Question 791 of 1,049
AZ-104 Deploy and Manage Azure Compute Practice Question
A new Windows VM must be deployed with an application installed, a configuration file copied from a storage account, and a bootstrap script run automatically after the operating system is provisioned. The operations team does not want to log in manually after deployment. What should they use?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse Azure Bastion (a connectivity tool) with an automation tool, or they assume a managed identity alone can run scripts, when in fact it only provides authentication and must be paired with an extension or custom code to perform actions.
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
✓
A Custom Script Extension attached to the VM during provisioning.
The Custom Script Extension (CSE) is the correct choice because it allows you to run a PowerShell or Bash script automatically after the VM is provisioned. This script can install applications, download configuration files from Azure Storage using a managed identity or SAS token, and execute bootstrap commands—all without any manual login. CSE is the standard Azure mechanism for post-deployment configuration automation on both Windows and Linux VMs.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
A Custom Script Extension attached to the VM during provisioning.
Why this is correct
The Custom Script Extension is the standard Azure mechanism for automated post-deployment configuration. When attached during provisioning, it downloads and runs your PowerShell script (or Bash on Linux) as SYSTEM, allowing the application to be installed before the VM is marked ready. Unlike manual methods, it requires no interactive logon and is fully automatable via ARM templates, CLI, or PowerShell.
- ✗
Azure Bastion to connect through the browser and complete setup interactively.
Why it's wrong here
Azure Bastion is a fully managed jump host that provides secure, browser-based RDP/SSH connectivity to the VM without exposing public IPs. It still requires a human administrator to interactively sign in and manually perform the installation, which directly contradicts the requirement for an automated, zero-touch deployment where the app is installed during VM provisioning.
When this WOULD be correct
A question that requires secure, browser-based remote access to a VM without exposing a public IP, and where interactive configuration is acceptable (e.g., troubleshooting or one-time setup).
- ✗
A managed identity assigned to the VM without any extensions.
Why it's wrong here
A managed identity assigns the VM an Azure Active Directory identity used by applications to authenticate to Azure resources such as Key Vault, Storage, or SQL — for example, to retrieve a secret. Without an accompanying extension or bootstrap mechanism, the identity alone does nothing to execute the installation script. The app still needs a process to run, and that process requires a scripting or orchestration layer.
When this WOULD be correct
A managed identity would be correct if the question asked for a secure way to authenticate a VM to Azure resources (e.g., accessing a storage account) without storing credentials, and the deployment tasks were handled separately by another mechanism like Azure Automation or a configuration management tool.
- ✗
An availability set so the VM comes online faster during provisioning.
Why it's wrong here
An availability set controls the physical placement of VMs across fault and update domains to safeguard against hardware failures or maintenance downtime. It has no bearing on the VM's provisioning speed, nor does it carry any payload to install software; it purely affects resiliency topology. Therefore, it cannot contribute to installing the required application.
When this WOULD be correct
A question asks: 'You need to ensure that two VMs hosting a web application are not updated simultaneously during planned maintenance. What should you use?' In that case, an availability set would be correct.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The AZ-104 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓A Custom Script Extension attached to the VM during provisioning.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
The Custom Script Extension is the standard Azure mechanism for automated post-deployment configuration. When attached during provisioning, it downloads and runs your PowerShell script (or Bash on Linux) as SYSTEM, allowing the application to be installed before the VM is marked ready. Unlike manual methods, it requires no interactive logon and is fully automatable via ARM templates, CLI, or PowerShell.
✗Azure Bastion to connect through the browser and complete setup interactively.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Azure Bastion provides secure RDP/SSH access to VMs via the browser, but it requires manual login and interactive setup, which contradicts the requirement to avoid manual intervention after provisioning.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question that requires secure, browser-based remote access to a VM without exposing a public IP, and where interactive configuration is acceptable (e.g., troubleshooting or one-time setup).
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think Bastion can automate setup because it's a management tool, or they confuse it with extensions that run scripts, not realizing Bastion only facilitates interactive sessions.
✗A managed identity assigned to the VM without any extensions.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A managed identity alone provides authentication to Azure resources but does not execute scripts or install applications. The question requires automated deployment of an application, copying a configuration file, and running a bootstrap script, which a managed identity cannot perform without an extension like Custom Script Extension.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A managed identity would be correct if the question asked for a secure way to authenticate a VM to Azure resources (e.g., accessing a storage account) without storing credentials, and the deployment tasks were handled separately by another mechanism like Azure Automation or a configuration management tool.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse managed identity with automation capabilities, thinking it can run scripts or install software, when it only provides identity-based access to Azure services.
✗An availability set so the VM comes online faster during provisioning.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
An availability set is used for high availability by distributing VMs across fault and update domains, not for automating software installation or configuration after provisioning.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question asks: 'You need to ensure that two VMs hosting a web application are not updated simultaneously during planned maintenance. What should you use?' In that case, an availability set would be correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse availability sets with automation features, thinking they help speed up provisioning or include built-in scripting capabilities.
Analysis generated from the official AZ-104blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This AZ-104 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft 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 AZ-104 exam.
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