- A
Change the allow rule source from an Application Security Group to VirtualNetwork.
Why wrong: The source is not the main issue here; the lower-priority deny rule is evaluated first and blocks the traffic.
- B
Move the allow rule to a lower priority number than the deny rule.
NSG rules are processed by priority, and the lowest number wins. Because the deny rule at priority 100 is evaluated before the allow rule at 200, the traffic is blocked. The administrator should make the allow rule a smaller number than the deny rule or remove the conflicting deny rule.
- C
Attach a user-defined route to the subnet so traffic bypasses the NSG.
Why wrong: User-defined routes affect path selection, but they do not override NSG decisions or bypass inbound filtering.
- D
Place the backend VM in a different availability set so the rule is evaluated differently.
Why wrong: Availability sets improve resiliency, but they do not change NSG processing or traffic filtering behavior.
Quick Answer
The answer is to move the allow rule to a lower priority number than the deny rule, because NSG rule priority order dictates that lower numbers are evaluated first. Since the deny rule at priority 100 blocks TCP 443 from Any, it is processed before the allow rule at priority 200, effectively overriding the intended permission for the WebFrontEnd Application Security Group. On the AZ-104 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how Azure processes inbound and outbound security rules sequentially, and it is a common trap where candidates assume a higher-priority allow rule can override a lower-priority deny rule—it cannot. Remember, in NSG rule priority order, deny rules always win if they appear first. A simple memory tip: "Lowest number wins the race; if a deny crosses the line first, no allow can catch up."
AZ-104 Implement and Manage Virtual Networking Practice Question
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of implement and manage virtual networking. 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 subnet has an NSG with these inbound rules: priority 100 denies TCP 443 from Any, and priority 200 allows TCP 443 from an Application Security Group named WebFrontEnd. A backend VM in the subnet still does not accept traffic from the frontend tier. What should the administrator change?
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
Move the allow rule to a lower priority number than the deny rule.
Network Security Group (NSG) rules are evaluated in priority order, with lower numbers evaluated first. Since the deny rule has priority 100 and the allow rule has priority 200, the deny rule is evaluated first and blocks TCP 443 traffic from any source, including the WebFrontEnd Application Security Group. To allow the frontend traffic, the allow rule must be moved to a lower priority number (e.g., 90) so it is evaluated before the deny rule.
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.
- ✗
Change the allow rule source from an Application Security Group to VirtualNetwork.
Why it's wrong here
The source is not the main issue here; the lower-priority deny rule is evaluated first and blocks the traffic.
- ✓
Move the allow rule to a lower priority number than the deny rule.
Why this is correct
NSG rules are processed by priority, and the lowest number wins. Because the deny rule at priority 100 is evaluated before the allow rule at 200, the traffic is blocked. The administrator should make the allow rule a smaller number than the deny rule or remove the conflicting deny rule.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Attach a user-defined route to the subnet so traffic bypasses the NSG.
Why it's wrong here
User-defined routes affect path selection, but they do not override NSG decisions or bypass inbound filtering.
- ✗
Place the backend VM in a different availability set so the rule is evaluated differently.
Why it's wrong here
Availability sets improve resiliency, but they do not change NSG processing or traffic filtering behavior.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume allow rules override deny rules or that more specific rules (like those using Application Security Groups) take precedence regardless of priority, but in Azure NSGs, priority order strictly determines which rule is applied first.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NSG rules are processed in ascending order of priority (lower number = higher priority) until a match is found; once a rule matches, no further rules are evaluated. In this scenario, the deny rule at priority 100 matches all TCP 443 traffic, so the allow rule at priority 200 is never reached. This is a common misconfiguration where a broad deny rule inadvertently blocks traffic that should be allowed by a more specific rule at a higher priority number.
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?
Implement and Manage Virtual Networking — This question tests Implement and Manage Virtual Networking — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Move the allow rule to a lower priority number than the deny rule. — Network Security Group (NSG) rules are evaluated in priority order, with lower numbers evaluated first. Since the deny rule has priority 100 and the allow rule has priority 200, the deny rule is evaluated first and blocks TCP 443 traffic from any source, including the WebFrontEnd Application Security Group. To allow the frontend traffic, the allow rule must be moved to a lower priority number (e.g., 90) so it is evaluated before the deny rule.
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 →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on AZ-104
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A subnet has an NSG with these inbound rules: priority 200 DenyAllInbound and priority 300 AllowHTTPSFromInternet. A VM in the subnet is still unreachable on TCP 443 from the internet. What should you do to make HTTPS work while keeping the deny rule in place?
medium- ✓ A.Move the allow HTTPS rule to a lower priority number such as 100 so it is evaluated before the deny rule.
- B.Create the same allow rule on the NIC-level NSG at priority 300 and leave the subnet NSG unchanged.
- C.Change the deny rule to protocol Any and keep the same priority so Azure evaluates the allow rule first.
- D.Add a route table entry for TCP 443 traffic so Azure sends it directly to the VM.
Why A: Option A is correct because NSG rules are evaluated in priority order, with lower numbers evaluated first. Moving the allow HTTPS rule to priority 100 ensures it is processed before the DenyAllInbound rule at priority 200, allowing TCP 443 traffic from the internet while the deny rule remains in place for all other inbound traffic.
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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