easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
CV0-004 Practice Question: A cloud administrator notices that a virtual…
A cloud administrator notices that a virtual machine has been running for 180 days without a reboot. The administrator needs to install critical security patches that require a reboot. Which of the following actions should the administrator take FIRST?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often assume applying patches offline (Option C) is the safest first step, but the exam tests the principle of 'first, do no harm' by ensuring a recoverable state exists before making changes to a long-running VM.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Check for existing snapshots and create a new snapshot.
Before applying patches that require a reboot, the administrator should first check for existing snapshots and create a new snapshot. This ensures a rollback point is available in case the patching process fails or causes instability. Snapshots capture the virtual machine's state, including disk and memory, allowing the administrator to revert to the pre-patch state without data loss.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Pause the virtual machine before applying patches.
Why it's wrong here
Pausing is unnecessary and may not be supported; the priority is to ensure a rollback option.
- ✓
Check for existing snapshots and create a new snapshot.
Why this is correct
Creating a snapshot before patching provides a rollback point in case of failure.
- ✗
Shut down the virtual machine and apply patches offline.
Why it's wrong here
Shutting down without a backup or snapshot could lead to data loss if patching fails.
- ✗
Migrate the virtual machine to a different host to avoid disruption.
Why it's wrong here
Migration is not directly related to patching; it might be done later to reduce risk.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CV0-004 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CV0-004 exam.