A team manages many application VMs and backend VMs. The VM IP addresses change whenever they are rebuilt, but the same traffic rule must always allow the app tier to reach the backend tier on TCP 8443. What should the administrator use in the NSG rule?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
Distractor review
Static private IP addresses for each virtual machine.
Static IPs would work, but they are harder to maintain and do not solve the rebuild-based admin overhead.
Best answer
Application Security Groups for the app and backend VMs.
ASGs let you group VMs by function and reference those groups in NSG rules, so IP changes do not require rule updates.
Distractor review
A user-defined route between the app and backend subnets.
Routes choose traffic paths, but they do not express which application tier may talk to another tier.
Distractor review
An availability set for each tier.
Availability sets improve resilience, but they do not simplify NSG targeting or traffic authorization.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
- Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
- Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
- The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
- Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
- Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
- Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
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Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
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Question 3
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Question 4
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Question 5
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Question 6
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-104 question test?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Application Security Groups for the app and backend VMs. — Application Security Groups are the best fit when you want an NSG rule to follow the workload instead of individual IP addresses. By placing the app VMs in one ASG and the backend VMs in another, the security rule can target the groups directly. This keeps the rule stable even when VMs are rebuilt or receive new private IP addresses, which is a common administrative challenge. Why others are wrong: Static IPs can work, but they are not the best operational answer when the goal is to avoid constant rule maintenance. A user-defined route does not control which tier is allowed to connect. Availability sets help with host maintenance and fault domains, but they do not solve source and destination targeting in NSG rules.
What should I do if I get this AZ-104 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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