- A
Application Security Groups for the frontend and backend tiers.
Application Security Groups let you reference groups of VMs in NSG rules instead of individual IP addresses. That is ideal when backend IPs change often because the rule continues to target the backend application tier rather than a specific address. The administrator can place the frontend VMs in one ASG and the backend VMs in another, then allow TCP 8443 between those groups without constantly editing the NSG.
- B
A service endpoint on the backend subnet.
Why wrong: Service endpoints are for securing access to supported PaaS services, not for grouping VMs in NSG rules.
- C
A route table with a next hop of Virtual network gateway.
Why wrong: Route tables control forwarding, but they do not simplify security rules for changing VM IP addresses.
- D
A private endpoint for each backend VM.
Why wrong: Private endpoints are used for private access to supported services, not for direct VM-to-VM tier grouping.
Quick Answer
The answer is to use Application Security Groups (ASGs) in the NSG rule. ASGs allow you to logically group VMs by function—such as frontend and backend tiers—and reference those groups directly as source and destination in a network security group rule, rather than using static private IP addresses. Because the backend VMs are rebuilt frequently and their private IPs change, referencing the backend ASG as the destination for TCP 8443 means the rule remains valid regardless of IP changes, as long as each VM is assigned to the correct ASG. On the AZ-104 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how ASGs decouple network security from IP address management; a common trap is to mistakenly choose a load balancer or a service endpoint, which do not solve dynamic IP updates for direct VM-to-VM traffic. Remember the memory tip: “ASG saves the IP hassle—group the role, not the address.”
AZ-104 Implement and Manage Virtual Networking Practice Question
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of implement and manage virtual networking. 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. A key principle to apply: aSGs allow grouping VMs by application tier for NSG rules.. 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.
Frontend VMs in one subnet must reach backend VMs on TCP 8443. The backend VMs are rebuilt frequently, so their private IP addresses change often. The administrator wants to avoid updating NSG rules every time the backend IPs change. What should be used in the NSG rule?
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
Application Security Groups for the frontend and backend tiers.
Application Security Groups (ASGs) allow you to group VMs logically by function (e.g., frontend, backend) and reference those groups in NSG rules. Since the backend VMs are rebuilt frequently and their private IPs change, using ASGs in the NSG rule (source = frontend ASG, destination = backend ASG, port = 8443) eliminates the need to update IP addresses manually. The NSG rule remains valid as long as the VMs are assigned to the correct ASG, regardless of IP changes.
Key principle: ASGs allow grouping VMs by application tier for NSG rules.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Application Security Groups for the frontend and backend tiers.
Why this is correct
Application Security Groups let you reference groups of VMs in NSG rules instead of individual IP addresses. That is ideal when backend IPs change often because the rule continues to target the backend application tier rather than a specific address. The administrator can place the frontend VMs in one ASG and the backend VMs in another, then allow TCP 8443 between those groups without constantly editing the NSG.
Related concept
ASGs allow grouping VMs by application tier for NSG rules.
- ✗
A service endpoint on the backend subnet.
Why it's wrong here
Service endpoints are for securing access to supported PaaS services, not for grouping VMs in NSG rules.
- ✗
A route table with a next hop of Virtual network gateway.
Why it's wrong here
Route tables control forwarding, but they do not simplify security rules for changing VM IP addresses.
- ✗
A private endpoint for each backend VM.
Why it's wrong here
Private endpoints are used for private access to supported services, not for direct VM-to-VM tier grouping.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Application Security Groups with Network Security Groups themselves, or think that service endpoints or private endpoints are designed for VM-to-VM communication, when in fact they are for securing access to Azure PaaS services.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, ASGs are evaluated as part of the NSG's effective security rules; when a VM is added to an ASG, the NSG automatically translates the ASG reference to the VM's current private IPs at runtime. This is especially useful in auto-scaling scenarios or blue/green deployments where VMs are frequently replaced. A common real-world use case is a web farm where frontend VMs must communicate with a dynamic backend pool; ASGs keep NSG rules static while the underlying IPs change.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- ASGs allow grouping VMs by application tier for NSG rules.
- NSG rules can reference ASGs as source or destination.
- VMs can belong to multiple Application Security Groups.
- ASGs eliminate the need to update NSG rules for changing VM IP addresses.
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
ASGs allow grouping VMs by application tier for NSG rules.
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.
Review aSGs allow grouping VMs by application tier for NSG rules., then practise related AZ-104 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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Implement and Manage Virtual Networking — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-104 question test?
Implement and Manage Virtual Networking — This question tests Implement and Manage Virtual Networking — ASGs allow grouping VMs by application tier for NSG rules..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Application Security Groups for the frontend and backend tiers. — Application Security Groups (ASGs) allow you to group VMs logically by function (e.g., frontend, backend) and reference those groups in NSG rules. Since the backend VMs are rebuilt frequently and their private IPs change, using ASGs in the NSG rule (source = frontend ASG, destination = backend ASG, port = 8443) eliminates the need to update IP addresses manually. The NSG rule remains valid as long as the VMs are assigned to the correct ASG, regardless of IP changes.
What should I do if I get this AZ-104 question wrong?
Review aSGs allow grouping VMs by application tier for NSG rules., then practise related AZ-104 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
ASGs allow grouping VMs by application tier for NSG rules.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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