- A
Remove the policy and reassign it at the resource group scope
Why wrong: Changing scope does not automatically fix existing resources that already missed the tag.
- B
Create a remediation task for the policy assignment
A remediation task is used to bring existing resources into compliance after a policy assignment is in place. In this case, the append effect works for new deployments, but older virtual machines need remediation so the Environment tag is added to resources that were created before the policy took effect. That is the expected operational follow-up.
- C
Grant the policy assignment Reader access
Why wrong: RBAC permissions do not cause the policy engine to update existing resources.
- D
Apply a CanNotDelete lock to the subscription
Why wrong: A lock prevents deletion, but it does not add missing tags or remediate policy compliance.
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 Azure Policy that appends the Environment tag is assigned to a subscription. New virtual machines get the tag, but existing VMs do not. What should the administrator do next?
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
Create a remediation task for the policy assignment
Azure Policy assignments with 'deployIfNotExists' or 'append' effects only apply to new resources by default. To bring existing non-compliant resources into compliance, a remediation task must be triggered, which uses a managed identity to modify the resource. Option B is correct because creating a remediation task for the policy assignment will evaluate and append the missing Environment tag to existing VMs.
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.
- ✗
Remove the policy and reassign it at the resource group scope
Why it's wrong here
Changing scope does not automatically fix existing resources that already missed the tag.
When this WOULD be correct
This would be correct if the policy was originally assigned at the management group scope and the administrator wanted to apply it specifically to a resource group, or if the policy assignment was corrupted and needed to be recreated at a different scope to fix a deployment error.
- ✓
Create a remediation task for the policy assignment
Why this is correct
A remediation task is used to bring existing resources into compliance after a policy assignment is in place. In this case, the append effect works for new deployments, but older virtual machines need remediation so the Environment tag is added to resources that were created before the policy took effect. That is the expected operational follow-up.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Grant the policy assignment Reader access
Why it's wrong here
RBAC permissions do not cause the policy engine to update existing resources.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question were about ensuring that a service principal can view policy assignment details for auditing purposes, then granting Reader access to the policy assignment would be correct.
- ✗
Apply a CanNotDelete lock to the subscription
Why it's wrong here
A lock prevents deletion, but it does not add missing tags or remediate policy compliance.
When this WOULD be correct
An administrator needs to prevent accidental deletion of all resources in a subscription. The correct action is to apply a CanNotDelete lock at the subscription scope to block delete operations on all resources.
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.
✓Create a remediation task for the policy assignmentCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
A remediation task is used to bring existing resources into compliance after a policy assignment is in place. In this case, the append effect works for new deployments, but older virtual machines need remediation so the Environment tag is added to resources that were created before the policy took effect. That is the expected operational follow-up.
✗Remove the policy and reassign it at the resource group scopeWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Removing and reassigning the policy at a different scope does not trigger evaluation on existing resources; it only applies to new resources. The policy already exists at the subscription scope, so reassigning it does not remediate non-compliant existing VMs.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This would be correct if the policy was originally assigned at the management group scope and the administrator wanted to apply it specifically to a resource group, or if the policy assignment was corrupted and needed to be recreated at a different scope to fix a deployment error.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think that reassigning the policy at a more specific scope (resource group) will force it to apply to existing resources, misunderstanding that policy evaluation on existing resources requires a remediation task, not a scope change.
✗Grant the policy assignment Reader accessWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Granting Reader access to the policy assignment does not trigger remediation of existing resources; it only allows read permissions on the policy assignment itself. Remediation requires a remediation task to apply the policy to existing non-compliant resources.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question were about ensuring that a service principal can view policy assignment details for auditing purposes, then granting Reader access to the policy assignment would be correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse granting permissions with triggering remediation, thinking that Reader access allows the policy to evaluate or update existing resources.
✗Apply a CanNotDelete lock to the subscriptionWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Applying a CanNotDelete lock to the subscription prevents deletion of resources but does not apply tags to existing VMs. The issue is about updating existing resources, not preventing deletion.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
An administrator needs to prevent accidental deletion of all resources in a subscription. The correct action is to apply a CanNotDelete lock at the subscription scope to block delete operations on all resources.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse locks with policy remediation, thinking a lock can enforce compliance by restricting changes, but locks only prevent deletion or modification, not apply tags.
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 assume policy effects like 'append' or 'deny' automatically apply to all resources in scope, forgetting that only 'audit' and 'modify' effects have built-in support for existing resources, while others require a remediation task.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The 'append' effect in Azure Policy adds additional fields to a resource during creation or update, but it does not trigger on existing resources. A remediation task uses the policy assignment's managed identity to evaluate and modify non-compliant resources via the same ARM API calls that the policy effect would use during creation. This is distinct from 'deployIfNotExists' which can deploy a template, but both require explicit remediation to act on existing resources.
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?
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 remediation task for the policy assignment — Azure Policy assignments with 'deployIfNotExists' or 'append' effects only apply to new resources by default. To bring existing non-compliant resources into compliance, a remediation task must be triggered, which uses a managed identity to modify the resource. Option B is correct because creating a remediation task for the policy assignment will evaluate and append the missing Environment tag to existing VMs.
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
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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