Quick Answer
The answer is Never. This restart policy is the correct choice for a nightly batch job in Azure Container Instances because it ensures the container group runs exactly once and does not restart automatically after it exits, regardless of the exit code. The 'Never' policy is designed for one-shot tasks where the container should complete its work and then stop permanently, making it ideal for batch processing jobs that must not re-run. On the AZ-104 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how restart policies map to workload types—specifically, that 'OnFailure' restarts only on non-zero exit codes, while 'Always' restarts regardless, and 'Never' is the only option that guarantees no automatic restarts after successful completion. A common trap is confusing 'OnFailure' with 'Never' for batch jobs that succeed; remember that 'OnFailure' still restarts if the job fails, which is not the same as a single-run requirement. Memory tip: think of a "one-and-done" batch job—Never means never again.
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of deploy and manage azure compute. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
A container group runs a nightly processing job in Azure Container Instances. The job should exit after completing successfully and should not restart automatically. Which restart policy should you configure?
Always
Why wrong: Always restarts the container whenever it exits, which is wrong for a one-time batch job.
Never
Never lets the container exit and stay stopped, which matches a completed batch workload.
OnFailure
Why wrong: OnFailure can restart after errors, but the scenario asks for no automatic restart at all.
Automatic
Why wrong: Automatic is not an Azure Container Instances restart policy, so it is not a valid selection.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Never
The 'Never' restart policy ensures that the container group runs once and does not restart after it exits, regardless of the exit code. This is ideal for a nightly batch job that should complete and then stop permanently without automatic restarts.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Always
Why it's wrong here
Always restarts the container whenever it exits, which is wrong for a one-time batch job.
Never
Why this is correct
Never lets the container exit and stay stopped, which matches a completed batch workload.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
OnFailure
Why it's wrong here
OnFailure can restart after errors, but the scenario asks for no automatic restart at all.
Automatic
Why it's wrong here
Automatic is not an Azure Container Instances restart policy, so it is not a valid selection.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates may confuse 'OnFailure' with 'Never' for successful jobs, not realizing that 'OnFailure' still restarts on failure, while the question requires no restart at all after successful completion.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
OnFailure can restart after errors, but the scenario asks for no automatic restart at all.
Detailed technical explanation
Azure Container Instances supports three restart policies: Always (default), Never, and OnFailure. The restart policy is evaluated based on the container group's exit code and determines whether the orchestrator re-creates the container after it stops. For batch jobs that must run exactly once, 'Never' is the correct choice to avoid unintended re-execution.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
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FAQ
Deploy and Manage Azure Compute — This question tests Deploy and Manage Azure Compute — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Never — The 'Never' restart policy ensures that the container group runs once and does not restart after it exits, regardless of the exit code. This is ideal for a nightly batch job that should complete and then stop permanently without automatic restarts.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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.
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