- A
A service endpoint on the VM subnet and a firewall rule on Azure SQL Database.
Why wrong: Service endpoints do not create a private IP address for the SQL resource, so the name will still not resolve to a private endpoint address.
- B
A private endpoint for Azure SQL Database and a linked private DNS zone.
A private endpoint places the service on a private IP in your virtual network, which satisfies the requirement for private network access. Linking the appropriate private DNS zone to the VNet lets the SQL server name resolve to that private IP automatically. This combination gives the application private connectivity and avoids manual host-file updates or reliance on public endpoints.
- C
A public IP address on the VM and a SQL server firewall exception.
Why wrong: This keeps traffic on the public internet path and does not satisfy the private IP or private DNS requirement.
- D
An NSG rule that allows outbound TCP 1433 to the SQL server.
Why wrong: NSGs can permit traffic, but they do not provide private service IPs or DNS name resolution changes.
Quick Answer
The answer is a private endpoint for Azure SQL Database paired with a linked private DNS zone. This combination works because the private endpoint assigns the SQL server a private IP from the VM’s VNet, keeping traffic entirely on the Microsoft backbone, while the linked private DNS zone automatically resolves the SQL server’s FQDN (like server.database.windows.net) to that private address—no host-file edits needed. On the AZ-104 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to secure PaaS services within a VNet, often appearing as a multi-step configuration question where candidates mistakenly rely on Service Endpoints or manual DNS records. A common trap is forgetting that a private endpoint alone does not handle DNS resolution; you must explicitly link the private DNS zone to the VNet. Memory tip: “Endpoint gives the IP, DNS zone gives the name—together they make private connectivity tame.”
AZ-104 Implement and Manage Virtual Networking Practice Question
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of implement and manage virtual networking. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
An app running on an Azure VM must access Azure SQL Database over a private IP inside the VNet. The team also wants the SQL server name to resolve to that private address without using custom host-file entries. What should be configured?
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 Database and a linked private DNS zone.
Option B is correct because a private endpoint assigns Azure SQL Database a private IP address from the VM's VNet, enabling traffic to stay within Microsoft's backbone. Linking a private DNS zone automatically resolves the SQL server's FQDN (e.g., server.database.windows.net) to that private IP, eliminating the need for custom host-file entries. This meets both requirements: private IP connectivity and DNS resolution without manual configuration.
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 VM subnet and a firewall rule on Azure SQL Database.
Why it's wrong here
Service endpoints do not create a private IP address for the SQL resource, so the name will still not resolve to a private endpoint address.
- ✓
A private endpoint for Azure SQL Database and a linked private DNS zone.
Why this is correct
A private endpoint places the service on a private IP in your virtual network, which satisfies the requirement for private network access. Linking the appropriate private DNS zone to the VNet lets the SQL server name resolve to that private IP automatically. This combination gives the application private connectivity and avoids manual host-file updates or reliance on public endpoints.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
A public IP address on the VM and a SQL server firewall exception.
Why it's wrong here
This keeps traffic on the public internet path and does not satisfy the private IP or private DNS requirement.
- ✗
An NSG rule that allows outbound TCP 1433 to the SQL server.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is confusing service endpoints with private endpoints; candidates often think a service endpoint provides a private IP, but it only provides source VNet identity while the destination remains a public endpoint, failing the private IP and DNS resolution requirements.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A private endpoint uses a network interface (NIC) in the VNet with a private IP from the subnet, leveraging Azure Private Link to route traffic to the PaaS service over the Microsoft backbone. The linked private DNS zone (e.g., privatelink.database.windows.net) is automatically created and associated with the VNet, enabling DNS resolution via Azure's internal DNS (168.63.129.16) without custom entries. In a real-world scenario, this ensures compliance with data exfiltration prevention policies by keeping traffic isolated from the public internet.
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.
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: A private endpoint for Azure SQL Database and a linked private DNS zone. — Option B is correct because a private endpoint assigns Azure SQL Database a private IP address from the VM's VNet, enabling traffic to stay within Microsoft's backbone. Linking a private DNS zone automatically resolves the SQL server's FQDN (e.g., server.database.windows.net) to that private IP, eliminating the need for custom host-file entries. This meets both requirements: private IP connectivity and DNS resolution without manual configuration.
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
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
2 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. An app must resolve a storage account name to the private IP address created by a private endpoint. Which two actions are required? Select two.
easy- ✓ A.Create the private endpoint in the same virtual network as the app
- ✓ B.Link the virtual network to the private DNS zone for the storage service
- C.Enable a service endpoint on the subnet
- D.Add a public DNS record pointing to the storage account
- E.Turn on blob versioning
Why A: Option A is correct because a private endpoint must be in the same virtual network as the app to provide a private IP address that the app can directly reach. Without this, the app cannot resolve the storage account name to the private IP, as the private endpoint's network interface is only accessible from within that VNet.
Variation 2. A storage account should use a private IP address inside a virtual network, and workloads in that VNet must resolve the storage name to the private address. Which two items are required? Select two.
easy- ✓ A.Create a private endpoint for the storage account in the virtual network so the service gets a private IP.
- ✓ B.Create and link the appropriate private DNS zone so the storage account name resolves to the private IP.
- C.Enable a service endpoint on the subnet, because service endpoints create a private IP for the storage service.
- D.Assign a Reader role on the storage account, because RBAC determines the private address used by clients.
- E.Disable the storage account firewall, because private endpoints only work when the public endpoint is open.
Why A: Option A is correct because a private endpoint assigns a private IP address from the virtual network to the storage account, enabling secure, direct connectivity over the Microsoft backbone without traversing the public internet. This is achieved by creating a network interface in the VNet that receives a private IP from the subnet range, which then routes traffic to the storage service via a private link.
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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