- A
A Custom Script Extension attached to the VM during provisioning.
The Custom Script Extension is designed to run post-provisioning commands, download files, and perform installation tasks automatically. It fits a deployment workflow where the VM must be configured without manual logon after creation.
- B
Azure Bastion to connect through the browser and complete setup interactively.
Why wrong: Azure Bastion provides secure remote access, but it still relies on an administrator manually connecting to finish the setup. That does not meet the requirement for automated provisioning.
- C
A managed identity assigned to the VM without any extensions.
Why wrong: A managed identity can help the VM access Azure resources without secrets, but it does not by itself install software or run the bootstrap script. A separate mechanism is still needed for configuration tasks.
- D
An availability set so the VM comes online faster during provisioning.
Why wrong: An availability set affects placement for resilience, not application configuration. It does not install software, copy files, or run scripts during deployment.
AZ-104 Deploy and Manage Azure Compute Practice Question
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 new Windows VM must be deployed with an application installed, a configuration file copied from a storage account, and a bootstrap script run automatically after the operating system is provisioned. The operations team does not want to log in manually after deployment. What should they use?
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
A Custom Script Extension attached to the VM during provisioning.
The Custom Script Extension (CSE) is the correct choice because it allows you to run a PowerShell or Bash script automatically after the VM is provisioned. This script can install applications, download configuration files from Azure Storage using a managed identity or SAS token, and execute bootstrap commands—all without any manual login. CSE is the standard Azure mechanism for post-deployment configuration automation on both Windows and Linux VMs.
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.
- ✓
A Custom Script Extension attached to the VM during provisioning.
Why this is correct
The Custom Script Extension is designed to run post-provisioning commands, download files, and perform installation tasks automatically. It fits a deployment workflow where the VM must be configured without manual logon after creation.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Azure Bastion to connect through the browser and complete setup interactively.
Why it's wrong here
Azure Bastion provides secure remote access, but it still relies on an administrator manually connecting to finish the setup. That does not meet the requirement for automated provisioning.
When this WOULD be correct
A question that requires secure, browser-based remote access to a VM without exposing a public IP, and where interactive configuration is acceptable (e.g., troubleshooting or one-time setup).
- ✗
A managed identity assigned to the VM without any extensions.
Why it's wrong here
A managed identity can help the VM access Azure resources without secrets, but it does not by itself install software or run the bootstrap script. A separate mechanism is still needed for configuration tasks.
When this WOULD be correct
A managed identity would be correct if the question asked for a secure way to authenticate a VM to Azure resources (e.g., accessing a storage account) without storing credentials, and the deployment tasks were handled separately by another mechanism like Azure Automation or a configuration management tool.
- ✗
An availability set so the VM comes online faster during provisioning.
Why it's wrong here
An availability set affects placement for resilience, not application configuration. It does not install software, copy files, or run scripts during deployment.
When this WOULD be correct
A question asks: 'You need to ensure that two VMs hosting a web application are not updated simultaneously during planned maintenance. What should you use?' In that case, an availability set would be correct.
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.
✓A Custom Script Extension attached to the VM during provisioning.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
The Custom Script Extension is designed to run post-provisioning commands, download files, and perform installation tasks automatically. It fits a deployment workflow where the VM must be configured without manual logon after creation.
✗Azure Bastion to connect through the browser and complete setup interactively.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Azure Bastion provides secure RDP/SSH access to VMs via the browser, but it requires manual login and interactive setup, which contradicts the requirement to avoid manual intervention after provisioning.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question that requires secure, browser-based remote access to a VM without exposing a public IP, and where interactive configuration is acceptable (e.g., troubleshooting or one-time setup).
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think Bastion can automate setup because it's a management tool, or they confuse it with extensions that run scripts, not realizing Bastion only facilitates interactive sessions.
✗A managed identity assigned to the VM without any extensions.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A managed identity alone provides authentication to Azure resources but does not execute scripts or install applications. The question requires automated deployment of an application, copying a configuration file, and running a bootstrap script, which a managed identity cannot perform without an extension like Custom Script Extension.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A managed identity would be correct if the question asked for a secure way to authenticate a VM to Azure resources (e.g., accessing a storage account) without storing credentials, and the deployment tasks were handled separately by another mechanism like Azure Automation or a configuration management tool.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse managed identity with automation capabilities, thinking it can run scripts or install software, when it only provides identity-based access to Azure services.
✗An availability set so the VM comes online faster during provisioning.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
An availability set is used for high availability by distributing VMs across fault and update domains, not for automating software installation or configuration after provisioning.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question asks: 'You need to ensure that two VMs hosting a web application are not updated simultaneously during planned maintenance. What should you use?' In that case, an availability set would be correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse availability sets with automation features, thinking they help speed up provisioning or include built-in scripting capabilities.
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?”
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Azure Bastion (a connectivity tool) with an automation tool, or they assume a managed identity alone can run scripts, when in fact it only provides authentication and must be paired with an extension or custom code to perform actions.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, the Custom Script Extension downloads and executes a script file (specified via Azure Resource Manager or PowerShell) on the VM's guest OS. For Windows, it uses the Windows Azure Guest Agent to run the script as the SYSTEM account, ensuring it has full local privileges. A common real-world scenario is using CSE to join a VM to a domain, install monitoring agents, and copy configuration files from a storage account using a SAS token embedded in the script—all in a single automated deployment pipeline.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Deploy and Manage Azure Compute — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Deploy and Manage Azure Compute practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All AZ-104 questions
1,170 questions across all exam domains
- →
AZ-104 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
AZ-104 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related AZ-104 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Manage Azure Identities and Governance practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to Manage Azure Identities and Governance.
Implement and Manage Storage practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to Implement and Manage Storage.
Deploy and Manage Azure Compute practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to Deploy and Manage Azure Compute.
Implement and Manage Virtual Networking practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to Implement and Manage Virtual Networking.
Monitor and Maintain Azure Resources practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to Monitor and Maintain Azure Resources.
AZ-104 Azure RBAC practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to AZ-104 Azure RBAC.
AZ-104 storage account practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to AZ-104 storage account.
AZ-104 virtual network practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to AZ-104 virtual network.
AZ-104 NSG practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to AZ-104 NSG.
AZ-104 Azure Monitor practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to AZ-104 Azure Monitor.
AZ-104 backup practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to AZ-104 backup.
AZ-104 managed identity practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to AZ-104 managed identity.
Practice this exam
Start a free AZ-104 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-104 question test?
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: A Custom Script Extension attached to the VM during provisioning. — The Custom Script Extension (CSE) is the correct choice because it allows you to run a PowerShell or Bash script automatically after the VM is provisioned. This script can install applications, download configuration files from Azure Storage using a managed identity or SAS token, and execute bootstrap commands—all without any manual login. CSE is the standard Azure mechanism for post-deployment configuration automation on both Windows and Linux VMs.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Keep practising
More AZ-104 practice questions
- A storage automation service principal must upload, read, and delete blob data in one container by using Microsoft Entra…
- A subnet contains several application servers. You need to allow inbound TCP 3389 only from a management subnet named Su…
- A subscription admin wants to investigate who changed a resource and also review the platform-generated events for that…
- Based on the exhibit, which Azure feature should the administrator use to track this kind of platform-wide service issue…
- An administrator wants a script running on an Azure VM to create a resource in Azure without storing any passwords or cl…
- A PowerShell script runs on an Azure VM every night and uses Azure CLI commands to create tags and VM resources in anoth…
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.