- A
NSG rules are evaluated from the highest priority number to the lowest priority number.
Why wrong: Azure NSGs evaluate lower priority numbers first, so this statement reverses the actual order.
- B
The deny rule at priority 300 is matched before the allow rule at priority 350.
NSG rules are processed in ascending order, where the lowest priority number wins. In this case, Deny-All-Inbound at 300 is evaluated before the new allow rule at 350. Because the deny rule matches inbound traffic first, the packet is blocked and the later allow rule never gets a chance. The fix is to give the allow rule a lower number than 300 or otherwise narrow the deny rule.
- C
Azure NSGs cannot allow inbound traffic from public IP addresses.
Why wrong: NSGs can absolutely allow traffic from public IPs when the rule scope and priority are configured correctly.
- D
TCP 443 requires an application security group to be used as the source.
Why wrong: Application security groups are optional targeting tools and are not required for allowing HTTPS from a public source IP.
Quick Answer
The answer is that the Deny-All-Inbound rule at priority 300 is matched before the Allow-HTTPS-From-AdminIP rule at priority 350, so the traffic is blocked. This happens because NSG rule priority order evaluates rules from the lowest priority number (highest priority) to the highest number (lowest priority), meaning a deny at 300 will always be processed before an allow at 350. On the AZ-104 exam, this concept tests your understanding that a lower-numbered deny rule can override a higher-numbered allow rule, a common trap where candidates mistakenly think an allow rule with a higher priority number will take effect. The key insight is that once a rule matches, evaluation stops—so a deny at 300 matches all inbound traffic before the allow at 350 is ever checked. For a memory tip, remember: "Low number wins the race; a deny in first place blocks the allow in last place."
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 subnet NSG contains these inbound rules: Deny-All-Inbound at priority 300, Allow-HTTPS-From-Bastion at priority 200, and Allow-HTTPS-From-AdminIP at priority 350. An administrator expects a management workstation on the internet to connect to a VM over TCP 443, but the connection is blocked. What is the most likely reason?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
The deny rule at priority 300 is matched before the allow rule at priority 350.
NSG rules are evaluated in priority order, from the lowest priority number (highest priority) to the highest priority number (lowest priority). The Allow-HTTPS-From-AdminIP rule at priority 350 is evaluated after the Deny-All-Inbound rule at priority 300. Since the deny rule at priority 300 matches all inbound traffic before the allow rule at priority 350 is evaluated, the traffic is blocked. The administrator's connection from the internet is denied because the deny rule with a lower priority number (300) takes precedence over the allow rule with a higher priority number (350).
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.
- ✗
NSG rules are evaluated from the highest priority number to the lowest priority number.
Why it's wrong here
Azure NSGs evaluate lower priority numbers first, so this statement reverses the actual order.
- ✓
The deny rule at priority 300 is matched before the allow rule at priority 350.
Why this is correct
NSG rules are processed in ascending order, where the lowest priority number wins. In this case, Deny-All-Inbound at 300 is evaluated before the new allow rule at 350. Because the deny rule matches inbound traffic first, the packet is blocked and the later allow rule never gets a chance. The fix is to give the allow rule a lower number than 300 or otherwise narrow the deny rule.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Azure NSGs cannot allow inbound traffic from public IP addresses.
Why it's wrong here
NSGs can absolutely allow traffic from public IPs when the rule scope and priority are configured correctly.
- ✗
TCP 443 requires an application security group to be used as the source.
Why it's wrong here
Application security groups are optional targeting tools and are not required for allowing HTTPS from a public source IP.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'priority' with 'order of evaluation,' mistakenly thinking higher priority numbers are evaluated first, when in fact lower numbers (higher priority) are evaluated first, causing the deny rule to block traffic before the allow rule is checked.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Azure NSGs use a priority-based rule evaluation where the first rule that matches the traffic (based on source, destination, port, and protocol) is applied, and no further rules are processed. This means a lower priority number (e.g., 100) is evaluated before a higher priority number (e.g., 200). In this scenario, the Deny-All-Inbound rule at priority 300 matches all inbound traffic, including the administrator's connection, and blocks it before the Allow-HTTPS-From-AdminIP rule at priority 350 is ever considered. A common real-world mistake is placing a broad deny rule at a lower priority than a specific allow rule, inadvertently blocking intended traffic.
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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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: The deny rule at priority 300 is matched before the allow rule at priority 350. — NSG rules are evaluated in priority order, from the lowest priority number (highest priority) to the highest priority number (lowest priority). The Allow-HTTPS-From-AdminIP rule at priority 350 is evaluated after the Deny-All-Inbound rule at priority 300. Since the deny rule at priority 300 matches all inbound traffic before the allow rule at priority 350 is evaluated, the traffic is blocked. The administrator's connection from the internet is denied because the deny rule with a lower priority number (300) takes precedence over the allow rule with a higher priority number (350).
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: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
1 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. A subnet has an NSG with a custom inbound deny-all rule at priority 200. You need to allow HTTPS traffic to a VM in that subnet from any source. Which action should you take?
easy- A.Create an inbound allow rule for TCP 443 with priority 300.
- ✓ B.Create an inbound allow rule for TCP 443 with priority 100.
- C.Change the deny-all rule to outbound instead of inbound.
- D.Add a route table entry for port 443 traffic to the VM subnet.
Why B: NSG rules are evaluated in priority order, with lower numbers evaluated first. The existing deny-all rule at priority 200 blocks all inbound traffic. To allow HTTPS (TCP 443) before the deny rule is evaluated, you must create an allow rule with a priority lower than 200, such as priority 100. This ensures the allow rule is processed first, permitting the traffic.
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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