Microsoft Azure Architect Technologies (AZ-300) Practice Exam

What hashing technique is typically used to create a unique fingerprint of the data during transmission?

1. Two-way hashing algorithm

2. Bi-directional hashing algorithm

3. One-way hashing algorithm

4. Multi-directional hashing algorithm

The correct answer is: One-way hashing algorithm

The one-way hashing algorithm is specifically designed to generate a unique fingerprint, or hash, of data in a manner that is secure and irreversible. This means that once the data has been processed through the hashing function, it is not feasible to reconstruct the original data from the hash value. The primary purpose of using a hashing algorithm during data transmission is to ensure the integrity of the data. If the hash value produced from the transmitted data matches the hash value when the data is received, it indicates that the data has not been altered or corrupted during transit. One-way hashing algorithms, such as SHA-256 or MD5, take an input and produce a fixed-size string of characters, which appears random but is deterministic—meaning that the same input will always produce the same output. This property is what makes one-way hashing particularly suited for verifying the integrity of data. In contrast, the other hashing techniques mentioned do not align with the standard definition of how secure data integrity checks are typically implemented. Hash algorithms that imply bi-directional or multi-directional capabilities suggest that there is a way to revert back to the original data, which fundamentally contradicts the purpose of hashing as a one-way process. Thus, the one-way hashing algorithm stands out as the correct choice for