AZ-104 Implement and Manage Virtual Networking Practice Question
A public web application runs on two Windows Server VMs in Azure. Users connect through a single public IP on TCP 443, and the solution must distribute traffic only to healthy VMs without requiring Layer 7 features such as URL-based routing. Which Azure service should the administrator deploy?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse Azure Application Gateway with Azure Load Balancer, assuming that any web traffic requires Layer 7 features, but the question explicitly states no Layer 7 features are needed, making the Layer 4 Load Balancer the correct and simpler choice.
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
✓
Azure Load Balancer Standard.
Azure Load Balancer Standard is the correct choice because it operates at Layer 4 (TCP/UDP) and distributes incoming traffic across healthy VM instances based on a single public IP address and port (TCP 443). It performs health probes to ensure traffic is only sent to healthy backend VMs, and it does not require any Layer 7 features like URL-based routing, making it ideal for this scenario.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Azure Application Gateway.
Why it's wrong here
Azure Application Gateway operates at Layer 7, performing HTTP/HTTPS routing, SSL termination, and URL-path-based forwarding. Because the scenario only requires distributing raw TCP 443 traffic to backend VMs, these application-level features are unnecessary, adding complexity and cost without meeting the basic L4 load-balancing requirement.
When this WOULD be correct
An exam question where the requirement includes Layer 7 features such as URL path-based routing, SSL termination, or Web Application Firewall (WAF) for a web application. For example: 'A web application needs to route traffic based on URL paths and provide SSL offloading. Which Azure service should you use?'
- ✓
Azure Load Balancer Standard.
Why this is correct
A Standard Load Balancer is the right fit for distributing TCP 443 traffic to healthy backend VMs using a single public IP at Layer 4. It supports health probes and works well for internet-facing workloads that do not need application-level routing. Because the scenario specifically excludes Layer 7 features, the load balancer provides the simplest and most cost-effective design while still meeting availability and traffic distribution requirements.
- ✗
Azure Traffic Manager.
Why it's wrong here
Azure Traffic Manager is a DNS-based global load balancer that resolves client queries to regional endpoints based on routing policies such as performance or priority. It does not inspect or forward individual TCP connections to VM IPs, and it cannot use a single public IP to directly balance traffic across backend VMs; therefore it fails the stated requirement.
When this WOULD be correct
A question requiring global DNS-based traffic distribution across multiple Azure regions, such as 'Users connect to a web app from different geographic regions, and the solution must route users to the nearest healthy endpoint based on latency or geographic location.'
- ✗
Azure Front Door.
Why it's wrong here
Azure Front Door is a global HTTP/HTTPS entry point that provides CDN acceleration, Web Application Firewall, and rule-based routing at Layer 7. It is designed for internet-facing web applications that need global edge termination and HTTP-level features, not for simple Layer 4 TCP load balancing on a single public IP, making it an inappropriate choice here.
When this WOULD be correct
A global web application with multiple regional deployments needs to route users to the nearest healthy endpoint based on latency or geographic location, and requires SSL offloading and URL-based routing. Azure Front Door would be the correct choice.
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.
✓Azure Load Balancer Standard.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
A Standard Load Balancer is the right fit for distributing TCP 443 traffic to healthy backend VMs using a single public IP at Layer 4. It supports health probes and works well for internet-facing workloads that do not need application-level routing. Because the scenario specifically excludes Layer 7 features, the load balancer provides the simplest and most cost-effective design while still meeting availability and traffic distribution requirements.
✗Azure Application Gateway.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Azure Application Gateway is a Layer 7 load balancer that provides URL-based routing and other HTTP/S features, which are not required here. The question specifies no Layer 7 features are needed, and only TCP 443 traffic distribution is required, making a Layer 4 load balancer (Azure Load Balancer) the correct choice.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
An exam question where the requirement includes Layer 7 features such as URL path-based routing, SSL termination, or Web Application Firewall (WAF) for a web application. For example: 'A web application needs to route traffic based on URL paths and provide SSL offloading. Which Azure service should you use?'
Why candidates choose this
Candidates often associate web applications with Application Gateway because it is designed for HTTP/S traffic and offers advanced web features, leading them to overlook that a simple Layer 4 load balancer suffices when only basic TCP distribution and health checks are needed.
✗Azure Traffic Manager.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Azure Traffic Manager operates at the DNS level, routing traffic based on DNS resolution, not on the health of individual VMs or ports. It cannot distribute traffic to healthy VMs on TCP 443 without Layer 7 features.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question requiring global DNS-based traffic distribution across multiple Azure regions, such as 'Users connect to a web app from different geographic regions, and the solution must route users to the nearest healthy endpoint based on latency or geographic location.'
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse Traffic Manager's DNS-level load balancing with network-level load balancing, assuming it can handle health-based distribution for a single public IP.
✗Azure Front Door.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Azure Front Door operates at Layer 7 and provides global load balancing with HTTP/HTTPS features like URL-based routing, which are not required. The question specifies no Layer 7 features and a single public IP, making Front Door overkill and incorrect.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A global web application with multiple regional deployments needs to route users to the nearest healthy endpoint based on latency or geographic location, and requires SSL offloading and URL-based routing. Azure Front Door would be the correct choice.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse Front Door with a standard load balancer because both can distribute traffic and provide health probes, overlooking that Front Door is a global Layer 7 service with advanced routing 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?”
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Managed Identities for Azure Resources
Key term
Azure Load Balancer
Azure Load Balancer is a cloud service that evenly distributes incoming network traffic across multiple virtual machines or resources to ensure reliability and high availability.
Key term
Public IP address
A globally unique IP address assigned to a device that allows it to communicate directly over the internet.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.