Microsoft AZ-500 Azure Security Technologies Exam Dumps and Practice Test Questions Set 2 Q21-40

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Question 21:

You are tasked with implementing identity protection for privileged accounts in Azure Active Directory. You want to ensure that administrators are required to use multi-factor authentication (MFA) every time they sign in, regardless of location. Which solution should you implement?

A) Conditional Access Policy targeting all users
B) Privileged Identity Management (PIM) with MFA enforcement
C) Azure AD Identity Protection with sign-in risk policy
D) Role-based access control (RBAC) assignment

Answer:

B) Privileged Identity Management (PIM) with MFA enforcement

Explanation:

Privileged Identity Management (PIM) is a service in Azure Active Directory that provides just-in-time privileged access and enforces strong authentication policies for administrators and privileged roles. It is designed to reduce the risk associated with standing administrative accounts by requiring approval, time-bound activation, and multi-factor authentication for each sign-in.

By enabling MFA enforcement in PIM, administrators must authenticate with MFA each time they activate their privileged roles, ensuring that even if credentials are compromised, attackers cannot use them without completing the additional verification step. PIM also provides audit logs, which track role activations, MFA usage, and administrative actions, providing accountability and visibility into privileged operations.

Option A, conditional access policies, allow MFA based on user, location, or device conditions. However, enforcing MFA every time for all administrators is more precise and manageable through PIM’s role activation policies. PIM ensures granular control specifically for privileged accounts.

Option C, Azure AD Identity Protection with sign-in risk policy, focuses on detecting risky sign-ins, such as impossible travel or unfamiliar locations. While useful for identifying potential compromise, it does not enforce MFA for every sign-in or provide time-limited access to roles.

Option D, RBAC assignment, controls permissions to resources but does not enforce authentication requirements. Assigning a role through RBAC alone will not ensure MFA is applied for each sign-in or activation.

Implementing PIM with MFA enforcement ensures that privileged accounts remain secure by requiring strong authentication each time a high-risk role is activated. This approach aligns with the principle of least privilege, minimizes the attack surface, and provides detailed logs for compliance audits. It also allows organizations to combine just-in-time access with conditional access policies for additional layered protection, reducing the risk of persistent administrative compromise.

Question 22:

You are securing an Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) cluster and want to ensure that container images are scanned for vulnerabilities before deployment. Which Azure service should you implement?

A) Azure Defender for Kubernetes
B) Azure Policy
C) Azure Key Vault
D) Azure Monitor

Answer:

A) Azure Defender for Kubernetes

Explanation:

Azure Defender for Kubernetes is a specialized security solution that provides threat protection and vulnerability management for Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) clusters. It can scan container images in registries such as Azure Container Registry (ACR) or Docker Hub to detect known vulnerabilities before images are deployed to the cluster.

Vulnerability scanning is critical for container security because containers often rely on base images that may contain outdated packages or security flaws. Azure Defender integrates with container registries to provide automated scanning, highlighting issues such as misconfigured Dockerfiles, outdated packages, and critical CVEs. These insights allow development and security teams to remediate vulnerabilities before production deployment, significantly reducing the risk of exploitation.

Option B, Azure Policy, can enforce compliance configurations on AKS clusters, such as restricting which namespaces or container images can be deployed, but it does not provide detailed vulnerability scanning. Azure Policy complements Defender but is not a replacement for a dedicated security monitoring and scanning tool.

Option C, Azure Key Vault, is for secure storage of secrets, certificates, and keys. While important for storing sensitive credentials used by containers, it does not provide vulnerability scanning or runtime security for container workloads.

Option D, Azure Monitor, provides performance and telemetry data for AKS clusters but does not perform security scanning or detect vulnerabilities in container images.

By using Azure Defender for Kubernetes, organizations can proactively identify and remediate container vulnerabilities, enforce runtime protection, monitor for suspicious activity within the cluster, and maintain compliance with security standards. Integration with Azure Security Center further consolidates visibility and allows alerts and recommendations to be acted upon efficiently.

Question 23:

You need to implement centralized logging and alerting for Azure storage account access, including both successful and failed requests. Which solution should you implement?

A) Azure Monitor diagnostic settings with Log Analytics
B) Azure Security Center Standard
C) Azure Key Vault
D) Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

Answer:

A) Azure Monitor diagnostic settings with Log Analytics

Explanation:

Azure Monitor allows organizations to collect and analyze diagnostic logs and metrics from Azure resources. For storage accounts, you can enable diagnostic logging to capture read, write, and delete operations and route these logs to a Log Analytics workspace. This enables centralized monitoring, alerting, and querying of storage activity.

Centralized logging is important for detecting anomalous access patterns, such as repeated failed requests or access from unusual IP addresses, which could indicate potential security incidents or misconfigurations. By leveraging Log Analytics, you can create custom queries and alerts to automatically notify security teams when unusual activity occurs. This enhances the organization’s ability to detect, investigate, and respond to threats proactively.

Option B, Azure Security Center Standard, provides recommendations and threat alerts for storage accounts but does not capture all raw access logs or provide detailed auditing capabilities in the same way as diagnostic logs with Log Analytics. Security Center complements logging but is not a comprehensive logging solution by itself.

Option C, Azure Key Vault, is for managing secrets and keys. It does not provide logging or auditing of storage account operations.

Option D, RBAC, controls who can access storage accounts but does not provide visibility into the actual operations performed. Permissions alone are insufficient to monitor activity or detect suspicious behavior.

By implementing Azure Monitor diagnostic settings with Log Analytics, organizations achieve comprehensive logging and alerting for storage accounts. This ensures that all access, both successful and failed, is captured and can be analyzed for compliance, incident response, and forensic purposes. Combined with Azure Security Center, this approach provides a robust monitoring and threat detection framework for storage resources.

Question 24:

You need to prevent data exfiltration from Azure SQL Database by restricting connections to only specific IP addresses. Which configuration should you implement?

A) Azure SQL Database firewall rules
B) Azure Virtual Network Service Endpoints
C) Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
D) Azure Security Center policies

Answer:

A) Azure SQL Database firewall rules

Explanation:

Azure SQL Database firewall rules allow you to define IP address ranges that can connect to your database. By configuring these rules, you can ensure that only authorized clients can access the database, preventing unauthorized access and reducing the risk of data exfiltration. Firewall rules can be applied at both the server and database levels, providing flexibility for granular access control.

In addition to IP restrictions, Azure SQL Database supports virtual network service endpoints for further securing access from specific subnets. This combination allows organizations to restrict access to trusted networks while blocking connections from untrusted networks.

Option B, Virtual Network Service Endpoints, enhance network security by allowing resources in a virtual network to securely connect to Azure services without routing traffic over the public internet. While Service Endpoints improve network security, they do not replace firewall rules and must be used in conjunction with them for full access control.

Option C, RBAC, defines which users can manage database resources but does not restrict network-level access. Permissions alone cannot prevent connections from unauthorized IP addresses.

Option D, Azure Security Center policies, can monitor and provide recommendations for database security but do not directly enforce connection restrictions. Policies are for governance and compliance, not for immediate access control.

By implementing Azure SQL Database firewall rules, you ensure that only trusted IP addresses or subnets can connect, significantly reducing the attack surface and mitigating the risk of data exfiltration. Combined with monitoring, alerts, and service endpoints, this approach enforces strong network-level security and aligns with regulatory compliance requirements.

Question 25:

You are designing a solution to secure API keys and passwords used by multiple applications in Azure. You want centralized management, automated key rotation, and fine-grained access control. Which service should you implement?

A) Azure Key Vault
B) Azure Storage Account
C) Azure Active Directory
D) Azure Security Center

Answer:

A) Azure Key Vault

Explanation:

Azure Key Vault provides centralized management of secrets, keys, and certificates for applications, services, and users. It ensures that sensitive information is stored securely and can be accessed programmatically using controlled permissions. Key Vault supports automated key and secret rotation, which reduces the risk of credential leaks and ensures compliance with organizational security policies.

Fine-grained access control is achieved through Azure role-based access control (RBAC) and Key Vault access policies. Administrators can specify which users or applications can perform specific operations, such as reading secrets, signing data, or managing keys. This supports the principle of least privilege and reduces exposure of sensitive information.

Option B, Azure Storage Account, is suitable for general data storage but does not provide secure management of secrets or cryptographic keys.

Option C, Azure Active Directory, provides authentication and identity management but is not designed for storing or rotating secrets. AD can integrate with Key Vault to enforce access control but does not itself manage secrets.

Option D, Azure Security Center, provides threat detection and security recommendations but is not a secret management or key rotation solution.

By using Azure Key Vault, organizations achieve a secure, centralized solution for managing API keys, passwords, and certificates. Automated rotation reduces the risk of compromised credentials, while logging and monitoring of access provide traceability and support compliance requirements. Key Vault can also integrate with Azure DevOps, Azure Functions, and other services to securely inject secrets into applications without exposing them in code or configuration files, maintaining strong security hygiene across environments.

Question 26:

You need to secure an Azure Virtual Network so that virtual machines in the network can only communicate with approved Azure services such as Azure Storage and Azure SQL Database. Which configuration should you implement?

A) Azure Firewall
B) Network Security Group (NSG)
C) Virtual Network Service Endpoints
D) Azure DDoS Protection

Answer:

C) Virtual Network Service Endpoints

Explanation:

Virtual Network Service Endpoints extend your virtual network private address space to Azure services, allowing secure and direct connectivity over the Azure backbone network. By enabling service endpoints for specific Azure services such as Azure Storage and Azure SQL Database, you can ensure that only virtual machines within the designated virtual network can access these services. This approach prevents access from public IP addresses, reducing exposure to potential threats and minimizing the risk of data exfiltration.

Service endpoints provide both security and performance benefits. Security is enhanced because traffic between the virtual network and the service remains on the Azure backbone, eliminating exposure to the public internet. Performance is improved because traffic does not traverse external networks, reducing latency and potential bottlenecks.

Option A, Azure Firewall, is a managed, cloud-based network security service that provides filtering for inbound and outbound traffic across multiple subnets or virtual networks. While Azure Firewall can restrict traffic to approved services using application rules, service endpoints provide a simpler, more direct approach to securing access at the subnet level without the need for additional firewall rules.

Option B, Network Security Groups (NSGs), allow filtering of inbound and outbound traffic based on IP addresses, ports, and protocols. While NSGs can restrict access to specific subnets or resources, they are not sufficient to enforce secure connectivity specifically to Azure PaaS services. NSGs cannot differentiate traffic to a service endpoint versus other public IP addresses.

Option D, Azure DDoS Protection, safeguards resources against distributed denial-of-service attacks but does not control connectivity to specific Azure services. It is focused on availability protection rather than access control.

By implementing Virtual Network Service Endpoints, organizations gain precise control over which virtual machines can communicate with approved Azure services, maintain secure connectivity within the Azure backbone network, reduce exposure to external threats, and align with compliance and governance requirements. Service endpoints integrate seamlessly with NSGs and Azure Firewall for layered network security and can be combined with private DNS to simplify service access.

Question 27:

You are designing a solution to detect and respond to threats in real-time for your Azure environment, including workloads across virtual machines, databases, and Azure App Services. Which service should you implement?

A) Azure Security Center
B) Azure Sentinel
C) Azure Key Vault
D) Azure Policy

Answer:

B) Azure Sentinel

Explanation:

Azure Sentinel is a cloud-native Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) and Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) solution. It provides centralized collection, correlation, and analysis of security events from Azure resources, on-premises environments, and other cloud platforms. Sentinel enables organizations to detect threats in real-time, investigate incidents, and respond automatically using built-in or custom playbooks.

Sentinel ingests logs from multiple sources, including Azure Security Center alerts, virtual machine activity logs, SQL Database audits, and App Service telemetry. It uses advanced analytics and machine learning to identify suspicious patterns, such as lateral movement, privilege escalation, or anomalous sign-ins. Once threats are detected, automated response playbooks can take corrective actions, such as disabling accounts, isolating compromised resources, or notifying security teams.

Option A, Azure Security Center, provides workload-level security monitoring, vulnerability assessments, and recommendations. While it is effective for preventing misconfigurations and protecting individual resources, Security Center is not a full SIEM or SOAR solution. Sentinel complements Security Center by providing cross-resource correlation and automated response capabilities.

Option C, Azure Key Vault, secures secrets, keys, and certificates but does not provide threat detection or incident response functionality.

Option D, Azure Policy, enforces compliance rules and configuration standards but does not provide real-time threat detection or automated remediation.

Implementing Azure Sentinel provides organizations with a comprehensive platform for monitoring, detecting, and responding to security incidents across all workloads in Azure. Sentinel’s integration with Security Center ensures that alerts and recommendations from individual resources are consolidated, allowing security teams to analyze trends, prioritize threats, and orchestrate automated responses. Its scalable, cloud-native architecture reduces the operational burden of traditional SIEM systems while enabling robust governance and compliance monitoring.

Question 28:

You are configuring logging for an Azure subscription to monitor administrative changes, user activity, and potential security threats. Which service should you use to collect and analyze this data centrally?

A) Azure Monitor with Log Analytics
B) Azure Security Center Standard
C) Azure Active Directory
D) Azure Policy

Answer:

A) Azure Monitor with Log Analytics

Explanation:

Azure Monitor, combined with Log Analytics, provides a comprehensive solution for collecting, analyzing, and visualizing log data from Azure resources. By enabling diagnostic settings across subscriptions, administrators can capture activity logs, resource logs, and metrics. These logs include administrative changes, user sign-ins, and other events that are critical for security monitoring, operational troubleshooting, and compliance auditing.

Logs from Azure Monitor are stored in a Log Analytics workspace, which enables advanced querying, correlation, and visualization. Security teams can create custom alerts based on suspicious activity, such as unexpected changes to role assignments, unusual resource modifications, or access from unknown locations. This centralized logging solution allows for proactive detection of security incidents and enables faster investigation and response.

Option B, Azure Security Center Standard, provides threat protection and security recommendations but does not collect all detailed activity logs required for comprehensive auditing and monitoring. Security Center complements log collection but does not replace centralized logging.

Option C, Azure Active Directory, manages identity and access but only provides logs related to authentication and directory events. It does not provide centralized logging for all subscription-level activities.

Option D, Azure Policy, enforces compliance rules but does not collect or analyze detailed activity logs. Policies can generate alerts when non-compliance is detected but do not provide centralized audit capabilities.

By using Azure Monitor with Log Analytics, organizations can capture all necessary activity logs in one location, create queries and visualizations, generate alerts for unusual activity, and integrate with other security solutions such as Azure Sentinel for enhanced threat detection and automated response. This approach ensures visibility, traceability, and compliance with security standards.

Question 29:

You need to ensure that only approved users can deploy resources in a subscription, and all deployments must comply with corporate security standards. Which combination of Azure features should you implement?

A) Role-based access control (RBAC) and Azure Policy
B) Azure Key Vault and Azure Monitor
C) Azure Security Center and Azure Sentinel
D) Conditional Access and Virtual Network Service Endpoints

Answer:

A) Role-based access control (RBAC) and Azure Policy

Explanation:

To control who can deploy resources and ensure that deployments meet corporate security standards, organizations should implement RBAC to manage permissions and Azure Policy to enforce compliance.

RBAC allows administrators to assign roles at the subscription, resource group, or resource level. By granting only necessary privileges, such as Contributor or specific custom roles, RBAC ensures that only authorized users can deploy resources. This prevents unauthorized deployments and reduces the risk of misconfiguration.

Azure Policy complements RBAC by enforcing compliance rules on deployed resources. Policies can restrict allowed resource types, enforce tagging standards, require encryption at rest, or prevent deployments of unapproved virtual machine sizes. When a non-compliant resource is deployed, Azure Policy can either audit the deployment or deny it outright, maintaining organizational security standards.

Option B, Azure Key Vault and Azure Monitor, provides secret management and logging, but does not control who can deploy resources or enforce deployment compliance.

Option C, Azure Security Center and Azure Sentinel, offers workload protection and centralized threat detection but does not enforce deployment permissions or governance policies.

Option D, Conditional Access and Virtual Network Service Endpoints, primarily control authentication access and secure connectivity, but do not manage deployment permissions or compliance enforcement.

By combining RBAC and Azure Policy, organizations ensure that only authorized users can deploy resources and that all deployments adhere to security and compliance standards. This approach enforces governance, minimizes risks associated with unauthorized or misconfigured deployments, and provides a strong foundation for audit and regulatory reporting.

Question 30:

You need to secure traffic between your on-premises network and an Azure virtual network while also inspecting traffic for potential threats. Which solution should you implement?

A) Azure Firewall with VPN Gateway
B) Network Security Groups (NSG) only
C) Azure DDoS Protection
D) Azure Monitor

Answer:

A) Azure Firewall with VPN Gateway

Explanation:

Azure Firewall combined with a VPN Gateway provides a secure, monitored, and controlled connection between on-premises networks and Azure virtual networks. The VPN Gateway establishes an encrypted connection using IPsec or SSL, ensuring that traffic traversing the public internet remains private and protected from eavesdropping. Azure Firewall provides stateful traffic inspection, filtering both inbound and outbound connections, and can detect malicious traffic or abnormal patterns.

This combination ensures that only authorized traffic passes between on-premises networks and Azure, while also applying advanced threat protection capabilities such as FQDN filtering, application rules, and logging. Organizations can create alerts based on firewall logs, monitor policy compliance, and integrate with Azure Security Center or Sentinel for enhanced visibility.

Option B, NSGs only, provide basic traffic filtering based on IP, port, and protocol, but they do not offer encrypted communication, traffic inspection, or advanced threat protection. NSGs are useful for internal segmentation but are insufficient for securing traffic to and from on-premises networks.

Option C, Azure DDoS Protection, protects against distributed denial-of-service attacks but does not encrypt traffic or inspect it for threats. It is focused on availability rather than security enforcement for network traffic.

Option D, Azure Monitor, provides monitoring and logging but does not provide traffic encryption or inspection. It complements security solutions but does not replace them.

By implementing Azure Firewall with VPN Gateway, organizations ensure secure, encrypted communication between on-premises networks and Azure, enforce traffic inspection and filtering, protect against threats, and gain visibility into network activities. This solution supports regulatory compliance, reduces exposure to attacks, and provides centralized control of network traffic while maintaining secure connectivity for hybrid environments.

Question 31:

You need to ensure that all virtual machines in your Azure environment have automatic updates enabled and comply with corporate security patch policies. Which solution should you implement?

A) Azure Automation Update Management
B) Azure Security Center recommendations
C) Azure Monitor alerts
D) Network Security Groups

Answer:

A) Azure Automation Update Management

Explanation:

Azure Automation Update Management is a solution that enables administrators to manage operating system updates for Windows and Linux virtual machines at scale. By configuring Update Management, organizations can define maintenance windows, approve updates, and ensure compliance with corporate patching policies. The solution provides a centralized dashboard to monitor the update status of all VMs across subscriptions, enabling proactive management of vulnerabilities.

Update Management works by deploying an agent on each virtual machine. The agent reports update compliance, including missing updates and installation status, back to Azure Automation. Administrators can schedule automatic installation during maintenance windows, ensuring that updates are applied consistently without disrupting business operations. Additionally, reporting capabilities allow organizations to track compliance for audit and regulatory purposes.

Option B, Azure Security Center recommendations, can provide guidance on missing updates and potential vulnerabilities, but it does not provide automated enforcement or scheduling of updates. Security Center complements Update Management by highlighting non-compliant VMs, but administrators still need an operational tool like Update Management to apply updates systematically.

Option C, Azure Monitor alerts, allows monitoring of events and performance metrics but does not provide the capability to deploy or manage OS updates. Alerts can notify administrators of update status but cannot enforce compliance or remediation.

Option D, Network Security Groups, filter inbound and outbound traffic for virtual machines but do not manage or enforce patching policies. NSGs enhance network security but are unrelated to system updates.

By implementing Azure Automation Update Management, organizations can ensure that virtual machines are kept up to date with security patches and OS updates, reduce vulnerability exposure, and meet compliance requirements. It enables centralized management of multiple VMs across subscriptions, supports maintenance windows to minimize business disruption, and integrates with Security Center to continuously monitor and remediate non-compliant systems. This approach enhances overall security posture and operational efficiency.

Question 32:

You need to implement encryption for Azure Blob Storage to ensure that all data is encrypted with keys you control and rotated automatically. Which solution should you implement?

A) Storage Service Encryption with customer-managed keys in Azure Key Vault
B) Storage Service Encryption with Microsoft-managed keys
C) Azure Disk Encryption
D) Azure Security Center

Answer:

A) Storage Service Encryption with customer-managed keys in Azure Key Vault

Explanation:

Azure Storage Service Encryption (SSE) enables encryption of data at rest in storage accounts, including blobs, files, and tables. When using customer-managed keys (CMK) stored in Azure Key Vault, organizations gain full control over the encryption keys, including key creation, rotation, and revocation. SSE with CMK ensures that all data is encrypted with keys that the organization manages, providing a higher level of control and compliance with security standards.

Key Vault integration allows automated key rotation and audit logging, which simplifies governance and ensures that encryption keys are not stale or compromised. Logs and access policies track every request to use the key, ensuring traceability and accountability. SSE with CMK also supports both blob and file storage, making it a comprehensive solution for enterprise environments.

Option B, SSE with Microsoft-managed keys, encrypts data automatically but does not allow organizations to manage the keys. While secure, this approach may not meet compliance requirements that require customer control of encryption keys.

Option C, Azure Disk Encryption, is intended for encrypting virtual machine disks and does not apply to storage account data such as blobs or tables.

Option D, Azure Security Center, monitors security posture and provides recommendations but does not provide encryption for storage account data.

By implementing SSE with customer-managed keys, organizations ensure that sensitive data in storage accounts is encrypted according to internal policies, complies with regulatory standards, and is auditable. Automated key rotation reduces the risk of key compromise, while centralized management via Key Vault provides control over who can access and use the encryption keys. Combined with monitoring and logging, this approach creates a secure and compliant data storage environment.

Question 33:

You are designing a solution to prevent unauthorized applications from running on Azure virtual machines while also monitoring for suspicious activity. Which feature should you enable?

A) Azure Defender for Servers with Adaptive Application Controls
B) Network Security Groups
C) Azure Policy
D) Azure Key Vault

Answer:

A) Azure Defender for Servers with Adaptive Application Controls

Explanation:

Azure Defender for Servers provides advanced security for virtual machines, including adaptive application controls, which enforce application whitelisting policies. By enabling adaptive application controls, organizations can specify approved applications that are allowed to run on VMs. Any unapproved or suspicious applications are blocked or flagged for investigation.

This feature works by first analyzing application behaviors to create a baseline of known-good applications. Administrators can then refine the whitelist and enforce policies, preventing malware or unauthorized software from executing. Adaptive application controls also generate alerts for unusual application activity, enabling security teams to respond proactively to potential threats.

Option B, Network Security Groups, control traffic flow to and from VMs based on IP addresses, ports, and protocols. While NSGs are essential for network security, they do not manage which applications can run inside the VM.

Option C, Azure Policy, can enforce compliance rules for VM configurations but does not perform real-time application whitelisting. Policies are evaluated periodically and focus on configuration compliance rather than runtime application control.

Option D, Azure Key Vault, manages secrets, keys, and certificates but does not control application execution or runtime security on VMs.

Enabling Azure Defender for Servers with adaptive application controls provides a layered security approach, combining preventive measures with runtime monitoring. This helps organizations reduce the attack surface, enforce compliance, and detect suspicious activities, supporting operational security and governance requirements. Integration with Azure Security Center provides centralized visibility and reporting for all managed VMs.

Question 34:

You need to ensure that administrators can perform emergency access to Azure resources only for a limited period and that all actions are auditable. Which solution should you implement?

A) Privileged Identity Management (PIM)
B) Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
C) Azure Policy
D) Azure Active Directory Identity Protection

Answer:

A) Privileged Identity Management (PIM)

Explanation:

Privileged Identity Management (PIM) allows organizations to implement just-in-time privileged access for Azure resources. By configuring PIM, administrators are assigned time-bound roles that grant elevated permissions only for a specific duration. Once the time window expires, access is automatically revoked, reducing the risk of standing administrative privileges being misused or compromised.

PIM provides comprehensive auditing and reporting capabilities. Every role activation, including the duration, actions performed, and whether multi-factor authentication was used, is logged. This ensures accountability and enables organizations to demonstrate compliance with internal security policies and external regulatory requirements.

Option B, RBAC, provides role assignments to users but does not enforce time-limited access. Users with permanent assignments could maintain elevated privileges indefinitely, which increases risk.

Option C, Azure Policy, enforces compliance rules on resources but does not control access duration or privilege escalation.

Option D, Azure Active Directory Identity Protection, identifies risky sign-ins and compromised accounts but does not manage time-bound administrative access.

By implementing PIM, organizations maintain tight control over privileged access, minimize exposure to potential attacks, enforce the principle of least privilege, and ensure all administrative actions are auditable. PIM can also integrate with conditional access policies and MFA, enhancing security while providing flexibility for emergency access scenarios.

Question 35:

You need to enforce encryption for all Azure SQL Databases in your subscription using keys that you control and rotate regularly. Which solution should you implement?

A) Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) with customer-managed keys
B) Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) with service-managed keys
C) Storage Service Encryption
D) Azure Key Vault alone

Answer:

A) Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) with customer-managed keys

Explanation:

Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) protects Azure SQL Databases by encrypting data at rest, including the database files, backups, and transaction logs. By configuring TDE with customer-managed keys (CMK) stored in Azure Key Vault, organizations retain full control over encryption keys, including creation, rotation, and revocation. This ensures compliance with regulatory standards that require key ownership and auditable management practices.

TDE with CMK works by encrypting the database encryption key (DEK) with the customer-managed key. When the key is rotated in Key Vault, TDE automatically updates the DEK, maintaining seamless encryption for database files without downtime. Audit logs in Key Vault provide visibility into key usage and access, supporting compliance reporting and forensic investigations.

Option B, TDE with service-managed keys, encrypts data automatically using Microsoft-managed keys. While secure, it does not allow customer control over key rotation or lifecycle management, which may not meet specific compliance requirements.

Option C, Storage Service Encryption, protects data in storage accounts such as blobs or files but does not apply to SQL Database files.

Option D, Azure Key Vault alone, provides secure storage and management of keys but does not perform database encryption by itself. TDE must be configured to use the keys stored in Key Vault.

Implementing TDE with customer-managed keys ensures that all SQL Database data at rest is encrypted according to internal policies and compliance standards, provides centralized key management, supports automated key rotation, and maintains detailed logging for audit purposes. This approach reduces the risk of unauthorized data access and aligns with best practices for database security and governance.

Question 36:

You need to ensure that only users with devices that meet security compliance policies can access Azure resources. Which solution should you implement?

A) Conditional Access Policies with device compliance
B) Azure Policy
C) Azure Key Vault
D) Role-Based Access Control

Answer:

A) Conditional Access Policies with device compliance

Explanation:

Conditional Access in Azure Active Directory allows organizations to enforce access controls based on specific conditions, including device compliance. By integrating Conditional Access with Intune or another mobile device management solution, administrators can define policies that require devices to meet security requirements, such as having encryption enabled, antivirus installed, and OS updates applied.

When a user attempts to access Azure resources, the policy evaluates the device compliance status. If the device is compliant, access is granted. If the device is non-compliant, access is blocked or the user is prompted to take corrective action, such as updating the operating system or enrolling in device management. This ensures that only trusted and secure devices can access corporate resources, mitigating risks associated with compromised or unmanaged devices.

Option B, Azure Policy, enforces compliance for Azure resources and configurations but does not control access based on device compliance. Policies target resources rather than user devices.

Option C, Azure Key Vault, is for managing secrets, keys, and certificates, and does not enforce access control based on device status.

Option D, Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), controls who can perform actions on resources but does not evaluate the security posture of devices attempting access.

By implementing Conditional Access Policies with device compliance, organizations strengthen security by ensuring that only devices meeting defined security standards can access sensitive resources. This approach reduces the likelihood of data leakage, supports regulatory compliance, and enables proactive remediation of insecure devices. Logging and monitoring capabilities provide visibility into access attempts and policy enforcement, allowing security teams to maintain continuous oversight.

Question 37:

You need to ensure that all secrets used by Azure DevOps pipelines are stored securely and are auditable. Which solution should you implement?

A) Azure Key Vault integrated with Azure DevOps
B) Azure Storage Account
C) Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
D) Azure Policy

Answer:

A) Azure Key Vault integrated with Azure DevOps

Explanation:

Azure Key Vault provides a centralized and secure way to store secrets, keys, and certificates used by applications and services. By integrating Key Vault with Azure DevOps, pipelines can retrieve secrets securely at runtime without exposing them in source code or configuration files. This ensures that credentials, API keys, and certificates are encrypted in transit and at rest and are only accessible to authorized users and pipelines.

Key Vault integration supports automated key rotation, auditing, and fine-grained access control. Access to secrets can be governed by RBAC or Key Vault-specific access policies, and every request to retrieve secrets is logged. This allows organizations to maintain a clear audit trail, supporting compliance with security and regulatory requirements.

Option B, Azure Storage Account, is suitable for storing general data but does not provide the same level of security, auditing, and secret management capabilities as Key Vault.

Option C, RBAC, controls who can access resources but does not provide secure secret storage or automated integration with DevOps pipelines.

Option D, Azure Policy, enforces compliance rules on Azure resources but does not provide secret management or pipeline integration.

By implementing Azure Key Vault integrated with Azure DevOps, organizations ensure that secrets are securely stored, rotated automatically, and accessed only by authorized processes. This reduces the risk of credential exposure, provides comprehensive auditing for compliance purposes, and supports secure continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines.

Question 38:

You need to monitor for potential insider threats in your Azure environment, including unusual role assignments and administrative activities. Which solution should you implement?

A) Azure Sentinel with audit log collection
B) Azure Key Vault
C) Azure Storage Account
D) Azure Policy

Answer:

A) Azure Sentinel with audit log collection

Explanation:

Azure Sentinel, a cloud-native SIEM solution, enables organizations to collect, analyze, and respond to security-related events across Azure and hybrid environments. To detect potential insider threats, Sentinel can ingest audit logs from Azure Active Directory, role assignments, and other administrative activities. By correlating events and applying behavioral analytics, Sentinel can identify unusual patterns, such as elevated privileges granted outside of standard procedures or unexpected access to sensitive resources.

Audit log collection is a critical component of insider threat detection. Logs capture detailed information about who performed an action, when it was performed, and what resources were affected. Sentinel can trigger alerts based on predefined thresholds or anomalous patterns, allowing security teams to investigate and respond promptly. Automated playbooks can be used to revoke privileges, notify administrators, or require additional authentication for suspicious actions.

Option B, Azure Key Vault, secures secrets and keys but does not provide monitoring or detection of administrative activity.

Option C, Azure Storage Account, can store logs but does not analyze them for insider threat detection.

Option D, Azure Policy, enforces resource compliance but does not provide real-time threat detection or behavioral analytics.

By implementing Azure Sentinel with audit log collection, organizations gain a proactive approach to identifying and mitigating insider threats. Continuous monitoring, correlation of events, and automated response reduce the risk of misuse of privileged accounts. Sentinel’s dashboards provide centralized visibility into activity trends, enabling compliance reporting and forensic investigations. This approach strengthens internal security governance and ensures that deviations from standard procedures are detected and addressed effectively.

Question 39:

You need to ensure that virtual machines in Azure are protected from brute-force attacks on RDP and SSH ports while minimizing administrative overhead. Which solution should you implement?

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

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 control access to management ports (such as RDP for Windows and SSH for Linux) by opening them only when needed. This reduces the attack surface by limiting exposure of these ports to the public internet and protecting virtual machines from brute-force attacks.

When JIT is enabled, administrators request temporary access to a VM, specifying the allowed IP addresses and duration of access. The firewall rules are automatically updated for the requested period and revoked when the time expires. This approach minimizes administrative overhead while maintaining strong security, as users no longer need to manually open and close ports or maintain permanent access rules.

Option B, Network Security Groups, can restrict inbound traffic by IP and port but cannot provide time-limited access or dynamically open ports based on user requests. NSGs are effective for static traffic control but do not address the operational convenience and security benefits of JIT access.

Option C, Azure Key Vault, is unrelated to VM access control. It secures secrets and keys but does not protect RDP or SSH ports.

Option D, Azure Policy, enforces resource configurations but does not manage real-time access to VM ports.

By implementing Azure Defender for Servers with JIT VM Access, organizations minimize the exposure of VMs to brute-force attacks, reduce operational complexity, and enforce a least-privilege approach to administrative access. This solution integrates with Azure Security Center for monitoring and reporting, providing visibility into requests, approvals, and access durations. It ensures secure, auditable, and controlled management of virtual machines.

Question 40:

You need to ensure that all Azure Key Vault access is logged, monitored for anomalies, and alerts are generated for suspicious activity. Which solution should you implement?

A) Azure Monitor diagnostic settings with Log Analytics
B) Azure Policy
C) Network Security Groups
D) Azure Disk Encryption

Answer:

A) Azure Monitor diagnostic settings with Log Analytics

Explanation:

Azure Key Vault provides built-in logging capabilities through diagnostic settings, which can be configured to send logs to a Log Analytics workspace. These logs include all access attempts, both successful and failed, and cover operations such as secret retrieval, key usage, and certificate management. By centralizing these logs in Log Analytics, organizations can monitor access patterns, detect unusual activity, and generate alerts when suspicious behavior is detected.

Log Analytics allows the creation of queries to identify anomalies, such as repeated failed access attempts, unexpected access from unknown IP addresses, or unusual patterns of key usage. Integration with Azure Sentinel can provide advanced correlation, automated alerts, and playbooks to respond to potential threats. This ensures that all access to sensitive secrets, keys, and certificates is auditable, monitored, and controlled.

Option B, Azure Policy, enforces compliance and configuration rules but does not provide detailed logging or alerting for Key Vault access. Policies cannot detect anomalies in real-time activity.

Option C, Network Security Groups, control traffic to Key Vault endpoints but do not provide auditing or monitoring of operations performed on the keys and secrets themselves.

Option D, Azure Disk Encryption, secures virtual machine disks but is unrelated to Key Vault access monitoring.

By configuring Azure Monitor diagnostic settings with Log Analytics, organizations gain full visibility into Key Vault activity, can detect suspicious access attempts, and ensure auditability for regulatory compliance. Alerts and automated responses reduce the risk of unauthorized access, while comprehensive logging supports incident investigation and forensic analysis. This approach ensures that sensitive credentials and keys are protected and that security teams can respond quickly to potential threats.