- 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.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is the query that filters for the exact operation name Microsoft.Resources/subscriptions/resourceGroups/delete, checks for a succeeded status, and excludes the caller rg-cleaner@contoso.com. This works because the AzureActivity table logs every control-plane operation, and by isolating the specific delete operation and its success state, you ensure the alert only triggers on completed deletions. The key technical concept here is using the Caller property to exclude a specific service principal or user, which is a common pattern for alert resource group deletion exclude automation account scenarios on the AZ-104 exam. A frequent trap is forgetting to filter on ActivityStatusValue, which would cause the alert to fire on failed or in-progress deletes as well. On the exam, remember that the OperationNameValue must be the full resource provider path, not a shortened name. Memory tip: think "OP-Caller" — you need the Operation, the status, and the Caller exclusion to get the alert right.
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.
- ✓
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.
- ✗
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.
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 →
Same concept, more angles
2 more ways this is tested on AZ-104
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Based on the exhibit, a subscription activity log is already being sent to Log Analytics. The operations team wants an alert that fires when any resource group is deleted, but it should ignore deletions performed by a known automation account. Which approach should the administrator use?
medium- A.Create a metric alert on CPU percentage for the subscription.
- ✓ B.Create a log alert using the AzureActivity table and filter out the automation caller.
- C.Enable a diagnostic setting on the resource group object.
- D.Apply an Azure Policy deny assignment to all deletions.
Why B: Option B is correct because the AzureActivity table in Log Analytics captures all control-plane operations, including resource group deletions. By creating a log alert query that filters on OperationNameValue='MICROSOFT.RESOURCES/SUBSCRIPTIONS/RESOURCEGROUPS/DELETE' and excludes Caller where it matches the automation account's service principal or object ID, the alert triggers only for non-automation deletions. This approach leverages the existing activity log stream to Log Analytics without additional configuration.
Variation 2. The team already exports subscription activity logs to a Log Analytics workspace and wants an alert that can ignore delete operations performed by a known automation account. What should they create?
medium- A.An activity log alert at the subscription scope
- ✓ B.A scheduled query alert in Log Analytics using the AzureActivity table
- C.A metric alert on the subscription
- D.A diagnostic setting on the resource group
Why B: Option B is correct because a scheduled query alert in Log Analytics can query the AzureActivity table to filter out delete operations performed by a specific automation account. This allows the alert to ignore those operations by excluding them in the query logic, which is not possible with activity log alerts that lack such granular filtering.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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