AZ-104 Deploy and Manage Azure Compute Practice Question
An administrator wants future VMs to start from the same approved server build as an existing generalized VM. Which two image sources can be used to create the new VM? Select two.
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse a single disk snapshot with a managed image, not realizing that a snapshot lacks the VM configuration and multiple disk support required to replicate the full approved build.
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 managed image created from the approved server build.
A managed image captures the exact configuration of a generalized VM, including the OS and data disks, and can be used to deploy multiple identical VMs. This ensures that future VMs start from the same approved server build without needing to recreate the image each time.
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 managed image created from the approved server build.
Why this is correct
A managed image captures a generalized VM that has been prepared with tools like Sysprep (Windows) or waagent -deprovision (Linux), removing machine-specific identifiers and state. This image is stored as a managed resource and can be used repeatedly to deploy new VMs with the exact approved server build, ensuring consistent configuration, patching, and security baselines across the fleet.
- ✓
An image stored in Azure Compute Gallery.
Why this is correct
Azure Compute Gallery (formerly Shared Image Gallery) is a service for managing and sharing custom VM images at scale. It stores multiple versions of an approved image, supports regional replication for low-latency deployment, and uses RBAC to control access across subscriptions. By referencing a gallery image version, future VMs start from the same maintained server build while benefiting from versioning and automated updates.
- ✗
A Marketplace image from the operating system vendor.
Why it's wrong here
Marketplace images are standard offerings published by Microsoft or third-party vendors, containing only a base OS with no organization-specific customizations such as security policies, agents, or approved application payloads. While they can serve as a starting point, they do not represent the administrator's approved server build. Deploying new VMs from a Marketplace image would produce a non-compliant configuration unless further manual configuration is applied.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question asked for deploying a VM using a standard, vendor-provided OS image without customization, or if the approved server build matched a specific Marketplace image, then a Marketplace image would be correct.
- ✗
A single managed disk snapshot.
Why it's wrong here
A managed disk snapshot is a read-only, point-in-time copy of a single disk, capturing the exact disk state including locally stored user profiles, computer names, SIDs, and machine-specific registry keys. Unlike a generalized image, it is not prepared for duplication—deploying multiple VMs from the same snapshot can result in identity conflicts and is operationally unsupported. A snapshot is useful for backup or disaster recovery, but not for provisioning new VMs from a consistent baseline.
When this WOULD be correct
A managed disk snapshot would be correct if the question asked for a method to create a new VM from an existing VM's disk for disaster recovery or to create a VM with the same data but not necessarily the same build configuration, such as when restoring from a backup.
- ✗
A public IP address assigned to the VM.
Why it's wrong here
A public IP address is a networking construct that maps to a VM's virtual NIC to enable internet-based communication. It is completely independent of the VM's operating system disk and configuration. You cannot use a public IP address to define the VM's OS state, and multiple VMs cannot share a single public IP without a load balancer. Therefore, it does not help future VMs start from the same image.
When this WOULD be correct
When the question asks which resource must be assigned to a VM to enable internet access, a public IP address is correct. For example: 'You need to ensure a new VM can be reached from the internet. What should you assign?'
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The AZ-104 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓A managed image created from the approved server build.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
A managed image captures a generalized VM that has been prepared with tools like Sysprep (Windows) or waagent -deprovision (Linux), removing machine-specific identifiers and state. This image is stored as a managed resource and can be used repeatedly to deploy new VMs with the exact approved server build, ensuring consistent configuration, patching, and security baselines across the fleet.
✗A Marketplace image from the operating system vendor.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A Marketplace image is a pre-configured image from a vendor, not a custom image created from the approved server build. The question requires using the same approved server build, which must be a custom image, not a generic Marketplace image.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question asked for deploying a VM using a standard, vendor-provided OS image without customization, or if the approved server build matched a specific Marketplace image, then a Marketplace image would be correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think any image source can be used, or they confuse Marketplace images with custom images, assuming a vendor image can serve as the approved build.
✗A single managed disk snapshot.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A single managed disk snapshot cannot be used to create a new VM with the same approved server build because it lacks the necessary OS and disk configuration metadata that a managed image provides. Snapshots are point-in-time copies of a disk, not deployable images.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A managed disk snapshot would be correct if the question asked for a method to create a new VM from an existing VM's disk for disaster recovery or to create a VM with the same data but not necessarily the same build configuration, such as when restoring from a backup.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse snapshots with images, thinking that a snapshot of the OS disk can be used directly to deploy a VM, not realizing that a snapshot lacks the generalized state and image definition required for consistent deployments.
✗A public IP address assigned to the VM.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A public IP address is a networking resource, not an image source. It cannot be used to create a VM from a specific server build.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
When the question asks which resource must be assigned to a VM to enable internet access, a public IP address is correct. For example: 'You need to ensure a new VM can be reached from the internet. What should you assign?'
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse the need for a public IP to access the VM with the process of creating a VM from an image, mistakenly thinking the IP is part of the VM creation source.
Analysis generated from the official AZ-104blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
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About these practice questions
One of 1,049 original AZ-104 practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
1 more way 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. Based on the exhibit, which image source should the administrator use to deploy the same approved server build again?
easy- A.A public marketplace Windows Server image.
- ✓ B.A custom image stored in Azure Compute Gallery.
- C.A snapshot of the VM operating system disk.
- D.A temporary disk attached to the VM.
Why B: A custom image stored in Azure Compute Gallery (formerly Shared Image Gallery) is the correct choice because it allows the administrator to capture a generalized VM image that includes the exact OS configuration, applications, and settings of the approved server build. This image can then be used repeatedly to deploy identical VMs, ensuring consistency across deployments. Azure Compute Gallery supports versioning and replication across regions, making it the ideal solution for maintaining and distributing a standardized server build.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.