- A
ReadOnly lock at the resource group scope.
Why wrong: ReadOnly blocks write operations such as updates, which would interfere with routine maintenance. It would be too restrictive for a production group that still needs normal configuration changes.
- B
CanNotDelete lock at the resource group scope.
CanNotDelete is the correct lock when the goal is to prevent accidental removal while still allowing updates. It blocks delete operations for the resource group and its resources, but it does not stop normal configuration changes such as resizing, tagging, or network updates. That makes it suitable for production protection without freezing administration.
- C
Azure Policy assignment that denies all delete requests.
Why wrong: Azure Policy can enforce configuration rules, but this scenario is specifically about a lock that protects a resource group from deletion. Policy is not the same mechanism as a management lock, and it would be more complex than needed here.
- D
Apply the lock only to individual virtual machines.
Why wrong: Locking each VM would not cover the resource group itself or the storage account consistently. It also adds unnecessary management overhead compared with protecting the entire resource group with one lock.
AZ-104 Manage Azure Identities and Governance Practice Question
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of manage azure identities and governance. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 production resource group contains several VMs and a storage account. The operations manager wants to prevent accidental deletion of the resource group and its resources, but still allow normal configuration changes during maintenance windows. Which lock should be applied to the resource group?
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
CanNotDelete lock at the resource group scope.
A CanNotDelete lock at the resource group scope prevents the deletion of the resource group and all its resources, while still allowing configuration changes (e.g., modifying VM settings or updating storage account properties). This meets the operations manager's requirement to block accidental deletion but permit normal maintenance operations. ReadOnly locks would block all write operations, which is too restrictive for maintenance windows.
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.
- ✗
ReadOnly lock at the resource group scope.
Why it's wrong here
ReadOnly blocks write operations such as updates, which would interfere with routine maintenance. It would be too restrictive for a production group that still needs normal configuration changes.
- ✓
CanNotDelete lock at the resource group scope.
Why this is correct
CanNotDelete is the correct lock when the goal is to prevent accidental removal while still allowing updates. It blocks delete operations for the resource group and its resources, but it does not stop normal configuration changes such as resizing, tagging, or network updates. That makes it suitable for production protection without freezing administration.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Azure Policy assignment that denies all delete requests.
Why it's wrong here
Azure Policy can enforce configuration rules, but this scenario is specifically about a lock that protects a resource group from deletion. Policy is not the same mechanism as a management lock, and it would be more complex than needed here.
- ✗
Apply the lock only to individual virtual machines.
Why it's wrong here
Locking each VM would not cover the resource group itself or the storage account consistently. It also adds unnecessary management overhead compared with protecting the entire resource group with one lock.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse ReadOnly locks with CanNotDelete locks, mistakenly thinking ReadOnly is safer, but ReadOnly blocks all write operations (including configuration changes), which is too restrictive for maintenance scenarios where updates are required.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
Azure Policy can enforce configuration rules, but this scenario is specifically about a lock that protects a resource group from deletion. Policy is not the same mechanism as a management lock, and it would be more complex than needed here.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure resource locks operate at the Azure Resource Manager (ARM) control plane layer, enforcing a deny effect on specific operations (delete or read/write) regardless of RBAC permissions. A CanNotDelete lock uses the `Microsoft.Authorization/locks` resource type and is inherited by all child resources within the scope, meaning even an Owner cannot delete the resource group or its resources without first removing the lock. This is distinct from Azure Policy, which evaluates compliance and can be overridden by exemptions or exclusions, whereas locks are an explicit deny that cannot be bypassed by role assignments.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-104 question test?
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: CanNotDelete lock at the resource group scope. — A CanNotDelete lock at the resource group scope prevents the deletion of the resource group and all its resources, while still allowing configuration changes (e.g., modifying VM settings or updating storage account properties). This meets the operations manager's requirement to block accidental deletion but permit normal maintenance operations. ReadOnly locks would block all write operations, which is too restrictive for maintenance windows.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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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