- A
Apply a CanNotDelete lock to the resource group.
CanNotDelete blocks deletion while still allowing normal write operations such as updates and scaling. That makes it the right lock when the organization wants protection from accidental removal but still needs management access.
- B
Apply a ReadOnly lock to the resource group.
Why wrong: ReadOnly blocks most write operations, which would interfere with updates, scaling, and other routine administration tasks. It is too restrictive for a production environment that still needs active maintenance.
- C
Apply a CanNotDelete lock only to the individual virtual machines.
Why wrong: Locking only the virtual machines would leave the resource group itself and other resources deletable. The requirement is to protect the whole group and everything inside it during maintenance windows.
- D
Apply the lock at the resource group scope so it covers child resources.
Placing the lock on the resource group extends the protection to resources within that group. This is the cleanest way to prevent accidental deletion of the group or its contents while keeping the group manageable.
- E
Use tags to mark the resources as production and prevent deletion.
Why wrong: Tags are useful for organization and reporting, but they do not enforce protection. They cannot block delete operations or change Azure behavior during maintenance windows.
AZ-104 Manage Azure Identities and Governance Practice Question
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of manage azure identities and governance. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 web and data resources. Administrators must be able to update, scale, and restart resources, but they must not delete the resource group or any resource inside it during maintenance windows. Which two actions should the administrator take? Select two.
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
Apply a CanNotDelete lock to the resource group.
Option A is correct because applying a CanNotDelete lock to the resource group prevents the deletion of the resource group and all resources within it, while still allowing administrators to update, scale, and restart resources. This lock type blocks delete operations but permits read and update operations, which aligns with the requirement to perform maintenance actions without risking deletion. The lock is inherited by all child resources in the resource group, ensuring comprehensive protection.
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.
- ✓
Apply a CanNotDelete lock to the resource group.
Why this is correct
CanNotDelete blocks deletion while still allowing normal write operations such as updates and scaling. That makes it the right lock when the organization wants protection from accidental removal but still needs management access.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Apply a ReadOnly lock to the resource group.
Why it's wrong here
ReadOnly blocks most write operations, which would interfere with updates, scaling, and other routine administration tasks. It is too restrictive for a production environment that still needs active maintenance.
- ✗
Apply a CanNotDelete lock only to the individual virtual machines.
Why it's wrong here
Locking only the virtual machines would leave the resource group itself and other resources deletable. The requirement is to protect the whole group and everything inside it during maintenance windows.
- ✓
Apply the lock at the resource group scope so it covers child resources.
Why this is correct
Placing the lock on the resource group extends the protection to resources within that group. This is the cleanest way to prevent accidental deletion of the group or its contents while keeping the group manageable.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use tags to mark the resources as production and prevent deletion.
Why it's wrong here
Tags are useful for organization and reporting, but they do not enforce protection. They cannot block delete operations or change Azure behavior during maintenance windows.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the CanNotDelete lock with the ReadOnly lock, mistakenly thinking a ReadOnly lock still allows updates and scaling, or they assume tags can enforce deletion prevention, when in reality tags are purely organizational and have no security or governance enforcement capabilities.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure resource locks operate at the Azure Resource Manager (ARM) control plane level, overriding any role-based access control (RBAC) permissions by applying a deny effect on specific operations. The CanNotDelete lock uses the `Microsoft.Authorization/locks` resource type and is evaluated during ARM API calls, blocking DELETE requests but allowing PUT, PATCH, and POST operations. This lock is inherited from parent to child scopes, so applying it at the resource group scope automatically protects all nested resources, including those added later, without needing individual locks.
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
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
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: Apply a CanNotDelete lock to the resource group. — Option A is correct because applying a CanNotDelete lock to the resource group prevents the deletion of the resource group and all resources within it, while still allowing administrators to update, scale, and restart resources. This lock type blocks delete operations but permits read and update operations, which aligns with the requirement to perform maintenance actions without risking deletion. The lock is inherited by all child resources in the resource group, ensuring comprehensive protection.
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 →
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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