- A
Associate a NAT gateway with the backend subnet and provide it with a public IP address or prefix.
NAT gateway gives the subnet a predictable outbound public IP without assigning public IPs to the VMs.
- B
Ensure the VMs do not have individual public IP addresses assigned.
This keeps outbound identity centralized through the NAT gateway instead of the VM NICs.
- C
Create a public load balancer and add the VMs to its backend pool.
Why wrong: A public load balancer is mainly for inbound distribution and is not the simplest outbound-only requirement here.
- D
Use a private endpoint for internet updates so outbound traffic remains private.
Why wrong: Private endpoints connect to Azure PaaS services, not arbitrary internet destinations.
- E
Attach a route table with 0.0.0.0/0 to Virtual network gateway.
Why wrong: A virtual network gateway is for hybrid connectivity, not direct internet egress with a static public IP.
AZ-104 Implement and Manage Virtual Networking Practice Question
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of implement and manage virtual networking. 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.
A backend subnet contains 18 Linux VMs that must install updates from the internet. Security requires all outbound traffic to use one static public IP, and none of the VMs may have their own public IP addresses. Which two changes meet the requirement? 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
Associate a NAT gateway with the backend subnet and provide it with a public IP address or prefix.
A NAT gateway provides outbound internet connectivity for VMs in a subnet while using a single static public IP address. By associating a NAT gateway with the backend subnet and assigning it a public IP, all outbound traffic from the 18 Linux VMs will source NAT to that static IP, meeting the security requirement without assigning public IPs to individual VMs.
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.
- ✓
Associate a NAT gateway with the backend subnet and provide it with a public IP address or prefix.
- ✓
Ensure the VMs do not have individual public IP addresses assigned.
- ✗
Create a public load balancer and add the VMs to its backend pool.
Why it's wrong here
A public load balancer is mainly for inbound distribution and is not the simplest outbound-only requirement here.
When this WOULD be correct
If the requirement were to distribute inbound internet traffic to the VMs (e.g., for a web application) while keeping them private, a public load balancer with backend pool members would be correct.
- ✗
Use a private endpoint for internet updates so outbound traffic remains private.
Why it's wrong here
Private endpoints connect to Azure PaaS services, not arbitrary internet destinations.
When this WOULD be correct
When the requirement is to securely access an Azure service (e.g., Storage, SQL Database) from a virtual network without using a public endpoint, ensuring traffic stays within the Microsoft backbone.
- ✗
Attach a route table with 0.0.0.0/0 to Virtual network gateway.
Why it's wrong here
A virtual network gateway is for hybrid connectivity, not direct internet egress with a static public IP.
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.
✓Associate a NAT gateway with the backend subnet and provide it with a public IP address or prefix.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
NAT gateway gives the subnet a predictable outbound public IP without assigning public IPs to the VMs.
✗Create a public load balancer and add the VMs to its backend pool.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A public load balancer does not provide outbound connectivity for VMs without public IPs; it only distributes inbound traffic. The VMs would still lack a static public IP for outbound traffic.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the requirement were to distribute inbound internet traffic to the VMs (e.g., for a web application) while keeping them private, a public load balancer with backend pool members would be correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse load balancers with NAT devices, thinking a public load balancer can also handle outbound traffic, or they may overlook that load balancers are primarily for inbound traffic.
✗Use a private endpoint for internet updates so outbound traffic remains private.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A private endpoint is used for inbound access to Azure services over a private IP, not for outbound traffic to the internet. It cannot provide outbound connectivity with a static public IP.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
When the requirement is to securely access an Azure service (e.g., Storage, SQL Database) from a virtual network without using a public endpoint, ensuring traffic stays within the Microsoft backbone.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse private endpoints with NAT or VPN solutions, thinking 'private' implies outbound privacy, but private endpoints are for inbound private connectivity only.
✗Attach a route table with 0.0.0.0/0 to Virtual network gateway.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A route table with 0.0.0.0/0 to a Virtual network gateway forces all outbound traffic through the gateway, but the gateway does not provide a single static public IP for outbound traffic; it typically uses the gateway's public IP, which may not be static and is not designed for outbound-only NAT.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
When the requirement is to force all outbound traffic from a subnet through a VPN or ExpressRoute gateway for inspection or tunneling to an on-premises network, and the VMs must not have direct internet access.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think that a route table with 0.0.0.0/0 to a gateway can centralize outbound traffic, similar to a NAT gateway, but they overlook that the gateway does not provide static outbound IP NAT and is intended for hybrid connectivity, not internet access.
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 confusing a public load balancer (inbound) with a NAT gateway (outbound), or assuming a route table alone can provide internet access without a NAT device or Azure Firewall.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure NAT gateway uses Port Address Translation (PAT) to map multiple private IPs to a single public IP, supporting up to 64,000 concurrent flows per public IP. The NAT gateway is placed in a specific zone and can be associated with multiple subnets, but it cannot span regions. For high availability, you can assign a public IP prefix to the NAT gateway, ensuring all outbound traffic uses a contiguous range of static IPs.
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.
Visual reference
What to study next
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-104 question test?
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: Associate a NAT gateway with the backend subnet and provide it with a public IP address or prefix. — A NAT gateway provides outbound internet connectivity for VMs in a subnet while using a single static public IP address. By associating a NAT gateway with the backend subnet and assigning it a public IP, all outbound traffic from the 18 Linux VMs will source NAT to that static IP, meeting the security requirement without assigning public IPs to individual VMs.
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
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