The answer is to use a Bicep template stored in source control. This approach is correct because Bicep is a domain-specific language (DSL) that allows you to declare Azure resources in a concise, readable syntax while ensuring idempotent deployments—meaning you can run the same template repeatedly to produce 20 identical VMs without drift. On the AZ-104 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) principles and the specific advantages of Bicep over ARM templates or PowerShell scripts, which are less readable or harder to maintain. A common trap is choosing ARM templates due to familiarity, but Bicep’s cleaner syntax and native source control integration make it the superior choice for repeatable, sprint-based deployments. Remember the mnemonic: “Bicep Brings Readable, Repeatable Code”—if the goal is clarity and consistency from source control, Bicep is the direct path.
AZ-104 Deploy and Manage Azure Compute Practice Question
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of deploy and manage azure compute. 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.
An operations team must deploy 20 identical application VMs every sprint from source control and wants the deployment definition to be readable and repeatable. Which approach should they use?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use a Bicep template stored in source control
B is correct because Bicep is a domain-specific language (DSL) for deploying Azure resources declaratively. Storing a Bicep template in source control ensures the deployment definition is readable (using concise syntax) and repeatable (via idempotent deployments), meeting the team's requirement for 20 identical VMs every sprint.
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.
✗
Manually create each VM in the Azure portal
Why it's wrong here
Manual portal deployment is not repeatable, is harder to review, and increases configuration drift.
✓
Use a Bicep template stored in source control
Why this is correct
Bicep is infrastructure as code, so the VM deployment can be versioned, reviewed, and deployed repeatedly.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Capture a screenshot of the portal settings for future reference
Why it's wrong here
A screenshot documents settings but cannot deploy infrastructure or enforce consistency across runs.
✗
Use Azure Policy to create the VMs automatically
Why it's wrong here
Azure Policy can enforce settings, but it is not a deployment language for creating the VM topology.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse Azure Policy with a deployment tool, but Azure Policy only audits or enforces rules (e.g., requiring a specific tag) and cannot provision resources like VMs, whereas Bicep is designed specifically for declarative infrastructure deployment.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Bicep templates are transpiled into ARM JSON templates, which Azure Resource Manager uses to orchestrate resource creation. Under the hood, Bicep supports modules, loops (e.g., `for` loops to create 20 VMs), and conditional deployment, ensuring idempotency—running the same template multiple times produces the same state. In a real-world sprint scenario, the team can parameterize VM size, admin credentials, and network settings, then use Azure DevOps pipelines to deploy the Bicep file from source control, enabling CI/CD for infrastructure.
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.
Deploy and Manage Azure Compute — This question tests Deploy and Manage Azure Compute — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use a Bicep template stored in source control — B is correct because Bicep is a domain-specific language (DSL) for deploying Azure resources declaratively. Storing a Bicep template in source control ensures the deployment definition is readable (using concise syntax) and repeatable (via idempotent deployments), meeting the team's requirement for 20 identical VMs every sprint.
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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Question Discussion
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