Microsoft Azure Architect Design (AZ-301) Practice Exam

Using Azure Key Vault for managing secrets securely is the best strategy for handling sensitive information in applications. Azure Key Vault is designed specifically for this purpose, providing a centralized location to store and manage sensitive data such as keys, secrets, and certificates. This service ensures that sensitive information is encrypted both at rest and in transit, greatly enhancing security.

Key Vault also offers robust access control options, allowing you to grant permissions to specific applications or users, ensuring that only authorized entities can retrieve the sensitive information. Additionally, Azure Key Vault integrates seamlessly with other Azure services, simplifying the process of integrating security in your applications.

The other choices do not provide the necessary level of security for sensitive information. While Azure DevOps can facilitate certain aspects of development and deployment, it does not specialize in secret management. Storing secrets in plain text files poses a significant security risk, exposing sensitive data to unauthorized access. Implementing firewalls can enhance network security, but they do not address the need for secure storage and management of sensitive information directly. Thus, utilizing Azure Key Vault is the most effective approach for securely managing sensitive data in applications.