- A
A managed image
A managed image captures the OS disk configuration of a prepared VM and can be used as the source for creating new VMs. It is a common way to standardize deployments when the organization has an approved build with hardening already applied. This supports quick and consistent provisioning.
- B
A network interface
Why wrong: A network interface provides network connectivity for a VM, but it does not contain the operating system image. It cannot serve as the source for creating a new VM from a hardened build. It is only one component of the VM configuration.
- C
A resource lock
Why wrong: A resource lock prevents deletion or changes to an existing resource, but it does not provide a deployable operating system image. It is a governance control, not a source for provisioning a new virtual machine.
- D
A public IP address
Why wrong: A public IP address enables external connectivity, but it does not define the VM operating system or any hardened configuration. It is not used as an image source when deploying a new virtual machine.
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.
An administrator needs to deploy a VM quickly using the same hardened operating system image that was approved by the security team. What should the administrator use as the source for the new VM?
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 managed image
A managed image captures a fully configured, hardened OS disk (including installed software and settings) as a reusable snapshot. When deploying a new VM, specifying this managed image as the source ensures the VM boots with the exact, security-approved OS configuration, meeting the requirement for a quick, consistent deployment.
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 managed image
Why this is correct
A managed image captures the OS disk configuration of a prepared VM and can be used as the source for creating new VMs. It is a common way to standardize deployments when the organization has an approved build with hardening already applied. This supports quick and consistent provisioning.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
A network interface
Why it's wrong here
A network interface provides network connectivity for a VM, but it does not contain the operating system image. It cannot serve as the source for creating a new VM from a hardened build. It is only one component of the VM configuration.
- ✗
A resource lock
Why it's wrong here
A resource lock prevents deletion or changes to an existing resource, but it does not provide a deployable operating system image. It is a governance control, not a source for provisioning a new virtual machine.
- ✗
A public IP address
Why it's wrong here
A public IP address enables external connectivity, but it does not define the VM operating system or any hardened configuration. It is not used as an image source when deploying a new virtual machine.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse a managed image with a snapshot or a VHD, but a managed image is the correct source for deploying a new VM with a specific OS configuration, while a snapshot is used for backup or disk cloning, not direct VM creation.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A managed image is stored as a snapshot of a generalized or specialized VM's OS and data disks in Azure Compute Gallery (formerly Shared Image Gallery) or as a standalone resource. When you deploy a VM from a managed image, Azure creates a new managed disk from the image's underlying page blobs, ensuring the VM boots with the exact OS state. In real-world scenarios, security teams maintain hardened images with pre-applied patches, antivirus, and compliance baselines, enabling rapid, repeatable deployments without manual configuration.
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.
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.
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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 managed image — A managed image captures a fully configured, hardened OS disk (including installed software and settings) as a reusable snapshot. When deploying a new VM, specifying this managed image as the source ensures the VM boots with the exact, security-approved OS configuration, meeting the requirement for a quick, consistent deployment.
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 →
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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