The answer is the CanNotDelete lock because it allows updates and all other operations while explicitly blocking deletion, making it the correct choice when you need to prevent accidental removal but still permit modifications. This lock operates at the resource, resource group, or subscription scope and overrides any role-based permissions, meaning even a user with Contributor or Owner roles cannot delete the resource while the lock is active. On the AZ-104 exam, this concept tests your understanding of Azure resource locks as a safeguard against accidental deletion, often appearing in scenario-based questions where you must distinguish between CanNotDelete and ReadOnly locks. A common trap is confusing CanNotDelete with ReadOnly, which blocks all write operations including updates. Remember the memory tip: “CanNotDelete lets you edit, just not delete.”
AZ-104 Manage Azure Identities and Governance Practice Question
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of manage azure identities and governance. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
Exhibit
Resource group: RG-Finance
Current lock status: None
Business requirement:
- Administrators must still change settings on the VM and storage account.
- Nobody should be able to delete the resource group or the resources inside it accidentally.
Based on the exhibit, which lock should the administrator apply so resources can still be updated but cannot be deleted by mistake?
Resource group: RG-Finance
Current lock status: None
Business requirement:
- Administrators must still change settings on the VM and storage account.
- Nobody should be able to delete the resource group or the resources inside it accidentally.
A
ReadOnly lock
Why wrong: ReadOnly blocks write operations, which would prevent normal updates and management changes.
B
CanNotDelete lock
CanNotDelete is the correct lock when the organization wants to allow configuration changes but prevent accidental deletion. It protects the resource group and its resources from delete operations while still letting administrators update settings and perform normal management tasks.
C
Subscription lock
Why wrong: Azure does not use a separate lock type called subscription lock; locks are applied as ReadOnly or CanNotDelete.
D
Management group lock
Why wrong: Management groups are for hierarchy and inheritance, not for choosing a different lock type with special delete behavior.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
CanNotDelete lock
The CanNotDelete lock (option B) is correct because it allows all operations including updates and reads, but explicitly prevents deletion of the resource. This meets the requirement that resources can still be updated but cannot be deleted by mistake. Azure resource locks operate at the scope level and override any role-based permissions, ensuring that even users with Contributor or Owner roles cannot delete the resource while the lock is active.
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.
✗
ReadOnly lock
Why it's wrong here
ReadOnly blocks write operations, which would prevent normal updates and management changes.
✓
CanNotDelete lock
Why this is correct
CanNotDelete is the correct lock when the organization wants to allow configuration changes but prevent accidental deletion. It protects the resource group and its resources from delete operations while still letting administrators update settings and perform normal management tasks.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Subscription lock
Why it's wrong here
Azure does not use a separate lock type called subscription lock; locks are applied as ReadOnly or CanNotDelete.
✗
Management group lock
Why it's wrong here
Management groups are for hierarchy and inheritance, not for choosing a different lock type with special delete behavior.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the ReadOnly lock with the CanNotDelete lock, mistakenly thinking that a ReadOnly lock still allows updates, when in fact it blocks all write operations including updates, making it unsuitable for the stated requirement.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure resource locks are implemented as a deny assignment that overrides all role-based access control (RBAC) permissions at the specified scope. The CanNotDelete lock uses the `Microsoft.Authorization/locks/delete` action to block delete operations, while the ReadOnly lock uses `Microsoft.Authorization/locks/write` to block all write operations. Under the hood, locks are stored as ARM resources and are evaluated after RBAC, meaning even an Owner cannot delete a resource with a CanNotDelete lock unless they first remove the lock. A real-world scenario is protecting a production database server from accidental deletion during maintenance windows while still allowing configuration updates.
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: CanNotDelete lock — The CanNotDelete lock (option B) is correct because it allows all operations including updates and reads, but explicitly prevents deletion of the resource. This meets the requirement that resources can still be updated but cannot be deleted by mistake. Azure resource locks operate at the scope level and override any role-based permissions, ensuring that even users with Contributor or Owner roles cannot delete the resource while the lock is active.
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 →
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.