The correct answer is that resizing a VM and deleting an unused public IP address will both fail under a ReadOnly lock. This is because a ReadOnly lock on an Azure resource group blocks all write and delete operations on existing resources, including modifying a VM’s SKU or removing a public IP, while still allowing read actions like listing or viewing tags. On the AZ-104 exam, this concept tests your understanding of Azure role-based access control versus resource locks, and a common trap is confusing ReadOnly locks with role assignments—remember, a lock overrides all permissions, even for Owners. To recall this, think of the lock as a “glass case”: you can see everything inside, but you cannot touch, resize, or remove anything.
AZ-104 Manage Azure Identities and Governance Practice Question
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of manage azure identities and governance. 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 ReadOnly lock is applied to RG-App. Which two requested changes will fail because of the lock? Select two.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Resize a virtual machine to a larger SKU.
A ReadOnly lock on a resource group prevents any operations that modify existing resources or create/delete resources within that group. Resizing a VM to a larger SKU requires a write operation to the VM resource (specifically, updating the hardware profile), which is blocked by the lock. Deleting an unused public IP address is also a write operation (delete), which is blocked. Read operations, such as listing resources or viewing tags, are allowed.
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.
✓
Resize a virtual machine to a larger SKU.
Why this is correct
Resizing requires a write operation, and ReadOnly blocks write operations against locked resources.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
List the resources currently in the resource group.
Why it's wrong here
ReadOnly allows read operations, so viewing inventory is still permitted.
✓
Delete an unused public IP address.
Why this is correct
Deletion is a write operation, and ReadOnly blocks deletions as well as other writes.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Read the current tag values on the resource group.
Why it's wrong here
Reading metadata is allowed because the lock does not stop GET operations.
✗
View the VM power state in the portal.
Why it's wrong here
Inspecting state is a read action, so it is not blocked by the lock.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse a ReadOnly lock with a 'read-only' permission on the resource group itself, forgetting that read operations like listing resources or viewing tags are still allowed, while any write operation (including resize or delete) is blocked.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure Resource Manager (ARM) enforces locks at the resource level via the `Microsoft.Authorization/locks` resource type. A ReadOnly lock maps to a `CanNotDelete` + `ReadOnly` permission combination, effectively denying all `POST`, `PUT`, `PATCH`, and `DELETE` operations on the scope. Under the hood, ARM evaluates locks during authorization, and even if a user has Contributor or Owner role, the lock overrides those permissions for write operations. This is critical in production environments to prevent accidental modifications while still allowing monitoring and auditing.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this AZ-104 question in full detail.
Manage Azure Identities and Governance — This question tests Manage Azure Identities and Governance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Resize a virtual machine to a larger SKU. — A ReadOnly lock on a resource group prevents any operations that modify existing resources or create/delete resources within that group. Resizing a VM to a larger SKU requires a write operation to the VM resource (specifically, updating the hardware profile), which is blocked by the lock. Deleting an unused public IP address is also a write operation (delete), which is blocked. Read operations, such as listing resources or viewing tags, are allowed.
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.
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Question Discussion
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