- A
AzureActivity | where ResourceProviderValue == "Microsoft.Resources" | where OperationName contains "delete"
Why wrong: This filter is too broad and may miss the exact resource group delete operation while matching unrelated deletes.
- B
AzureActivity | where OperationNameValue == "Microsoft.Resources/subscriptions/resourceGroups/delete" | where ActivityStatusValue == "Succeeded" | where Caller != "rg-cleaner@contoso.com" | summarize Count = count()
This query targets the exact delete operation for resource groups in AzureActivity, limits results to successful deletions, and excludes the automation account caller. A log alert can trigger when the result count is greater than zero. It is the most accurate choice because it filters by both operation identity and exception handling, which prevents false alerts from the known automation runbook.
- C
Heartbeat | where Computer == "rg-cleaner@contoso.com" | where TimeGenerated > ago(1d)
Why wrong: Heartbeat tracks VM availability, not subscription activity log events or resource group deletions.
- D
SecurityEvent | where EventID == 4688 | where Account == "rg-cleaner@contoso.com"
Why wrong: SecurityEvent is a Windows security log table and does not contain Azure subscription delete operations.
AZ-104 Monitor and Maintain Azure Resources Practice Question
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of monitor and maintain azure resources. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
The subscription activity log is being sent to a Log Analytics workspace. An alert must fire when any resource group is deleted, but delete operations initiated by the automation account rg-cleaner@contoso.com must be ignored. Which query should be used in the alert 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
AzureActivity | where OperationNameValue == "Microsoft.Resources/subscriptions/resourceGroups/delete" | where ActivityStatusValue == "Succeeded" | where Caller != "rg-cleaner@contoso.com" | summarize Count = count()
Option B is correct because it filters for the exact operation that deletes a resource group (Microsoft.Resources/subscriptions/resourceGroups/delete), ensures the deletion succeeded, and excludes the caller 'rg-cleaner@contoso.com'. This meets the requirement to fire an alert only when a resource group is deleted by any user except the automation account.
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.
- ✗
AzureActivity | where ResourceProviderValue == "Microsoft.Resources" | where OperationName contains "delete"
Why it's wrong here
This filter is too broad and may miss the exact resource group delete operation while matching unrelated deletes.
When this WOULD be correct
This query would be correct if the requirement was to alert on any delete operation (not just resource group deletion) across all resource providers, and no exclusion of specific callers was needed.
- ✓
AzureActivity | where OperationNameValue == "Microsoft.Resources/subscriptions/resourceGroups/delete" | where ActivityStatusValue == "Succeeded" | where Caller != "rg-cleaner@contoso.com" | summarize Count = count()
Why this is correct
This query targets the exact delete operation for resource groups in AzureActivity, limits results to successful deletions, and excludes the automation account caller. A log alert can trigger when the result count is greater than zero. It is the most accurate choice because it filters by both operation identity and exception handling, which prevents false alerts from the known automation runbook.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Heartbeat | where Computer == "rg-cleaner@contoso.com" | where TimeGenerated > ago(1d)
Why it's wrong here
Heartbeat tracks VM availability, not subscription activity log events or resource group deletions.
When this WOULD be correct
This query would be correct in an alert rule that monitors the health or connectivity of the automation account 'rg-cleaner@contoso.com' by checking if its heartbeat has been received in the last day.
- ✗
SecurityEvent | where EventID == 4688 | where Account == "rg-cleaner@contoso.com"
Why it's wrong here
SecurityEvent is a Windows security log table and does not contain Azure subscription delete operations.
When this WOULD be correct
This query would be correct if the question asked to detect when a specific user (e.g., rg-cleaner) initiates a process on a monitored Windows machine, such as alerting on suspicious command execution by that account.
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.
✓AzureActivity | where OperationNameValue == "Microsoft.Resources/subscriptions/resourceGroups/delete" | where ActivityStatusValue == "Succeeded" | where Caller != "rg-cleaner@contoso.com" | summarize Count = count()Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
This query targets the exact delete operation for resource groups in AzureActivity, limits results to successful deletions, and excludes the automation account caller. A log alert can trigger when the result count is greater than zero. It is the most accurate choice because it filters by both operation identity and exception handling, which prevents false alerts from the known automation runbook.
✗AzureActivity | where ResourceProviderValue == "Microsoft.Resources" | where OperationName contains "delete"Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This query does not filter by the specific resource group delete operation (OperationNameValue) and does not exclude the automation account caller. It would trigger alerts for any delete operation on any resource, including non-resource-group deletes and those initiated by rg-cleaner@contoso.com.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This query would be correct if the requirement was to alert on any delete operation (not just resource group deletion) across all resource providers, and no exclusion of specific callers was needed.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think that checking for 'delete' in the OperationName is sufficient, overlooking the need for precise operation filtering and caller exclusion. The broad match seems easier and appears to cover the requirement.
✗Heartbeat | where Computer == "rg-cleaner@contoso.com" | where TimeGenerated > ago(1d)Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The Heartbeat table contains agent health data, not resource group deletion events. The query checks if the automation account computer exists, not if a resource group was deleted.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This query would be correct in an alert rule that monitors the health or connectivity of the automation account 'rg-cleaner@contoso.com' by checking if its heartbeat has been received in the last day.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may mistakenly think the Heartbeat table logs user actions or that the automation account name is a computer name, leading them to believe this query can filter out its operations.
✗SecurityEvent | where EventID == 4688 | where Account == "rg-cleaner@contoso.com"Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
SecurityEvent tracks Windows security events (like process creation), not Azure resource deletions. The question requires monitoring Azure subscription activity logs for resource group deletions, which SecurityEvent does not capture.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This query would be correct if the question asked to detect when a specific user (e.g., rg-cleaner) initiates a process on a monitored Windows machine, such as alerting on suspicious command execution by that account.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse Azure activity logging with Windows security auditing, or incorrectly assume that user account information from SecurityEvent can be used to filter Azure resource operations.
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 choose Option A because they see 'delete' in the operation name, but they fail to realize that a broad 'contains' filter will match many unrelated delete operations and does not exclude the automation account's caller identity.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The AzureActivity table logs all control-plane operations in Azure, with OperationNameValue containing the exact ARM resource provider operation string (e.g., Microsoft.Resources/subscriptions/resourceGroups/delete). The Caller field captures the user, service principal, or managed identity that initiated the operation. Using 'summarize Count = count()' in the alert query ensures the alert fires once per evaluation window even if multiple deletions occur, preventing alert fatigue.
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
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-104 question test?
Monitor and Maintain Azure Resources — This question tests Monitor and Maintain Azure Resources — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: AzureActivity | where OperationNameValue == "Microsoft.Resources/subscriptions/resourceGroups/delete" | where ActivityStatusValue == "Succeeded" | where Caller != "rg-cleaner@contoso.com" | summarize Count = count() — Option B is correct because it filters for the exact operation that deletes a resource group (Microsoft.Resources/subscriptions/resourceGroups/delete), ensures the deletion succeeded, and excludes the caller 'rg-cleaner@contoso.com'. This meets the requirement to fire an alert only when a resource group is deleted by any user except the automation account.
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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