The answer is Internet, because Azure route selection uses the longest prefix match to determine the next hop for traffic destined to 10.50.1.20. When multiple routes exist, Azure always prefers the most specific route—the one with the longest subnet mask—over a less specific default route. In this case, the route for 10.50.1.0/24 with a next hop of Internet is more specific than the 0.0.0.0/0 default route, so traffic bypasses the virtual appliance and goes directly to the Internet. On the AZ-104 exam, this concept tests your understanding of effective routes and how Azure prioritizes them in a virtual network; a common trap is assuming a virtual appliance or VPN gateway always takes precedence. Remember the key rule: longer prefix wins, regardless of route source or next hop type. A simple memory tip is “more bits, more specific”—the /24 has 24 bits matching, while /0 has none, so the /24 route always wins.
AZ-104 Implement and Manage Virtual Networking Practice Question
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of implement and manage virtual networking. 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.
Exhibit
Effective routes for Subnet-Apps:
0.0.0.0/0 -> Virtual appliance 10.1.1.4
10.50.1.0/24 -> Internet
10.0.0.0/8 -> Virtual network
Observed destination: 10.50.1.20
Based on the exhibit, which next hop will Azure use for traffic from the VM to 10.50.1.20?
Effective routes for Subnet-Apps:
0.0.0.0/0 -> Virtual appliance 10.1.1.4
10.50.1.0/24 -> Internet
10.0.0.0/8 -> Virtual network
Observed destination: 10.50.1.20
A
Virtual appliance 10.1.1.4, because all traffic always follows the default route.
Why wrong: The default route is only used when no more specific route matches. A longer prefix takes precedence over 0.0.0.0/0.
B
Internet, because the /24 route is more specific than the default route.
Azure uses longest-prefix match when selecting a route. The destination 10.50.1.20 falls within 10.50.1.0/24, which is more specific than the 0.0.0.0/0 default route. Therefore, the Internet next hop is chosen instead of the virtual appliance.
C
Virtual network, because private IP addresses always stay inside Azure.
Why wrong: Private destination addresses do not automatically stay in the virtual network when a more specific user-defined route exists.
D
No route is selected, so the packet is dropped before leaving the subnet.
Why wrong: A matching route does exist in the table, so Azure will not drop the packet for lack of routing information.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Internet, because the /24 route is more specific than the default route.
Option B is correct because Azure uses the most specific route (longest prefix match) to determine next hop. The route for 10.50.1.0/24 with next hop Internet is more specific than the default route 0.0.0.0/0, so traffic to 10.50.1.20 will be forwarded to the Internet, not the virtual appliance.
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.
✗
Virtual appliance 10.1.1.4, because all traffic always follows the default route.
Why it's wrong here
The default route is only used when no more specific route matches. A longer prefix takes precedence over 0.0.0.0/0.
✓
Internet, because the /24 route is more specific than the default route.
Why this is correct
Azure uses longest-prefix match when selecting a route. The destination 10.50.1.20 falls within 10.50.1.0/24, which is more specific than the 0.0.0.0/0 default route. Therefore, the Internet next hop is chosen instead of the virtual appliance.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Virtual network, because private IP addresses always stay inside Azure.
Why it's wrong here
Private destination addresses do not automatically stay in the virtual network when a more specific user-defined route exists.
✗
No route is selected, so the packet is dropped before leaving the subnet.
Why it's wrong here
A matching route does exist in the table, so Azure will not drop the packet for lack of routing information.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume private IP traffic always stays within Azure or follows the default route, but Azure prioritizes more specific routes regardless of IP address range.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure uses the system route table and user-defined routes (UDRs) to determine next hop based on the longest prefix match. The route with the smallest prefix (e.g., /24) is more specific than a larger prefix (e.g., /0). In this scenario, the 10.50.1.0/24 route with next hop Internet overrides the default route, sending traffic to the Internet even though the destination is a private IP. This is critical for scenarios like forced tunneling or hybrid connectivity where specific subnets must bypass the default path.
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
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this AZ-104 question in full detail.
Implement and Manage Virtual Networking — This question tests Implement and Manage Virtual Networking — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Internet, because the /24 route is more specific than the default route. — Option B is correct because Azure uses the most specific route (longest prefix match) to determine next hop. The route for 10.50.1.0/24 with next hop Internet is more specific than the default route 0.0.0.0/0, so traffic to 10.50.1.20 will be forwarded to the Internet, not the virtual appliance.
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.
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