- A
Use Azure Monitor platform metrics for CPU instead of collecting guest logs
Platform metrics are built in and usually cheaper than sending extra guest log data.
- B
Collect only the required diagnostic categories and performance counters
Limiting collection to needed telemetry reduces ingestion volume and lowers monitoring cost.
- C
Collect all Windows event logs from every VM
Why wrong: Collecting everything increases ingestion volume and is not cost-aware for simple CPU monitoring.
- D
Create a separate workspace for each VM
Why wrong: Multiple workspaces add management overhead and usually do not reduce telemetry cost.
- E
Enable verbose guest logging on every server
Why wrong: Verbose logging creates more data than needed and works against a low-cost monitoring goal.
Quick Answer
The answer is to collect only the required diagnostic categories and performance counters, as Azure Monitor platform metrics for CPU are collected automatically from the VM host at no additional cost. This approach keeps ingestion costs low because platform metrics are included in Azure Monitor pricing, while guest-level metrics require the Log Analytics agent and incur data ingestion and storage fees. For a small set of VMs where only basic CPU utilization is needed, relying on these free host-level metrics is sufficient and avoids unnecessary charges. On the AZ-104 exam, this tests your understanding of cost optimization in monitoring, often appearing as a trap where candidates mistakenly enable guest-level diagnostics for every VM. A common memory tip is “Host metrics are free; guest metrics cost fees”—so for low-cost CPU monitoring, stick with the host.
AZ-104 Monitor and Maintain Azure Resources Practice Question
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of monitor and maintain azure resources. 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. 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.
You need to monitor CPU on a small set of VMs while keeping ingestion costs low. Which two actions are the best choices? Select two.
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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 Azure Monitor platform metrics for CPU instead of collecting guest logs
Azure Monitor platform metrics for CPU are collected automatically from the Azure VM host at no additional cost, providing basic CPU utilization data without requiring the Log Analytics agent or incurring data ingestion charges. This approach keeps costs low because platform metrics are included in the Azure Monitor pricing, whereas guest-level metrics require log ingestion and storage fees. For a small set of VMs where only CPU monitoring is needed, platform metrics are sufficient and cost-effective.
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 Azure Monitor platform metrics for CPU instead of collecting guest logs
Why this is correct
Platform metrics are built in and usually cheaper than sending extra guest log data.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Collect only the required diagnostic categories and performance counters
Why this is correct
Limiting collection to needed telemetry reduces ingestion volume and lowers monitoring cost.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Collect all Windows event logs from every VM
Why it's wrong here
Collecting everything increases ingestion volume and is not cost-aware for simple CPU monitoring.
- ✗
Create a separate workspace for each VM
Why it's wrong here
Multiple workspaces add management overhead and usually do not reduce telemetry cost.
- ✗
Enable verbose guest logging on every server
Why it's wrong here
Verbose logging creates more data than needed and works against a low-cost monitoring goal.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume guest-level logging is required for CPU monitoring, but Azure Monitor platform metrics already provide host-level CPU data at no extra cost, making options like verbose logging or full event collection unnecessary and costly.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure Monitor platform metrics for CPU are collected via the Azure Resource Manager telemetry pipeline, which samples the host-level CPU usage every minute and retains data for 93 days at no charge. In contrast, guest-level CPU metrics require the Log Analytics agent (or Azure Monitor Agent) to send performance counters to a Log Analytics workspace, where each data point incurs ingestion costs based on the volume of log data (typically $2.30 per GB ingested). For a small set of VMs, using platform metrics avoids these costs entirely while still providing the necessary CPU utilization data for basic monitoring and alerting.
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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Monitor and Maintain Azure Resources — study guide chapter
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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 Azure Monitor platform metrics for CPU instead of collecting guest logs — Azure Monitor platform metrics for CPU are collected automatically from the Azure VM host at no additional cost, providing basic CPU utilization data without requiring the Log Analytics agent or incurring data ingestion charges. This approach keeps costs low because platform metrics are included in the Azure Monitor pricing, whereas guest-level metrics require log ingestion and storage fees. For a small set of VMs where only CPU monitoring is needed, platform metrics are sufficient and cost-effective.
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: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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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