- A
A service endpoint on the subnet and a firewall rule on the SQL server.
Why wrong: Service endpoints do not create a private IP address for the database and do not satisfy the requirement for private name resolution.
- B
A private endpoint for Azure SQL and the corresponding private DNS zone linked to the VNet.
A private endpoint gives the SQL service a private IP address inside the VNet, and the private DNS zone allows the standard SQL name to resolve to that address. This meets both requirements: private network access and no connection string change. It is the correct Azure Private Link pattern for secure PaaS access.
- C
A public endpoint with selected network access and a network security group on the VM subnet.
Why wrong: Public access still exposes the database endpoint publicly, and an NSG on the VM subnet does not secure the PaaS service itself.
- D
A virtual network peering connection to the SQL service subnet.
Why wrong: Azure SQL Database does not connect through VNet peering as if it were a customer subnet. A private endpoint is required for private IP access.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to implement a private endpoint for Azure SQL and the corresponding private DNS zone linked to the VNet. This works because a private endpoint assigns the Azure SQL Database a private IP from within your virtual network, making it reachable over a private IP while preserving the normal SQL server FQDN. The private DNS zone, specifically privatelink.database.windows.net, is then linked to the VNet so that DNS resolution of the server name automatically resolves to that private IP, meaning the application can keep using the original connection string without any changes. On the AZ-104 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how private endpoints and DNS integration work together to meet both security and application requirements—a common trap is thinking that a service endpoint alone suffices, but it does not provide a private IP or eliminate the need for connection string changes. A helpful memory tip is to remember that the private endpoint gives the IP, and the private DNS zone gives the name resolution—no string changes needed.
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 web app running on an Azure VM must connect to an Azure SQL Database instance. The security team requires the database to be reachable through a private IP inside the VNet, and the application should keep using the normal SQL server name without any connection string change. What should the administrator implement?
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
A private endpoint for Azure SQL and the corresponding private DNS zone linked to the VNet.
Option B is correct because a private endpoint assigns Azure SQL Database a private IP from the VNet, making it reachable via a private IP while preserving the normal SQL server FQDN. The corresponding private DNS zone (privatelink.database.windows.net) linked to the VNet ensures that DNS resolution of the SQL server name resolves to the private IP, so no connection string changes are needed. This meets the security requirement of private IP reachability and the application requirement of unchanged connection strings.
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.
- ✗
A service endpoint on the subnet and a firewall rule on the SQL server.
Why it's wrong here
Service endpoints do not create a private IP address for the database and do not satisfy the requirement for private name resolution.
- ✓
A private endpoint for Azure SQL and the corresponding private DNS zone linked to the VNet.
Why this is correct
A private endpoint gives the SQL service a private IP address inside the VNet, and the private DNS zone allows the standard SQL name to resolve to that address. This meets both requirements: private network access and no connection string change. It is the correct Azure Private Link pattern for secure PaaS access.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
A public endpoint with selected network access and a network security group on the VM subnet.
- ✗
A virtual network peering connection to the SQL service subnet.
Why it's wrong here
Azure SQL Database does not connect through VNet peering as if it were a customer subnet. A private endpoint is required for private IP access.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse service endpoints (which still use public IPs) with private endpoints (which use private IPs), leading them to choose Option A, thinking it provides private IP connectivity when it only provides source subnet restriction via the public endpoint.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Private endpoints use Azure Private Link to map the PaaS service to a private IP in the VNet, using NICs in the subnet. The private DNS zone uses an A record with the private IP, and DNS resolution for the FQDN (e.g., server.database.windows.net) is redirected to the private IP via a CNAME chain (server.database.windows.net -> server.privatelink.database.windows.net). In real-world scenarios, if the private DNS zone is not linked to the VNet, the application would resolve the public IP, breaking the private connectivity requirement.
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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
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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: A private endpoint for Azure SQL and the corresponding private DNS zone linked to the VNet. — Option B is correct because a private endpoint assigns Azure SQL Database a private IP from the VNet, making it reachable via a private IP while preserving the normal SQL server FQDN. The corresponding private DNS zone (privatelink.database.windows.net) linked to the VNet ensures that DNS resolution of the SQL server name resolves to the private IP, so no connection string changes are needed. This meets the security requirement of private IP reachability and the application requirement of unchanged connection strings.
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
4 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. An app on a VM must connect to Azure SQL Database without using the public endpoint. The database name must resolve to a private IP inside the VNet, and public network access should be disabled. Which two actions should the administrator take? Select two.
medium- ✓ A.Create a private endpoint for the Azure SQL server in the VNet.
- ✓ B.Link the private DNS zone for the SQL private link domain to the VNet.
- C.Enable a service endpoint for Microsoft.Sql on the subnet.
- D.Grant the VM's managed identity Reader on the SQL server.
- E.Keep public network access enabled and restrict the firewall to the VNet.
Why A: Option A is correct because a private endpoint assigns the Azure SQL Database server a private IP address from the VNet, allowing the VM to connect without using the public endpoint. This ensures traffic stays within the Microsoft backbone and the database name resolves to a private IP inside the VNet.
Variation 2. A VM in VNet-Prod must connect to Azure SQL Database over a private IP address. The SQL server must not be reachable through its public endpoint, and the VM should resolve the server name automatically without manual DNS entries. Which three actions are required? Select three.
hard- ✓ A.Create a private endpoint for the Azure SQL server in VNet-Prod.
- ✓ B.Create the private DNS zone privatelink.database.windows.net.
- ✓ C.Link the private DNS zone to VNet-Prod.
- D.Enable a service endpoint for Microsoft.Sql on the subnet instead of using a private endpoint.
- E.Leave public network access enabled and add the VNet as an allowed firewall rule.
Why A: Option A is correct because a private endpoint assigns a private IP address from VNet-Prod to the Azure SQL server, enabling connectivity over a private IP while blocking the public endpoint. This ensures the SQL server is not reachable through its public endpoint, meeting the requirement for private connectivity.
Variation 3. A workload in a VNet must connect to Azure SQL Database over a private IP address, and the database must not be reachable through its public endpoint. Users should still connect by using the normal server name. What should you configure?
medium- A.A service endpoint on the subnet and a public firewall rule on the SQL server.
- ✓ B.A private endpoint for Azure SQL Database and a private DNS zone linked to the VNet.
- C.A network security group rule that denies all public internet traffic to the subnet.
- D.A NAT gateway on the subnet so the SQL connection uses a private source address.
Why B: Option B is correct because a private endpoint assigns Azure SQL Database a private IP address from the VNet, making it accessible over a private connection. By creating a private DNS zone linked to the VNet, the normal server name resolves to that private IP, allowing users to connect without using the public endpoint. This configuration ensures the database is not reachable via its public endpoint while maintaining name-based connectivity.
Variation 4. You create a private endpoint for an Azure SQL Database server. Virtual machines in VNet-Prod must resolve the server name to the private IP address of the endpoint. What should you configure?
medium- ✓ A.A private DNS zone linked to VNet-Prod
- B.A user-defined route on the subnet
- C.An additional public IP address
- D.A Recovery Services vault
Why A: A private endpoint uses a private IP address from your VNet, but DNS resolution must be configured to map the Azure SQL Database server name (e.g., `server.database.windows.net`) to that private IP. By creating a private DNS zone (privatelink.database.windows.net) and linking it to VNet-Prod, Azure automatically creates an A record for the private endpoint, ensuring VMs resolve the server name to the private IP instead of the public IP. This is the standard and required configuration for private endpoint name resolution.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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