- A
Generalize the source VM before capture by removing machine-specific state.
Correct. Generalizing removes unique computer-specific settings so the image can be safely cloned many times.
- B
Create an image definition and image version in Azure Compute Gallery.
Correct. Compute Gallery provides versioned, reusable images that can be replicated and rolled back by version.
- C
Place the target virtual machines in an availability set.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Availability sets improve VM resilience, but they do not create reusable, versioned images for deployment.
- D
Attach a user-assigned managed identity to the source VM.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Managed identities help authentication, but they do not prepare a generalized image or manage versions.
- E
Enable boot diagnostics on the target virtual machines.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Boot diagnostics helps troubleshooting startup problems, but it does not support image capture or rollbacks.
AZ-104 Deploy and Manage Azure Compute Practice Question
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of deploy and manage azure compute. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 platform team maintains a hardened Windows VM with IIS, an agent, and local configuration files. They need to deploy 40 identical VMs in two regions, preserve version history, and roll back quickly if a new image causes problems. Which two actions should they take? 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
Generalize the source VM before capture by removing machine-specific state.
Option A is correct because generalizing the source VM with Sysprep (for Windows) removes machine-specific state like security identifiers (SIDs) and hostnames, making the VM suitable for creating a reusable, generalized image. This is a prerequisite for capturing an image that can be deployed to multiple VMs without conflicts. Without generalization, each VM would retain the original machine's identity, causing domain join and licensing issues.
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.
- ✓
Generalize the source VM before capture by removing machine-specific state.
Why this is correct
Correct. Generalizing removes unique computer-specific settings so the image can be safely cloned many times.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Create an image definition and image version in Azure Compute Gallery.
Why this is correct
Correct. Compute Gallery provides versioned, reusable images that can be replicated and rolled back by version.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Place the target virtual machines in an availability set.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Availability sets improve VM resilience, but they do not create reusable, versioned images for deployment.
When this WOULD be correct
When the question asks for a method to ensure high availability for a set of VMs within a single region, such as 'You need to deploy three VMs running the same application and ensure that they are not all affected by a single hardware failure or update event.'
- ✗
Attach a user-assigned managed identity to the source VM.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Managed identities help authentication, but they do not prepare a generalized image or manage versions.
When this WOULD be correct
A question where a VM needs to authenticate to Azure resources (e.g., Azure Key Vault, storage) without storing credentials, and the solution requires granting specific permissions via a managed identity.
- ✗
Enable boot diagnostics on the target virtual machines.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Boot diagnostics helps troubleshooting startup problems, but it does not support image capture or rollbacks.
When this WOULD be correct
When a question asks how to troubleshoot a VM that fails to boot or needs serial console access to diagnose startup issues, enabling boot diagnostics is the correct action.
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.
✓Generalize the source VM before capture by removing machine-specific state.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
Correct. Generalizing removes unique computer-specific settings so the image can be safely cloned many times.
✗Place the target virtual machines in an availability set.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Availability sets provide high availability for VMs within a single region by distributing them across fault and update domains, but they do not address the need to deploy identical VMs across two regions, preserve version history, or enable quick rollback of images.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
When the question asks for a method to ensure high availability for a set of VMs within a single region, such as 'You need to deploy three VMs running the same application and ensure that they are not all affected by a single hardware failure or update event.'
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse availability sets with image management or think that availability sets help with version control or rollback, not realizing they are purely for high availability within a region.
✗Attach a user-assigned managed identity to the source VM.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Attaching a user-assigned managed identity to the source VM is not required for creating and deploying images via Azure Compute Gallery; it does not address version history or rollback needs.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question where a VM needs to authenticate to Azure resources (e.g., Azure Key Vault, storage) without storing credentials, and the solution requires granting specific permissions via a managed identity.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse managed identities with image management or think they are needed for the capture process, but they are unrelated to image versioning and rollback.
✗Enable boot diagnostics on the target virtual machines.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Boot diagnostics help troubleshoot VM boot failures but do not support versioning, rollback, or multi-region deployment of identical VMs from a captured image.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
When a question asks how to troubleshoot a VM that fails to boot or needs serial console access to diagnose startup issues, enabling boot diagnostics is the correct action.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse boot diagnostics with a feature that aids in image management or rollback, or they might think it's necessary for verifying that the new image works correctly.
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?”
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'generalizing the source VM' with 'creating a snapshot' or 'using managed identities,' failing to recognize that Sysprep is mandatory for Windows images and that Azure Compute Gallery is the only service that provides versioning and cross-region replication for managed images.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure Compute Gallery (formerly Shared Image Gallery) supports versioning of image definitions, allowing you to maintain multiple image versions (e.g., v1.0, v2.0) and replicate them across regions. When a new image version causes issues, you can update the VM scale set or individual VMs to reference a previous version by simply changing the image reference in the deployment template or using the Azure CLI `az vmss update` command. Under the hood, each image version is a managed snapshot stored as a set of blobs in a region-specific storage account, enabling fast rollback without re-uploading or rebuilding the image.
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.
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?
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: Generalize the source VM before capture by removing machine-specific state. — Option A is correct because generalizing the source VM with Sysprep (for Windows) removes machine-specific state like security identifiers (SIDs) and hostnames, making the VM suitable for creating a reusable, generalized image. This is a prerequisite for capturing an image that can be deployed to multiple VMs without conflicts. Without generalization, each VM would retain the original machine's identity, causing domain join and licensing issues.
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 →
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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