The answer is Azure Container Instances for the ephemeral container workload and Azure App Service for the public web app. Azure Container Instances is the correct choice for the first job because it runs a Linux container on demand with per-second billing, no inbound traffic requirements, and no need for persistent nodes or clustering—perfect for a 15-minute build pipeline triggered by a request. Azure App Service handles the second workload by providing built-in TLS termination, deployment slots for staging and swapping, and native autoscale, all essential for a public web app. On the AZ-104 exam, this question tests your ability to match compute services to specific workload characteristics: ACI for serverless, short-lived containers versus App Service for managed, feature-rich web hosting. A common trap is choosing Azure Container Instances for the web app, but remember that ACI lacks built-in TLS, slots, and autoscale. Memory tip: “ACI for a quick container chore, App Service for a web app with more.”
AZ-104 Deploy and Manage Azure Compute Practice Question
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of deploy and manage azure compute. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. A key principle to apply: azure Container Instances (ACI) offers serverless container execution.. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A build pipeline needs to run a Linux container for about 15 minutes whenever a request arrives. The job never needs inbound traffic, clustering, or persistent node management. A second workload is a public web app that needs built-in TLS, deployment slots, and autoscale. Which two Azure compute services should the administrator choose? Select two.
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "never"
Why it matters: Absolute qualifier. True only if the statement has zero exceptions — be cautious of options that seem obvious but break down in edge cases.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Azure Container Instances
Azure Container Instances (ACI) is the correct choice for the first workload because it allows you to run a Linux container on demand without managing any underlying infrastructure, and it supports a 15-minute execution time perfectly with its per-second billing and no requirement for persistent nodes or inbound traffic. Azure App Service is correct for the second workload because it natively provides built-in TLS/SSL termination, deployment slots for staging and swapping, and autoscale capabilities out of the box, making it ideal for a public web app.
AKS is powerful, but it adds cluster management that the scenario explicitly wants to avoid.
✗
Azure Virtual Machines
Why it's wrong here
VMs can run both workloads, but they require much more operational management than needed.
✗
Azure Functions
Why it's wrong here
Functions are event-driven, but the container job and the web-app requirements point to different services.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose Azure Kubernetes Service for any container workload, overlooking that ACI is simpler and cheaper for ephemeral, single-container tasks, and they may also pick Azure Functions for the web app without realizing it lacks native deployment slots and built-in TLS management compared to App Service.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
AKS is powerful, but it adds cluster management that the scenario explicitly wants to avoid.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure Container Instances uses a hypervisor-level isolation with a per-second billing model, allowing containers to start in seconds and run for exactly the needed duration without any orchestration; it is ideal for batch jobs or build tasks. Azure App Service runs on a multi-tenant platform that handles TLS termination at the front-end load balancer using SNI (Server Name Indication) and supports deployment slots with traffic routing via Azure Traffic Manager or slot swap operations that preserve warm-up and validation. A real-world scenario: a CI/CD pipeline triggers a container in ACI to run unit tests for 15 minutes, while the production web app runs on App Service with a staging slot for zero-downtime deployments.
A startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this AZ-104 question in full detail.
Review azure Container Instances (ACI) offers serverless container execution., then practise related AZ-104 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Deploy and Manage Azure Compute — This question tests Deploy and Manage Azure Compute — Azure Container Instances (ACI) offers serverless container execution..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Azure Container Instances — Azure Container Instances (ACI) is the correct choice for the first workload because it allows you to run a Linux container on demand without managing any underlying infrastructure, and it supports a 15-minute execution time perfectly with its per-second billing and no requirement for persistent nodes or inbound traffic. Azure App Service is correct for the second workload because it natively provides built-in TLS/SSL termination, deployment slots for staging and swapping, and autoscale capabilities out of the box, making it ideal for a public web app.
What should I do if I get this AZ-104 question wrong?
Review azure Container Instances (ACI) offers serverless container execution., then practise related AZ-104 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "never". Absolute qualifier. True only if the statement has zero exceptions — be cautious of options that seem obvious but break down in edge cases.
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These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. One team needs to run a Linux container for about 15 minutes per request with no inbound traffic and no cluster to manage. Another team needs an internet-facing web app with built-in HTTPS, deployment slots, and autoscale. Which two Azure services should the administrator choose? Select two.
medium
✓ A.Azure Container Instances
✓ B.Azure App Service
C.Azure Virtual Machines
D.Azure Kubernetes Service
E.Azure Batch
Why A: Azure Container Instances (ACI) is the correct choice for the first team because it allows running a Linux container directly on Azure without managing any underlying infrastructure or cluster, and it supports a 15-minute execution time with no inbound traffic required. ACI is ideal for burstable, short-lived container workloads that do not need orchestration.
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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