- A
Place the VM in an availability set.
Why wrong: Availability sets improve fault tolerance, not cost optimization.
- B
Enable auto-shutdown on the VM.
Auto-shutdown stops the VM on a schedule and directly reduces unnecessary runtime cost.
- C
Convert the OS disk to premium SSD v2.
Why wrong: That may improve performance but does not directly reduce compute cost.
- D
Create a site-to-site VPN.
Why wrong: A VPN is unrelated to VM runtime cost.
Question 989 of 1,170
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.
You need to reduce compute cost for a development virtual machine that is used only during business hours on weekdays. Which option provides the most direct built-in cost optimization?
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
✓
Enable auto-shutdown on the VM.
B is correct because enabling auto-shutdown on the VM directly stops the VM during non-business hours (e.g., evenings and weekends), eliminating compute costs (which are billed per second while the VM is running). This is a built-in Azure feature that requires no additional infrastructure or manual intervention, making it the most direct cost-optimization method for a development VM with a predictable usage schedule.
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.
- ✗
Place the VM in an availability set.
Why it's wrong here
Availability sets improve fault tolerance, not cost optimization.
When this WOULD be correct
When the question asks for a solution to ensure high availability for a production application running on multiple VMs, placing them in an availability set would be correct.
- ✓
Enable auto-shutdown on the VM.
Why this is correct
Auto-shutdown stops the VM on a schedule and directly reduces unnecessary runtime cost.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Convert the OS disk to premium SSD v2.
Why it's wrong here
That may improve performance but does not directly reduce compute cost.
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct in a scenario where the question asks for the best way to improve I/O performance for a production database VM that requires low latency and high throughput, and cost is not the primary concern.
- ✗
Create a site-to-site VPN.
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.
✓Enable auto-shutdown on the VM.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
Auto-shutdown stops the VM on a schedule and directly reduces unnecessary runtime cost.
✗Place the VM in an availability set.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
An availability set provides high availability by distributing VMs across fault and update domains, but does not reduce compute costs for a VM used only during business hours.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
When the question asks for a solution to ensure high availability for a production application running on multiple VMs, placing them in an availability set would be correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse availability sets with cost-saving features, or think that distributing VMs somehow reduces individual VM costs.
✗Convert the OS disk to premium SSD v2.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Converting the OS disk to premium SSD v2 increases cost due to higher per-GB pricing and additional IOPS charges, whereas the goal is to reduce compute cost for a VM used only during business hours.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct in a scenario where the question asks for the best way to improve I/O performance for a production database VM that requires low latency and high throughput, and cost is not the primary concern.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may mistakenly believe that premium SSD v2 is a cost-saving measure because it offers better performance per dollar in some high-I/O workloads, but they overlook that it is more expensive than standard disks for low-usage VMs.
✗Create a site-to-site VPN.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Creating a site-to-site VPN does not reduce compute costs; it is a networking feature for connecting on-premises networks to Azure, unrelated to VM cost optimization.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question asking for a secure connection between an on-premises network and Azure to enable hybrid workloads, where the requirement is to extend the on-premises network securely into Azure.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse cost optimization with network connectivity solutions, or mistakenly think that a VPN reduces costs by enabling hybrid scenarios that could use on-premises resources.
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 may confuse high-availability features (availability sets) or connectivity features (VPN) with cost optimization, or mistakenly think upgrading to premium storage reduces costs, when in fact the most direct built-in method for compute cost reduction is stopping the VM during idle periods via auto-shutdown.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Auto-shutdown uses Azure Resource Manager (ARM) to deallocate the VM, which releases the underlying hardware resources and stops compute billing; only storage costs for the OS disk and data disks persist. The feature can be configured with a time zone and optional notification (via webhook or email) to warn users before shutdown. In a real-world scenario, combining auto-shutdown with Azure Dev/Test Labs or a scheduled start/stop automation (e.g., using Azure Automation or Logic Apps) can further optimize costs for non-production environments.
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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
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: Enable auto-shutdown on the VM. — B is correct because enabling auto-shutdown on the VM directly stops the VM during non-business hours (e.g., evenings and weekends), eliminating compute costs (which are billed per second while the VM is running). This is a built-in Azure feature that requires no additional infrastructure or manual intervention, making it the most direct cost-optimization method for a development VM with a predictable usage schedule.
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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