Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Exhibit
Workspace: law-prod Table: Heartbeat Sample records -------------- TimeGenerated Computer ResourceId 2026-04-26T10:00:00Z VM01 /subscriptions/111/resourceGroups/rg1/providers/Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines/VM01 2026-04-26T10:01:00Z VM01 /subscriptions/111/resourceGroups/rg1/providers/Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines/VM01 2026-04-26T10:02:00Z VM02 /subscriptions/111/resourceGroups/rg1/providers/Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines/VM02 2026-04-26T10:03:00Z VM02 /subscriptions/111/resourceGroups/rg1/providers/Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines/VM02 Requirement ----------- Alert if a VM has no heartbeat for 15 minutes.
Based on the exhibit, the operations team wants an alert that fires when any VM has not sent a heartbeat in the last 15 minutes. Which KQL query should they use as the condition for the log alert?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Distractor review
Heartbeat | summarize LastSeen=max(TimeGenerated) by Computer | where LastSeen > ago(15m)
This query finds machines that have been seen recently, which is the opposite of the requested outage condition.
B
Best answer
Heartbeat | summarize LastSeen=max(TimeGenerated) by Computer | where LastSeen < ago(15m)
This query summarizes the most recent heartbeat per computer and then filters for systems whose latest record is older than 15 minutes. That matches the requirement to alert when a VM has stopped sending heartbeat data.
C
Distractor review
Heartbeat | where TimeGenerated > ago(15m) | summarize count() by Computer | where count() == 0
Filtering to the last 15 minutes first removes older data, so the count cannot prove absence of records for a VM in the needed way.
D
Distractor review
Heartbeat | distinct Computer | where Computer == "VM01"
This only lists a computer name if it appears in the table. It does not detect that the last heartbeat was older than 15 minutes.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
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Question 2
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Question 3
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Question 4
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Question 5
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Question 6
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-104 question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Heartbeat | summarize LastSeen=max(TimeGenerated) by Computer | where LastSeen < ago(15m) — To detect a missing heartbeat, the query must identify the most recent record per VM and compare that timestamp with the current time. Summarizing by Computer with max(TimeGenerated) produces the last-seen value for each machine. Filtering where that value is older than 15 minutes returns the machines that have stopped reporting, which is exactly what a log alert condition needs. Why others are wrong: The first query returns healthy machines rather than stale ones. The third query can miss the absence condition because it only looks at records inside the last 15 minutes and does not preserve last-seen state well. The fourth query merely checks for existence and cannot determine whether a VM has gone silent.
What should I do if I get this AZ-104 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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