The answer is to add an inbound NSG rule allowing TCP port 443. This is correct because the VM already has a public IP and the web service is running, so the issue is almost certainly that a Network Security Group (NSG) is blocking the traffic at the subnet or NIC level. An NSG acts as a virtual firewall, and by default it denies all inbound internet traffic; you must explicitly create an allow inbound HTTPS NSG rule to permit connections on port 443 from any source. On the AZ-104 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of NSG rule priority and the difference between subnet-level and NIC-level association—a common trap is to assume you need to add a public IP or reconfigure the web server, but the least administrative effort is simply adding the rule. Remember the memory tip: “Public IP plus running service equals check the NSG filter.”
AZ-104 Implement and Manage Virtual Networking Practice Question
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of implement and manage virtual networking. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
VM-Web01 is connected to Subnet-Web in VNet-Prod. Users on the internet cannot access the website hosted on TCP port 443. You confirm that VM-Web01 has a public IP address and the web service is running. You need to allow inbound HTTPS traffic with the least administrative effort. What should you do?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "least"
Why it matters: You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Add an inbound NSG rule allowing TCP 443.
The VM has a public IP and the web service is running, but internet users cannot access it. The most common reason is that the Network Security Group (NSG) associated with the subnet or NIC is blocking inbound traffic. Adding an inbound NSG rule to allow TCP 443 is the least administrative effort to permit HTTPS traffic from the internet.
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.
✓
Add an inbound NSG rule allowing TCP 443.
Why this is correct
This allows HTTPS traffic to reach the VM or subnet as required.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Create a user-defined route to the internet.
Why it's wrong here
Routing is not the issue when the VM already has a public IP and the service is running.
✗
Configure VNet peering with another virtual network.
Why it's wrong here
Peering does not solve inbound internet access to the VM.
✗
Create a private endpoint for VM-Web01.
Why it's wrong here
Private endpoints are used for private access to Azure services, not for publishing a VM website to the internet.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think a public IP alone is sufficient for internet access, forgetting that NSGs act as a stateful firewall that blocks all inbound traffic by default unless explicitly allowed.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
By default, NSGs have implicit deny rules that block all inbound internet traffic unless an explicit allow rule is created. The NSG rule must have priority lower than 65000, source set to 'Internet' or 'Any', destination port 443, protocol TCP, and action 'Allow'. This rule can be applied at the subnet or NIC level; applying at the subnet level is often simpler for multiple VMs.
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.
Implement and Manage Virtual Networking — This question tests Implement and Manage Virtual Networking — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Add an inbound NSG rule allowing TCP 443. — The VM has a public IP and the web service is running, but internet users cannot access it. The most common reason is that the Network Security Group (NSG) associated with the subnet or NIC is blocking inbound traffic. Adding an inbound NSG rule to allow TCP 443 is the least administrative effort to permit HTTPS traffic from the internet.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "least". You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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