- A
Azure Container Instances
Azure Container Instances is the best fit for short-lived container execution without managing servers or a cluster. It is well suited for event-driven or scheduled jobs that run for a limited time and then exit, which matches the requirement to process work for only 15 to 20 minutes.
- B
Azure App Service
Why wrong: App Service is optimized for hosting web apps and APIs, not for a simple one-off container job that exits after processing.
- C
Azure Kubernetes Service
Why wrong: AKS is powerful for orchestrated container platforms, but it adds cluster management that the team explicitly wants to avoid.
- D
A virtual machine
Why wrong: A VM would require operating system management and is unnecessary for a short container task with no server administration requirement.
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 team needs to run a Linux container for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, triggered by an external system. They do not want to manage servers, clusters, or a web framework. Which Azure service is the best fit?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
Azure Container Instances
Azure Container Instances (ACI) is the best fit because it allows you to run a container directly in Azure without managing any underlying servers or orchestrators. The service is designed for short-lived, burst workloads (like 15–20 minutes) and can be triggered on-demand via an external system (e.g., HTTP request, Azure Logic Apps, or SDK). ACI automatically starts the container, runs it, and then stops and deallocates resources when the task completes, matching the exact requirement of no server, cluster, or web framework management.
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.
- ✓
Azure Container Instances
Why this is correct
Azure Container Instances is the best fit for short-lived container execution without managing servers or a cluster. It is well suited for event-driven or scheduled jobs that run for a limited time and then exit, which matches the requirement to process work for only 15 to 20 minutes.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Azure App Service
Why it's wrong here
App Service is optimized for hosting web apps and APIs, not for a simple one-off container job that exits after processing.
- ✗
Azure Kubernetes Service
Why it's wrong here
AKS is powerful for orchestrated container platforms, but it adds cluster management that the team explicitly wants to avoid.
- ✗
A virtual machine
Why it's wrong here
A VM would require operating system management and is unnecessary for a short container task with no server administration requirement.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) because they associate containers with Kubernetes, overlooking that ACI is the simpler, serverless option for short-lived tasks without cluster management.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, ACI uses a hypervisor-level isolation technology (similar to Hyper-V containers) to provide fast startup times (often under 10 seconds) and per-second billing, making it cost-effective for short tasks. ACI supports restart policies like 'Never' or 'OnFailure', which align with the one-shot execution pattern. A real-world scenario is running a data-processing script triggered by an Azure Event Grid event, where the container pulls a message from a queue, processes it, and exits—all without any persistent infrastructure.
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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-104 question test?
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: Azure Container Instances — Azure Container Instances (ACI) is the best fit because it allows you to run a container directly in Azure without managing any underlying servers or orchestrators. The service is designed for short-lived, burst workloads (like 15–20 minutes) and can be triggered on-demand via an external system (e.g., HTTP request, Azure Logic Apps, or SDK). ACI automatically starts the container, runs it, and then stops and deallocates resources when the task completes, matching the exact requirement of no server, cluster, or web framework management.
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: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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 →
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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