- A
Use the individual private IP addresses of each backend VM as the source.
Why wrong: This works only while the VM IPs stay the same and does not simplify rule maintenance when addresses change.
- B
Use an application security group for the frontend tier as the source and another ASG for the backend tier as the destination.
Application security groups let you reference groups of NICs instead of hard-coded IP addresses. That makes the NSG rule resilient when VMs are replaced or reimaged and their private IP addresses change. It also keeps the access model aligned to application tiers rather than infrastructure details, which is the preferred design for maintainable network security rules.
- C
Use the VirtualNetwork service tag for both source and destination.
Why wrong: This is too broad because it can allow traffic from many resources inside the virtual network, not just the frontend tier.
- D
Create a route table entry that sends TCP 8443 traffic to the backend subnet.
Why wrong: Route tables control next-hop selection, not security filtering. They cannot allow or deny traffic on a port.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to use an application security group for the frontend tier as the source and another ASG for the backend tier as the destination. This works because Application Security Groups (ASGs) allow you to define NSG rules based on logical groupings of VMs rather than static IP addresses, so the rule dynamically adapts when backend VM IPs change. On the AZ-104 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how ASGs decouple network security from IP management, a key concept for handling changing VM IP addresses in dynamic environments. A common trap is choosing a service tag or a specific IP range, but those don’t scale when IPs shift; ASGs are the only option that updates automatically. Remember the memory tip: “ASG for the task group” — if the requirement is to keep rules working despite IP changes, always think ASG, not IP.
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 application runs on three VMs in a backend subnet. The backend team wants the load balancer in the frontend tier to reach the VMs on TCP 8443, and they want the rule to keep working even if the backend VM IP addresses change. What should you use in the NSG rule?
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
Use an application security group for the frontend tier as the source and another ASG for the backend tier as the destination.
Option B is correct because Application Security Groups (ASGs) allow you to define network security rules based on logical groupings of VMs, regardless of their IP addresses. By using an ASG for the frontend tier as the source and another ASG for the backend tier as the destination, the NSG rule remains valid even if backend VM IP addresses change, as ASGs are dynamically updated. This meets the requirement for the load balancer in the frontend tier to reach backend VMs on TCP 8443 without hardcoding IP addresses.
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.
- ✗
Use the individual private IP addresses of each backend VM as the source.
- ✓
Use an application security group for the frontend tier as the source and another ASG for the backend tier as the destination.
Why this is correct
Application security groups let you reference groups of NICs instead of hard-coded IP addresses. That makes the NSG rule resilient when VMs are replaced or reimaged and their private IP addresses change. It also keeps the access model aligned to application tiers rather than infrastructure details, which is the preferred design for maintainable network security rules.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use the VirtualNetwork service tag for both source and destination.
Why it's wrong here
This is too broad because it can allow traffic from many resources inside the virtual network, not just the frontend tier.
- ✗
Create a route table entry that sends TCP 8443 traffic to the backend subnet.
Why it's wrong here
Route tables control next-hop selection, not security filtering. They cannot allow or deny traffic on a port.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse NSG rules with route tables, thinking a route table entry can control access (Option D), or they assume that using specific IP addresses (Option A) is acceptable despite the requirement for dynamic IP changes, missing the purpose of ASGs for logical grouping.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Application Security Groups (ASGs) are a feature of Azure Network Security Groups (NSGs) that allow you to group VMs by application role (e.g., 'frontend' or 'backend') and reference those groups in security rules. Under the hood, ASGs are resolved to the private IP addresses of the VMs at runtime, so if a VM's IP changes (e.g., due to deallocation or scaling), the ASG membership is automatically updated without manual NSG changes. In a real-world scenario, this is critical for auto-scaling environments where backend VMs are frequently added or removed, ensuring that load balancer traffic on TCP 8443 is always permitted without IP address management overhead.
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: Use an application security group for the frontend tier as the source and another ASG for the backend tier as the destination. — Option B is correct because Application Security Groups (ASGs) allow you to define network security rules based on logical groupings of VMs, regardless of their IP addresses. By using an ASG for the frontend tier as the source and another ASG for the backend tier as the destination, the NSG rule remains valid even if backend VM IP addresses change, as ASGs are dynamically updated. This meets the requirement for the load balancer in the frontend tier to reach backend VMs on TCP 8443 without hardcoding IP addresses.
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
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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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