AZ-104 Monitor and Maintain Azure Resources Practice Question
Exhibit
Storage account diagnostics --------------------------- Diagnostic settings: storage-diag Logs: Enabled Destinations: - Archive to storage account: Yes - Event Hub: No - Log Analytics workspace: No Operational requirement ---------------------- Search logs in KQL Build workbook charts Create log-based alerts Keep data queryable for 30 days
Based on the exhibit, the security team needs 30 days of searchable log data for a storage account and wants to create queries that can be used in workbooks and alerts. The current configuration only sends data to an archive location. What should the administrator configure?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates think archiving logs to a storage account is sufficient for querying, but Azure Storage does not provide native log search or alerting capabilities—only Log Analytics workspaces enable interactive queries, workbooks, and alerts.
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
✓
Add a Log Analytics workspace destination to the diagnostic setting.
The current diagnostic setting only archives logs to a storage account, which does not support interactive querying, workbooks, or alert rules. By adding a Log Analytics workspace destination to the same diagnostic setting, logs are sent to a centralized workspace where they become searchable via KQL, enabling real-time queries, workbook visualizations, and alert triggers. This meets the security team's requirement for 30 days of searchable log data without changing the existing archive destination.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Add a Log Analytics workspace destination to the diagnostic setting.
Why this is correct
The diagnostic setting's primary purpose is to route log data to one or more configurable destinations. A Log Analytics workspace destination enables the security team to run KQL queries, build workbooks, and create log-based alert rules against the operational data. Because the requirement asks for 30 days of queryable audit data, this destination is the only one that natively supports that workflow.
- ✗
Change the storage account redundancy to RA-GRS.
Why it's wrong here
RA-GRS replication is a data durability mechanism that copies blobs to a secondary region, protecting against regional data loss. It has no effect on the format, indexing, or queryability of diagnostic logs; the logs are still written as blob files that would require custom tooling to parse and search. This change does not provide KQL search or alerting functionality, so it cannot satisfy the security team's requirement.
When this WOULD be correct
When the question asks for a storage account configuration to ensure data remains available during a regional outage, or to meet a compliance requirement for geo-redundant storage of audit logs.
- ✗
Enable a CanNotDelete lock on the storage account.
Why it's wrong here
Applying a CanNotDelete lock on the storage account only prevents accidental deletion of that resource by users or automation. It is a governance control that does not alter the data path of diagnostic logs, nor does it add any analytical capabilities. The security team still needs a destination like Log Analytics to make the log content searchable; locking the storage account is orthogonal to that need.
When this WOULD be correct
In a scenario where an administrator needs to protect a critical storage account from accidental deletion while maintaining existing configurations, a CanNotDelete lock would be the correct answer.
- ✗
Configure a private endpoint for the storage account.
Why it's wrong here
A private endpoint connects to the storage account via a private IP address within a virtual network, isolating network traffic from the public internet. This configuration improves network security but does not change where the diagnostic setting sends logs; the logs still land in the same storage account as blobs. The logs remain non-interactive and would need to be ingested into Log Analytics separately to be queried, which this option does not accomplish.
When this WOULD be correct
A question where the requirement is to ensure that a storage account is only accessible over a private network and not over the public internet, while maintaining compliance with data exfiltration protection policies. For example: 'You need to ensure that a storage account is only accessible from a virtual network and cannot be reached from the internet. What should you configure?'
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.
✓Add a Log Analytics workspace destination to the diagnostic setting.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
The diagnostic setting's primary purpose is to route log data to one or more configurable destinations. A Log Analytics workspace destination enables the security team to run KQL queries, build workbooks, and create log-based alert rules against the operational data. Because the requirement asks for 30 days of queryable audit data, this destination is the only one that natively supports that workflow.
✗Change the storage account redundancy to RA-GRS.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
RA-GRS provides geo-redundant storage for durability, not searchable log data retention or query capabilities. The requirement is for 30 days of searchable logs and workbook/alert queries, which requires a Log Analytics workspace.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
When the question asks for a storage account configuration to ensure data remains available during a regional outage, or to meet a compliance requirement for geo-redundant storage of audit logs.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse redundancy with data retention or think that changing redundancy affects log availability, not understanding that RA-GRS is about replication, not log search or query capabilities.
✗Enable a CanNotDelete lock on the storage account.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Enabling a CanNotDelete lock prevents accidental deletion of the storage account but does not affect log data retention, searchability, or query capabilities in workbooks and alerts.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a scenario where an administrator needs to protect a critical storage account from accidental deletion while maintaining existing configurations, a CanNotDelete lock would be the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse resource locks with data retention or access controls, thinking that preventing deletion also preserves log data or enables querying.
✗Configure a private endpoint for the storage account.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Configuring a private endpoint for the storage account provides network isolation by enabling private connectivity, but it does not affect log data retention or query capabilities. The requirement is for searchable log data and queries in workbooks/alerts, which requires a Log Analytics workspace, not a private endpoint.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question where the requirement is to ensure that a storage account is only accessible over a private network and not over the public internet, while maintaining compliance with data exfiltration protection policies. For example: 'You need to ensure that a storage account is only accessible from a virtual network and cannot be reached from the internet. What should you configure?'
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse network security with log management, thinking that a private endpoint enhances security and thus might be needed for compliance or data protection, but it does not address the logging and query requirement.
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?”
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Customer-Managed Keys (CMK) for Storage Encryption
Key term
Diagnostic setting
A Diagnostic setting is a configuration in Azure that controls where and how resource logs and metrics are collected, stored, and streamed for monitoring and analysis.
Key term
Security
Security in IT is the practice of protecting systems, networks, and data from unauthorized access, damage, or theft.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.