detection, reduce risk of compromise, and maintain resilience of virtual machines. Centralized logging and alerting support operational governance and compliance. Continuous monitoring, integration with SIEM platforms, and detailed alerts enable security teams to respond quickly to anomalies, enforce security best practices, and maintain full auditability of security events, strengthening the overall security posture of the organization.