The answer is Azure Bastion. This is the correct choice because Azure Bastion provides secure, seamless browser-based RDP and SSH connectivity to Azure virtual machines directly through the Azure portal over TLS, all without requiring a public IP address on the VM. It deploys a hardened bastion host inside your virtual network that brokers the connection, eliminating any direct internet exposure of the VM while still allowing administrative access. On the AZ-104 exam, this scenario frequently tests your understanding of secure remote access solutions, often appearing as a distractor against options like a jump box with a public IP, a VPN gateway, or a NAT gateway. A common trap is assuming you need a public IP for any browser-based access, but Azure Bastion specifically solves that requirement. Remember the memory tip: “Bastion blocks the public, browsers bridge the gap.”
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.
Exhibit
Topology:
- Internet users sign in to the Azure portal
- Management connection must be initiated from a browser
- The target Windows VM has no public IP address
- The security team does not allow a VPN client on administrator laptops
- RDP must remain off the public Internet
Based on the exhibit, which Azure service should you deploy to provide browser-based administrative access to the VM without assigning it a public IP address?
Topology:
- Internet users sign in to the Azure portal
- Management connection must be initiated from a browser
- The target Windows VM has no public IP address
- The security team does not allow a VPN client on administrator laptops
- RDP must remain off the public Internet
A
Azure Bastion
Azure Bastion provides secure RDP and SSH access from the portal over the browser without exposing a public IP.
B
Azure VPN Gateway
Why wrong: A VPN gateway helps establish network connectivity, but it does not provide direct browser-based VM access.
C
Public IP address on the VM
Why wrong: A public IP would expose the management port to the Internet, which the security requirement explicitly rejects.
D
Azure Load Balancer
Why wrong: A load balancer distributes traffic to backend instances and is not an administrative access service.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Azure Bastion
Azure Bastion provides secure, seamless RDP/SSH connectivity to virtual machines directly in the Azure portal over TLS, without requiring a public IP address on the VM. It uses a hardened bastion host in your virtual network that brokers the connection, eliminating exposure of the VM to the internet.
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.
✓
Azure Bastion
Why this is correct
Azure Bastion provides secure RDP and SSH access from the portal over the browser without exposing a public IP.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Azure VPN Gateway
Why it's wrong here
A VPNgateway helps establish network connectivity, but it does not provide direct browser-based VM access.
✗
Public IP address on the VM
Why it's wrong here
A public IP would expose the management port to the Internet, which the security requirement explicitly rejects.
✗
Azure Load Balancer
Why it's wrong here
A load balancer distributes traffic to backend instances and is not an administrative access service.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Azure Bastion with a VPNGateway, thinking both provide secure remote access, but Bastion is specifically for browser-based administrative sessions without a public IP, while VPN Gateway extends the network for full client-to-site or site-to-site connectivity.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure Bastion deploys a dedicated, fully managed PaaS service inside a virtual network, using a separate subnet named 'AzureBastionSubnet' (minimum /27). It uses TLS 1.2 to encrypt RDP/SSH traffic and relays clipboard, file transfer, and session recording features through the Azure portal, all while the VM remains isolated behind a network security group that only allows inbound traffic from the Bastion host on port 443.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this AZ-104 question in full detail.
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: Azure Bastion — Azure Bastion provides secure, seamless RDP/SSH connectivity to virtual machines directly in the Azure portal over TLS, without requiring a public IP address on the VM. It uses a hardened bastion host in your virtual network that brokers the connection, eliminating exposure of the VM to the internet.
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.
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Question Discussion
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