The answer is to create a custom RBAC role assigned at the RG-App resource group scope. This is correct because no built-in role provides the precise combination of Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines/start/action, deallocate/action, and read permissions while explicitly excluding delete and networking management actions like Microsoft.Network/*. By scoping the custom role to the resource group, you ensure the team can only start and deallocate VMs within RG-App without gaining broader control across the subscription. On the AZ-104 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that custom roles are the only way to achieve granular, exclusionary permissions when built-in roles are either too permissive or too restrictive. A common trap is choosing the Contributor role, which includes delete and full networking rights, or the Virtual Machine Contributor, which still allows network resource changes. Memory tip: think “Start, Stop, Read—no delete, no net”—if the built-in roles give too much, build a custom one and scope it tight.
AZ-104 Manage Azure Identities and Governance Practice Question
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of manage azure identities and governance. 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 operations team needs to start and deallocate every virtual machine in RG-App and read VM settings, but they must not be able to delete VMs or manage networking resources. What is the best Azure RBAC solution?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create a custom role and assign it at the RG-App resource group scope
Option B is correct because the required permissions—starting, deallocating, and reading VM settings—are not fully covered by any built-in role, and the custom role must be scoped to RG-App to avoid granting broader access. A custom role allows combining Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines/start/action, Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines/deallocate/action, and Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines/read, while explicitly excluding delete and networking management actions. Assigning at the resource group scope ensures the permissions apply only to resources within RG-App.
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.
✗
Assign the Virtual Machine Contributor role at the subscription scope
Why it's wrong here
This grants more permission than needed and affects all resource groups in the subscription.
✓
Create a custom role and assign it at the RG-App resource group scope
Why this is correct
A custom role can include only the start, deallocate, and read actions needed for that resource group.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Assign the Reader role at the resource group scope
Why it's wrong here
Reader allows viewing resources only and does not permit starting or stopping virtual machines.
✗
Assign the Owner role at the resource group scope
Why it's wrong here
Owner is far broader than required and includes delete and permission-management capabilities.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose Virtual Machine Contributor (Option A) because it seems to cover VM operations, but they overlook that it includes delete and networking management permissions, and that scoping at subscription level grants excessive access beyond the RG-App resource group.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure RBAC custom roles are defined using a JSON structure with Actions, NotActions, DataActions, and AssignableScopes. For this scenario, the custom role would include Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines/start/action and Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines/deallocate/action under Actions, and Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines/delete under NotActions to explicitly deny deletion. Networking management is excluded by omitting any Microsoft.Network/* actions. Assigning at the resource group scope leverages Azure's hierarchical permission model, where inherited permissions from higher scopes (e.g., subscription) are additive unless explicitly denied via NotActions.
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.
Manage Azure Identities and Governance — This question tests Manage Azure Identities and Governance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a custom role and assign it at the RG-App resource group scope — Option B is correct because the required permissions—starting, deallocating, and reading VM settings—are not fully covered by any built-in role, and the custom role must be scoped to RG-App to avoid granting broader access. A custom role allows combining Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines/start/action, Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines/deallocate/action, and Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines/read, while explicitly excluding delete and networking management actions. Assigning at the resource group scope ensures the permissions apply only to resources within RG-App.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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 →
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.
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.