- A
A service endpoint on the subnet and a firewall rule on the SQL server.
Why wrong: Service endpoints do not create a private IP address for the database and do not satisfy the requirement for private name resolution.
- B
A private endpoint for Azure SQL and the corresponding private DNS zone linked to the VNet.
A private endpoint gives the SQL service a private IP address inside the VNet, and the private DNS zone allows the standard SQL name to resolve to that address. This meets both requirements: private network access and no connection string change. It is the correct Azure Private Link pattern for secure PaaS access.
- C
A public endpoint with selected network access and a network security group on the VM subnet.
Why wrong: Public access still exposes the database endpoint publicly, and an NSG on the VM subnet does not secure the PaaS service itself.
- D
A virtual network peering connection to the SQL service subnet.
Why wrong: Azure SQL Database does not connect through VNet peering as if it were a customer subnet. A private endpoint is required for private IP access.
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 web app running on an Azure VM must connect to an Azure SQL Database instance. The security team requires the database to be reachable through a private IP inside the VNet, and the application should keep using the normal SQL server name without any connection string change. What should the administrator implement?
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
A private endpoint for Azure SQL and the corresponding private DNS zone linked to the VNet.
Option B is correct because a private endpoint assigns Azure SQL Database a private IP from the VNet, making it reachable via a private IP while preserving the normal SQL server FQDN. The corresponding private DNS zone (privatelink.database.windows.net) linked to the VNet ensures that DNS resolution of the SQL server name resolves to the private IP, so no connection string changes are needed. This meets the security requirement of private IP reachability and the application requirement of unchanged connection strings.
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.
- ✗
A service endpoint on the subnet and a firewall rule on the SQL server.
Why it's wrong here
Service endpoints do not create a private IP address for the database and do not satisfy the requirement for private name resolution.
When this WOULD be correct
If the requirement was only to restrict access to the SQL server from a specific VNet without needing a private IP or keeping the same connection string, a service endpoint on the subnet combined with a firewall rule on the SQL server would be correct.
- ✓
A private endpoint for Azure SQL and the corresponding private DNS zone linked to the VNet.
Why this is correct
A private endpoint gives the SQL service a private IP address inside the VNet, and the private DNS zone allows the standard SQL name to resolve to that address. This meets both requirements: private network access and no connection string change. It is the correct Azure Private Link pattern for secure PaaS access.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
A public endpoint with selected network access and a network security group on the VM subnet.
Why it's wrong here
Public access still exposes the database endpoint publicly, and an NSG on the VM subnet does not secure the PaaS service itself.
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct if the requirement was to restrict access to the SQL server from specific public IP addresses while still using the public endpoint, and the application could tolerate internet exposure (e.g., for a non-production environment).
- ✗
A virtual network peering connection to the SQL service subnet.
Why it's wrong here
Azure SQL Database does not connect through VNet peering as if it were a customer subnet. A private endpoint is required for private IP access.
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.
✓A private endpoint for Azure SQL and the corresponding private DNS zone linked to the VNet.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
A private endpoint gives the SQL service a private IP address inside the VNet, and the private DNS zone allows the standard SQL name to resolve to that address. This meets both requirements: private network access and no connection string change. It is the correct Azure Private Link pattern for secure PaaS access.
✗A service endpoint on the subnet and a firewall rule on the SQL server.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A service endpoint does not provide a private IP for the SQL server; the SQL server still uses its public endpoint, and the connection string would need to change to use the private IP, violating the requirement to keep the normal SQL server name without connection string changes.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the requirement was only to restrict access to the SQL server from a specific VNet without needing a private IP or keeping the same connection string, a service endpoint on the subnet combined with a firewall rule on the SQL server would be correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse service endpoints with private endpoints, thinking both provide private connectivity, and overlook the requirement to keep the same connection string without changes.
✗A public endpoint with selected network access and a network security group on the VM subnet.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A public endpoint with selected network access still exposes the SQL server to the internet, failing the requirement for private IP reachability. Additionally, using a network security group on the VM subnet does not provide a private IP for the SQL server; it only controls traffic to/from the subnet.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct if the requirement was to restrict access to the SQL server from specific public IP addresses while still using the public endpoint, and the application could tolerate internet exposure (e.g., for a non-production environment).
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think that selected network access and NSGs provide sufficient security and private connectivity, misunderstanding that the public endpoint still uses a public IP and that NSGs do not change the endpoint type.
✗A virtual network peering connection to the SQL service subnet.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
VNet peering connects two VNets, but Azure SQL Database is a PaaS service not hosted in a VNet subnet, so peering does not provide private connectivity to SQL. The requirement is for private IP access without connection string changes, which peering cannot achieve.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
An administrator needs to connect two VNets in different regions to allow resources in one VNet to communicate with resources in the other VNet using private IPs, without requiring a VPN gateway or transitive routing.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think VNet peering can connect any Azure resource privately, misunderstanding that peering only links VNets, not PaaS services like Azure SQL.
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 that candidates confuse service endpoints (which still use public IPs) with private endpoints (which use private IPs), leading them to choose Option A, thinking it provides private IP connectivity when it only provides source subnet restriction via the public endpoint.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Private endpoints use Azure Private Link to map the PaaS service to a private IP in the VNet, using NICs in the subnet. The private DNS zone uses an A record with the private IP, and DNS resolution for the FQDN (e.g., server.database.windows.net) is redirected to the private IP via a CNAME chain (server.database.windows.net -> server.privatelink.database.windows.net). In real-world scenarios, if the private DNS zone is not linked to the VNet, the application would resolve the public IP, breaking the private connectivity requirement.
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
Quick reference
Common DNS Record Types
| Record | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A | IPv4 address mapping | example.com → 93.184.216.34 |
| AAAA | IPv6 address mapping | example.com → 2606:2800::1 |
| CNAME | Alias to another hostname | www → example.com |
| MX | Mail server for domain | example.com → mail.example.com (priority 10) |
| TXT | Text data (SPF, DKIM, verification) | v=spf1 include:_spf.example.com ~all |
| NS | Authoritative name servers | example.com NS ns1.example.com |
| PTR | Reverse DNS (IP → hostname) | 34.216.184.93.in-addr.arpa → example.com |
| SOA | Zone authority record | Primary NS, admin email, serial, TTL defaults |
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: A private endpoint for Azure SQL and the corresponding private DNS zone linked to the VNet. — Option B is correct because a private endpoint assigns Azure SQL Database a private IP from the VNet, making it reachable via a private IP while preserving the normal SQL server FQDN. The corresponding private DNS zone (privatelink.database.windows.net) linked to the VNet ensures that DNS resolution of the SQL server name resolves to the private IP, so no connection string changes are needed. This meets the security requirement of private IP reachability and the application requirement of unchanged connection strings.
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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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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