The correct answer is to resize the Azure VM to a larger size, as this directly increases CPU and memory without requiring a redeployment of the application. When you resize a VM, Azure updates the underlying SKU to a new instance size that offers more vCPUs and RAM, and after a brief reboot, the operating system and applications recognize the additional resources. This operation works within the same hardware family or across families, provided the target size is available in the current region and the VM is not constrained by overprovisioning in a Virtual Machine Scale Set. On the AZ-104 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of compute scaling versus redeployment—a common trap is thinking you must deallocate and recreate the VM, but a simple resize achieves the goal with minimal downtime. Remember the mnemonic “Resize, not reprise” to recall that you can scale up resources without starting from scratch.
AZ-104 Deploy and Manage Azure Compute Practice Question
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of deploy and manage azure compute. 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 workload needs more CPU and memory than the current Azure VM size provides. The administrator wants to increase compute capacity without redeploying the application. What should be done?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Resize the VM to a larger size
Resizing the Azure VM to a larger size (option A) directly increases the CPU and memory resources allocated to the VM without requiring redeployment of the application. Azure supports resizing VMs within the same hardware family or to a different family, provided the new size is available in the current region and the VM is not part of a VMSS with overprovisioning constraints. The resize operation updates the VM's SKU, and after a reboot, the new resources are available to the OS and applications.
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 the VM to a larger size
Why this is correct
Resizing changes the VM's compute capacity while keeping the same VM and typically preserves the installed application.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Move the VM into an availability set
Why it's wrong here
An availability set improves resiliency, but it does not increase the CPU or memory available to the VM.
✗
Replace the VM with a snapshot
Why it's wrong here
A snapshot is for disk recovery, not for adding more compute resources to a running workload.
✗
Assign a user-assigned managed identity
Why it's wrong here
A managed identity helps with access to Azure services, but it does not change VM performance capacity.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse 'increasing compute capacity' with high availability features (availability set) or identity management, leading them to select options that do not address resource scaling.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When resizing a VM, Azure checks if the target size is available in the cluster; if not, the VM may need to be deallocated (stopped) to move to a different cluster, which can change the VM's IP address unless a static IP is used. The resize operation modifies the VM's hardware profile, and the new size's vCPU and memory are reflected in the OS after a reboot. For production workloads, consider using Azure Dedicated Host or reserved instances to guarantee capacity for specific sizes.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this AZ-104 question in full detail.
Deploy and Manage Azure Compute — This question tests Deploy and Manage Azure Compute — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Resize the VM to a larger size — Resizing the Azure VM to a larger size (option A) directly increases the CPU and memory resources allocated to the VM without requiring redeployment of the application. Azure supports resizing VMs within the same hardware family or to a different family, provided the new size is available in the current region and the VM is not part of a VMSS with overprovisioning constraints. The resize operation updates the VM's SKU, and after a reboot, the new resources are available to the OS and applications.
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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