AZ-104 Deploy and Manage Azure Compute Practice Question
Before changing a production VM's data disk, you want a point-in-time copy that can be restored later without affecting the VM. What should you create?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently confuse a snapshot with a backup vault or recovery services vault, but the question specifically asks for a point-in-time copy that does not affect the running VM, and only a snapshot meets that requirement without requiring a backup policy or agent.
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
✓
Snapshot
A snapshot captures a point-in-time, read-only copy of a managed or unmanaged disk. It can be used to create a new disk or restore the original disk without affecting the running VM, making it the correct choice for a non-disruptive backup before a data disk change.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Snapshot
Why this is correct
A snapshot of a managed disk captures the disk state at a specific point in time, storing only the changes (incremental) or a full copy depending on type. It can be used to create a new managed disk or restore the original disk, making it ideal before modifications like resizing or changing a data disk.
- ✗
Availability set
Why it's wrong here
An availability set is a logical grouping of VMs that spreads workloads across fault domains and update domains to increase availability during platform maintenance or failures. It does not capture or preserve the contents of a data disk; it only ensures that some VMs remain available, so it is irrelevant for creating a point-in-time copy.
When this WOULD be correct
When the question asks for a solution to ensure high availability of a multi-VM application during planned or unplanned maintenance events, an availability set is the correct answer.
- ✗
Azure Policy assignment
Why it's wrong here
Azure Policy assignment does not create any copy of disk contents; it evaluates and enforces compliance rules on resources, such as requiring specific SKUs or tags. While it can trigger remediation tasks, it neither snapshots nor backs up data, so it cannot serve as a recovery point for a VM's data disk.
When this WOULD be correct
An exam question might ask: 'You need to ensure that all VMs in a subscription are deployed only in specific regions. What should you create?' In that case, an Azure Policy assignment with a location constraint would be the correct answer.
- ✗
Virtual network peering
Why it's wrong here
Virtual network peering connects two Azure virtual networks to route traffic between them with low latency, but it operates at the network layer and has no involvement with disk I/O or data persistence. It cannot create a point-in-time copy of a disk; it merely enables resource communication across networks, making it useless for pre-change disk backup.
When this WOULD be correct
You need to enable communication between two virtual networks in different regions with low latency and no intermediate hops. A question might ask: 'You have VNets in two Azure regions and need to connect them securely with Microsoft backbone. What should you create?'
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.
✓SnapshotCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
A snapshot of a managed disk captures the disk state at a specific point in time, storing only the changes (incremental) or a full copy depending on type. It can be used to create a new managed disk or restore the original disk, making it ideal before modifications like resizing or changing a data disk.
✗Availability setWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
An availability set is a logical grouping of VMs to ensure high availability during platform updates and failures; it does not provide point-in-time copies of disks.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
When the question asks for a solution to ensure high availability of a multi-VM application during planned or unplanned maintenance events, an availability set is the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse 'availability' with 'backup' or think that an availability set provides data redundancy, but it only protects against infrastructure failures, not data loss.
✗Azure Policy assignmentWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Azure Policy assignment enforces compliance rules on resources, but it does not create a point-in-time copy of a disk. It cannot be used to restore a VM's data disk to a previous state.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
An exam question might ask: 'You need to ensure that all VMs in a subscription are deployed only in specific regions. What should you create?' In that case, an Azure Policy assignment with a location constraint would be the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse policy with backup or snapshot mechanisms, thinking that a policy can capture a state of resources, or they may overthink the question and assume a governance tool is needed before making changes.
✗Virtual network peeringWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Virtual network peering connects two virtual networks, enabling traffic between them. It does not create a point-in-time copy of a data disk or provide any backup/restore capability for VM disks.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
You need to enable communication between two virtual networks in different regions with low latency and no intermediate hops. A question might ask: 'You have VNets in two Azure regions and need to connect them securely with Microsoft backbone. What should you create?'
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse 'peering' with 'copying' or think that network-level isolation is needed before taking a snapshot, but the question specifically asks for a point-in-time copy, not a network configuration.
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?”
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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.