The answer is to create a custom role that includes only the required VM read and restart actions. This is correct because Azure custom roles allow you to define granular VM permissions by specifying exact actions in the `Actions` field of the role definition, such as `Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines/read` for reading properties and `Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines/restart/action` for restarting, thereby granting least-privilege access without broader permissions like write or delete. On the AZ-104 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) and the distinction between built-in roles and custom roles; a common trap is choosing the Contributor role, which includes write and delete actions, or the Virtual Machine Contributor role, which is still too broad. To remember, think “custom cuts clutter”—custom roles let you trim permissions down to only what’s needed, unlike built-in roles that bundle extra actions.
AZ-104 Manage Azure Identities and Governance Practice Question
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of manage azure identities and governance. 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
Current access review:
- User: Alex
- Existing role: Virtual Machine Contributor
- Scope: RG-Training
- Requirement: Alex must read VM properties and restart only VM-Training01.
- Alex must not delete the VM, manage disks, or change networking settings.
Based on the exhibit, what should the administrator create to let Alex restart one VM and read its properties without giving broader permissions?
Current access review:
- User: Alex
- Existing role: Virtual Machine Contributor
- Scope: RG-Training
- Requirement: Alex must read VM properties and restart only VM-Training01.
- Alex must not delete the VM, manage disks, or change networking settings.
A
Create a custom role that includes only the required VM read and restart actions.
A custom role lets the administrator define only the actions needed for the task, such as reading VM properties and restarting the VM. That is the cleanest least-privilege solution when built-in roles are broader than necessary.
B
Create an Azure Policy assignment that allows restart operations on the VM.
Why wrong: Azure Policy is used for governance and compliance, not for granting user permissions to operate a VM.
C
Apply a CanNotDelete lock to the VM resource.
Why wrong: A lock can block deletion, but it does not grant the restart and read permissions Alex needs.
D
Move the VM to a management group so the permissions become more specific.
Why wrong: Management groups organize subscriptions; they do not directly define fine-grained permissions for one VM.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create a custom role that includes only the required VM read and restart actions.
Option A is correct because Azure custom roles allow you to define granular permissions by specifying only the required actions in the `Actions` field of the role definition. For Alex to restart a VM (`Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines/restart/action`) and read its properties (`Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines/read`), a custom role with exactly these two actions provides the least-privilege access without granting broader permissions like VM write or delete.
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.
✓
Create a custom role that includes only the required VM read and restart actions.
Why this is correct
A custom role lets the administrator define only the actions needed for the task, such as reading VM properties and restarting the VM. That is the cleanest least-privilege solution when built-in roles are broader than necessary.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Create an Azure Policy assignment that allows restart operations on the VM.
Why it's wrong here
Azure Policy is used for governance and compliance, not for granting user permissions to operate a VM.
✗
Apply a CanNotDelete lock to the VM resource.
Why it's wrong here
A lock can block deletion, but it does not grant the restart and read permissions Alex needs.
✗
Move the VM to a management group so the permissions become more specific.
Why it's wrong here
Management groups organize subscriptions; they do not directly define fine-grained permissions for one VM.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse Azure Policy (which enforces configurations) with RBAC (which controls permissions), or they mistakenly think locks or management groups can grant specific actions like restart.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Azure RBAC evaluates permissions by checking the effective role assignments at the resource, resource group, subscription, or management group scope. A custom role definition is stored as a JSON document with `Actions`, `NotActions`, `DataActions`, and `AssignableScopes`. The `Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines/restart/action` is a control-plane action that requires the `Microsoft.Compute/locations/vmSizes/read` permission implicitly, but the custom role must explicitly include it if not inherited. In real-world scenarios, custom roles are essential for scenarios like giving a helpdesk user the ability to restart VMs without allowing them to resize or delete them.
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: Create a custom role that includes only the required VM read and restart actions. — Option A is correct because Azure custom roles allow you to define granular permissions by specifying only the required actions in the `Actions` field of the role definition. For Alex to restart a VM (`Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines/restart/action`) and read its properties (`Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines/read`), a custom role with exactly these two actions provides the least-privilege access without granting broader permissions like VM write or delete.
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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