- A
You can increase the managed disk size without redeploying the VM.
Managed disks can be expanded in Azure without rebuilding the VM or reinstalling the operating system.
- B
You may need to extend the partition or filesystem inside the guest OS.
After Azure grows the disk, the operating system often needs a volume extension to use the extra space.
- C
You must create a brand-new VM before resizing the disk.
Why wrong: Disk expansion does not require replacing the VM when only storage capacity changes.
- D
Resizing a disk always shrinks it back to a smaller size.
Why wrong: The common Azure operation here is expansion, not automatic shrinking of a managed disk.
- E
The VM size must always change whenever disk capacity changes.
Why wrong: VM compute size and managed disk size are separate settings and do not always change together.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is that you may need to extend the partition or filesystem inside the guest OS after resizing. This is true because Azure managed disks support online resizing, meaning you can increase the capacity of a managed data disk while the VM remains running without any need to stop, deallocate, or redeploy the VM. The underlying Azure storage infrastructure extends the virtual hard disk file seamlessly without disrupting I/O operations, but the guest OS does not automatically recognize the new space—you must manually extend the partition and filesystem to use it. On the AZ-104 exam, this concept tests your understanding of Azure’s live disk management capabilities versus traditional on-premises storage, and a common trap is assuming the OS automatically expands the volume. Remember the memory tip: “Azure expands the disk, but you expand the data”—the cloud handles the hardware, you handle the software.
AZ-104 Deploy and Manage Azure Compute Practice Question
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of deploy and manage azure compute. 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.
An application needs more data disk capacity, but the VM can keep using the same managed disk. Which two statements are true when you resize a managed data disk? Select two.
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
You can increase the managed disk size without redeploying the VM.
Option A is correct because Azure managed disks support online resizing: you can increase the size of a managed data disk while the VM remains running, without any need to stop, deallocate, or redeploy the VM. This is possible because the underlying Azure storage infrastructure can extend the virtual hard disk (VHD) file without disrupting the VM's I/O operations. After the resize, the guest OS sees the new capacity, but the partition and filesystem must be extended manually.
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.
- ✓
You can increase the managed disk size without redeploying the VM.
Why this is correct
Managed disks can be expanded in Azure without rebuilding the VM or reinstalling the operating system.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
You may need to extend the partition or filesystem inside the guest OS.
Why this is correct
After Azure grows the disk, the operating system often needs a volume extension to use the extra space.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
You must create a brand-new VM before resizing the disk.
Why it's wrong here
Disk expansion does not require replacing the VM when only storage capacity changes.
- ✗
Resizing a disk always shrinks it back to a smaller size.
Why it's wrong here
The common Azure operation here is expansion, not automatic shrinking of a managed disk.
- ✗
The VM size must always change whenever disk capacity changes.
Why it's wrong here
VM compute size and managed disk size are separate settings and do not always change together.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume resizing a disk requires a VM restart or redeployment, but Azure allows online resizing for managed disks, and the only post-resize step is extending the partition inside the guest OS.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, resizing a managed disk updates the disk's size property in the Azure Resource Manager, which triggers an extension of the underlying page blob or managed disk object in the storage backend. The guest OS does not automatically detect the new space; you must use OS-specific tools like `diskpart` (Windows) or `resize2fs`/`growpart` (Linux) to extend the partition and filesystem. A real-world scenario: if you run a database VM that runs out of space, you can increase the data disk from 1 TiB to 2 TiB online, then extend the volume without downtime, provided the VM's IOPS limits are not exceeded.
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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Deploy and Manage Azure Compute — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Deploy and Manage Azure Compute practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All AZ-104 questions
1,170 questions across all exam domains
- →
AZ-104 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
AZ-104 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related AZ-104 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Manage Azure Identities and Governance practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to Manage Azure Identities and Governance.
Implement and Manage Storage practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to Implement and Manage Storage.
Deploy and Manage Azure Compute practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to Deploy and Manage Azure Compute.
Implement and Manage Virtual Networking practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to Implement and Manage Virtual Networking.
Monitor and Maintain Azure Resources practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to Monitor and Maintain Azure Resources.
AZ-104 Azure RBAC practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to AZ-104 Azure RBAC.
AZ-104 storage account practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to AZ-104 storage account.
AZ-104 virtual network practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to AZ-104 virtual network.
AZ-104 NSG practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to AZ-104 NSG.
AZ-104 Azure Monitor practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to AZ-104 Azure Monitor.
AZ-104 backup practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to AZ-104 backup.
AZ-104 managed identity practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to AZ-104 managed identity.
Practice this exam
Start a free AZ-104 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-104 question test?
Deploy and Manage Azure Compute — This question tests Deploy and Manage Azure Compute — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: You can increase the managed disk size without redeploying the VM. — Option A is correct because Azure managed disks support online resizing: you can increase the size of a managed data disk while the VM remains running, without any need to stop, deallocate, or redeploy the VM. This is possible because the underlying Azure storage infrastructure can extend the virtual hard disk (VHD) file without disrupting the VM's I/O operations. After the resize, the guest OS sees the new capacity, but the partition and filesystem must be extended manually.
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 →
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.