An administrator assigned a modify policy at the subscription scope to add a CostCenter tag to new virtual machines. New VMs now have the tag, but older VMs in the subscription still do not. What must the administrator do to bring the existing VMs into compliance?
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
Reassign the policy at the resource group scope.
Changing the scope does not automatically update already deployed resources that are outside compliance.
Best answer
Create a remediation task for the noncompliant resources.
Policy assignments evaluate both existing and new resources, but a modify effect needs remediation to update already deployed resources. The remediation task tells Azure Policy to apply the configured effect to noncompliant resources that were created before the assignment or before the policy changed. That is the step that fills in the missing tag on the older virtual machines.
Distractor review
Add a resource lock to the subscription.
A lock prevents certain operations, but it does not add missing tags or fix policy compliance.
Distractor review
Move the VMs to another resource group and back again.
Moving resources does not guarantee policy remediation and is not the correct governance mechanism.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
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Question 2
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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?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a remediation task for the noncompliant resources. — The modify policy is already assigned correctly, and new resources are being updated as expected. Existing resources usually require a remediation task for Azure Policy to apply the configured change to resources that predate the assignment or are currently noncompliant. That is the operational step that updates the older VMs with the missing CostCenter tag. Why others are wrong: Reassigning at a different scope does not solve the core issue of remediating already deployed VMs. A resource lock only controls write or delete behavior and has nothing to do with compliance enforcement. Moving resources is disruptive and does not replace Azure Policy remediation for tag correction.
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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