- A
Use a metric alert for the VM CPU metric.
CPU is already exposed as a platform metric, so a metric alert avoids unnecessary log ingestion.
- B
Install Azure Monitor Agent and collect only the disk-free-space counter by using a minimal data collection rule.
A narrow data collection rule limits guest telemetry to just the performance data needed for disk monitoring.
- C
Enable full VM Insights for every guest performance counter.
Why wrong: Full VM Insights adds more telemetry than needed and increases ingestion cost for a small monitoring requirement.
- D
Stream all syslog and event logs to a workspace before creating any alert.
Why wrong: Collecting all logs is broader than necessary and does not align with the goal of minimizing ingestion cost.
- E
Rely on Azure Resource Health to measure guest OS disk free space.
Why wrong: Resource Health reports Azure platform status, not guest operating system disk usage inside the virtual machine.
Quick Answer
The answer is to use metric alerts for CPU and install Azure Monitor Agent with a minimal data collection rule for disk free space. This is correct because Azure automatically collects platform metrics like CPU percentage for all VMs at no additional ingestion cost, so you can set metric alerts without any agent or custom data collection rule. For disk free space, which is a guest OS metric, you need the Azure Monitor Agent, but you minimize cost by creating a data collection rule that collects only the specific disk free space counter, avoiding unnecessary log ingestion. On the AZ-104 exam, this tests your understanding of the difference between platform metrics (free, automatic) and guest OS metrics (require agent, incur ingestion costs), and a common trap is assuming both metrics need the same agent-based approach. Remember the memory tip: “CPU is free, disk costs a fee—collect only what you need to see.”
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.
A team wants to monitor average CPU on a small set of Linux VMs and OS disk free space, but they want the lowest telemetry ingestion cost possible. Which two actions should they take? Select two.
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
Use a metric alert for the VM CPU metric.
Option A is correct because metric alerts for VM CPU are based on platform metrics collected automatically by Azure, incurring no additional ingestion cost. This allows monitoring average CPU without any agent or data collection rule, making it the lowest-cost approach for that metric.
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.
- ✓
Use a metric alert for the VM CPU metric.
Why this is correct
CPU is already exposed as a platform metric, so a metric alert avoids unnecessary log ingestion.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Install Azure Monitor Agent and collect only the disk-free-space counter by using a minimal data collection rule.
Why this is correct
A narrow data collection rule limits guest telemetry to just the performance data needed for disk monitoring.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Enable full VM Insights for every guest performance counter.
Why it's wrong here
Full VM Insights adds more telemetry than needed and increases ingestion cost for a small monitoring requirement.
- ✗
Stream all syslog and event logs to a workspace before creating any alert.
Why it's wrong here
Collecting all logs is broader than necessary and does not align with the goal of minimizing ingestion cost.
- ✗
Rely on Azure Resource Health to measure guest OS disk free space.
Why it's wrong here
Resource Health reports Azure platform status, not guest operating system disk usage inside the virtual machine.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume all monitoring requires agents and log ingestion, overlooking that platform metrics (like CPU) are free and agentless, while guest OS metrics (like disk space) can be collected with minimal cost by restricting the DCR to only the needed counter.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure Monitor platform metrics for VMs (e.g., CPU percentage) are stored in the Azure Monitor metrics database with a 93-day retention at no cost, and metric alerts evaluate these metrics without any data ingestion charges. In contrast, guest OS counters like disk free space require the Azure Monitor Agent (AMA) and a Data Collection Rule (DCR) to send data to Log Analytics, where ingestion costs apply per GB. By collecting only the single required counter via a minimal DCR, you minimize the billable data volume.
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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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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: Use a metric alert for the VM CPU metric. — Option A is correct because metric alerts for VM CPU are based on platform metrics collected automatically by Azure, incurring no additional ingestion cost. This allows monitoring average CPU without any agent or data collection rule, making it the lowest-cost approach for that metric.
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
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This AZ-104 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the AZ-104 exam.
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