- A
A managed disk snapshot captured from one reference VM
Why wrong: Snapshots capture disk state, but they do not provide managed multi-region image versioning.
- B
An Azure Compute Gallery image definition with image versions
Compute Gallery supports versioned, replicated images that can be reused and rolled back cleanly.
- C
A single unmanaged VHD stored in a storage account
Why wrong: A VHD is harder to govern and does not provide the same versioning or regional distribution model.
- D
A custom script extension that installs the operating system settings after deployment
Why wrong: Extensions configure software after deployment, but they are not image sources for the VM OS itself.
Question 533 of 1,170
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.
A release team needs to deploy the same hardened Windows image to VMs in three regions. They must keep approved versions, replicate images to each region, and be able to roll back to an earlier approved version without uploading a new VHD. What should they use as the image source?
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
✓
An Azure Compute Gallery image definition with image versions
Azure Compute Gallery (formerly Shared Image Gallery) allows you to store multiple versions of a custom image definition, replicate them across regions, and manage rollbacks by simply changing which image version is referenced during deployment. This meets all requirements: hardened Windows image, multi-region replication, version control, and rollback without uploading a new VHD.
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 disk snapshot captured from one reference VM
Why it's wrong here
Snapshots capture disk state, but they do not provide managed multi-region image versioning.
When this WOULD be correct
When deploying a single VM in the same region from a point-in-time backup, and rollback is not required. For example, creating a test VM from a snapshot of a production VM for troubleshooting.
- ✓
An Azure Compute Gallery image definition with image versions
Why this is correct
Compute Gallery supports versioned, replicated images that can be reused and rolled back cleanly.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
A single unmanaged VHD stored in a storage account
Why it's wrong here
A VHD is harder to govern and does not provide the same versioning or regional distribution model.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question required a simple, cost-effective solution for deploying a single VM in one region without versioning or rollback capabilities, and the team could manually manage VHD copies, then using an unmanaged VHD in a storage account would be acceptable.
- ✗
A custom script extension that installs the operating system settings after deployment
Why it's wrong here
Extensions configure software after deployment, but they are not image sources for the VM OS itself.
When this WOULD be correct
When the question requires applying post-deployment configurations (e.g., installing software, setting registry keys) to an existing VM without modifying the base image, and versioning/rollback of the image itself is not needed.
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.
✓An Azure Compute Gallery image definition with image versionsCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
Compute Gallery supports versioned, replicated images that can be reused and rolled back cleanly.
✗A managed disk snapshot captured from one reference VMWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A managed disk snapshot is tied to a single region and cannot be replicated across multiple regions. It also does not support versioning or rollback to earlier approved versions without uploading a new VHD.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
When deploying a single VM in the same region from a point-in-time backup, and rollback is not required. For example, creating a test VM from a snapshot of a production VM for troubleshooting.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think snapshots provide a reusable image source, but they lack multi-region replication and version management capabilities needed for this scenario.
✗A single unmanaged VHD stored in a storage accountWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A single unmanaged VHD stored in a storage account cannot be versioned or replicated across regions, and rolling back to an earlier version would require uploading a new VHD, failing the requirement to keep approved versions and enable rollback without re-uploading.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question required a simple, cost-effective solution for deploying a single VM in one region without versioning or rollback capabilities, and the team could manually manage VHD copies, then using an unmanaged VHD in a storage account would be acceptable.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think a VHD is a straightforward image source and overlook the need for versioning, replication, and rollback features that Azure Compute Gallery provides.
✗A custom script extension that installs the operating system settings after deploymentWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A custom script extension installs OS settings after deployment but does not provide a hardened Windows image source, versioning, or rollback capability without uploading a new VHD.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
When the question requires applying post-deployment configurations (e.g., installing software, setting registry keys) to an existing VM without modifying the base image, and versioning/rollback of the image itself is not needed.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think custom script extensions can automate OS hardening, but they confuse configuration management with image management, overlooking the need for image versioning and regional replication.
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 managed disk snapshots with images, not realizing that snapshots lack the versioning, replication, and deployment flexibility that Azure Compute Gallery provides for multi-region scenarios.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure Compute Gallery uses image definitions to hold metadata (OS type, publisher, offer, SKU) and image versions that point to managed image snapshots stored as page blobs. Replication is handled asynchronously across regions using Azure's geo-redundant storage backend, and you can set per-region replica counts. Rollback is achieved by updating the deployment template or scale set configuration to reference a previous image version ID, which is immediately available without re-uploading.
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.
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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: An Azure Compute Gallery image definition with image versions — Azure Compute Gallery (formerly Shared Image Gallery) allows you to store multiple versions of a custom image definition, replicate them across regions, and manage rollbacks by simply changing which image version is referenced during deployment. This meets all requirements: hardened Windows image, multi-region replication, version control, and rollback without uploading a new VHD.
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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