The correct answer is to create a custom RBAC role with only the required compute and read permissions, assigned at the resource group scope. This solution directly addresses the need for a custom RBAC role for VM restart and network read by granting only the Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines/restart and Microsoft.Network/networkInterfaces/read actions, adhering to the principle of least privilege. On the AZ-104 exam, this scenario tests your ability to differentiate between built-in roles like Contributor, which includes write and delete permissions, and the precision of custom roles. A common trap is selecting a built-in role that seems close but grants excessive access, such as Virtual Machine Contributor, which also allows VM creation. Remember the memory tip: “Restart and read, custom’s the breed”—if the task is limited to specific actions like restarting and reading, a custom role scoped to the resource group is always the leanest and most secure choice.
AZ-104 Manage Azure Identities and Governance Practice Question
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of manage azure identities and governance. 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. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. 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 platform team runs an internal automation tool that must restart VMs and read network interface settings in one resource group. Built-in roles available to the team are broader than the access they want to grant. What should the administrator create?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
A custom role with only the required compute and read permissions, assigned at the resource group scope.
Option A is correct because the team needs only specific actions (restart VMs and read network interface settings) within a single resource group. Creating a custom role with only the required compute and read permissions, assigned at the resource group scope, follows the principle of least privilege and avoids granting broader access than necessary. Built-in roles like Contributor or Network Contributor include extra permissions (e.g., write, delete) that are not needed.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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 role with only the required compute and read permissions, assigned at the resource group scope.
Why this is correct
A custom role lets the admin grant only the specific actions the tool needs, and only in one resource group.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The Contributor role assigned at the subscription scope.
Why it's wrong here
This would allow far more changes than the automation tool requires and would span the entire subscription.
✗
The Reader role assigned at the resource group scope.
Why it's wrong here
Reader can view settings but cannot restart virtual machines or perform operational changes.
✗
The Network Contributor role assigned at the resource group scope.
Why it's wrong here
This would focus on network resources and still would not provide the needed VM operational permissions.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose a built-in role like Contributor or Network Contributor because they see 'restart' or 'network' in the name, without realizing these roles include excessive permissions that violate the principle of least privilege.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Custom roles in Azure RBAC are defined using a JSON structure with 'Actions', 'NotActions', 'DataActions', and 'AssignableScopes'. For this scenario, the custom role would include 'Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines/restart/action' and 'Microsoft.Network/networkInterfaces/read' under 'Actions', scoped to the resource group. Under the hood, Azure RBAC evaluates permissions by combining role assignments at management group, subscription, resource group, and resource scopes, with deny assignments taking precedence. A real-world scenario is a DevOps pipeline that needs to reboot VMs and check NIC settings without being able to modify network configurations or delete resources.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this AZ-104 question in full detail.
Manage Azure Identities and Governance — This question tests Manage Azure Identities and Governance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: A custom role with only the required compute and read permissions, assigned at the resource group scope. — Option A is correct because the team needs only specific actions (restart VMs and read network interface settings) within a single resource group. Creating a custom role with only the required compute and read permissions, assigned at the resource group scope, follows the principle of least privilege and avoids granting broader access than necessary. Built-in roles like Contributor or Network Contributor include extra permissions (e.g., write, delete) that are not needed.
What should I do if I get this AZ-104 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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