- A
Enable only the activity log export because it already includes all storage telemetry.
Why wrong: Activity log export captures control-plane events, but it does not include the storage account's resource logs and metrics.
- B
Create a diagnostic setting that sends the storage resource logs and AllMetrics to Log Analytics and a storage account.
Diagnostic settings can stream both resource logs and supported metrics from the storage account. Sending the logs to Log Analytics makes them searchable for troubleshooting, while sending them to a storage account preserves a second copy for the required one-year retention. Including metrics in the same diagnostic setting gives operators a unified view of performance and troubleshooting data. This is the most complete configuration for the stated retention and analysis goals.
- C
Create an action group that archives storage events and forwards them to investigators.
Why wrong: Action groups only route notifications and do not collect or archive resource telemetry.
- D
Create a metric alert on the storage account and use it as the retention mechanism.
Why wrong: Metric alerts can notify on thresholds, but they do not store logs or provide archival retention.
AZ-104 Monitor and Maintain Azure Resources Practice Question
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of monitor and maintain azure resources. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 storage account hosts application logs that security wants to search in Log Analytics for 30 days and keep in a separate retained copy for one year. They also want to monitor storage metrics in the same place for troubleshooting. What should be configured on the storage account?
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
Create a diagnostic setting that sends the storage resource logs and AllMetrics to Log Analytics and a storage account.
Option B is correct because a diagnostic setting on a storage account can send both resource logs (e.g., StorageRead, StorageWrite) and AllMetrics (e.g., transactions, ingress) to a Log Analytics workspace for querying and to a secondary storage account for long-term retention. This meets the requirement to search logs for 30 days in Log Analytics (which has its own retention setting) and keep a separate archived copy for one year in the storage account.
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.
- ✗
Enable only the activity log export because it already includes all storage telemetry.
Why it's wrong here
Activity log export captures control-plane events, but it does not include the storage account's resource logs and metrics.
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct if the question asked for a simple way to export control-plane audit events (e.g., who created/deleted the storage account) to Log Analytics for compliance, without needing storage-specific logs or metrics.
- ✓
Create a diagnostic setting that sends the storage resource logs and AllMetrics to Log Analytics and a storage account.
Why this is correct
Diagnostic settings can stream both resource logs and supported metrics from the storage account. Sending the logs to Log Analytics makes them searchable for troubleshooting, while sending them to a storage account preserves a second copy for the required one-year retention. Including metrics in the same diagnostic setting gives operators a unified view of performance and troubleshooting data. This is the most complete configuration for the stated retention and analysis goals.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Create an action group that archives storage events and forwards them to investigators.
Why it's wrong here
Action groups only route notifications and do not collect or archive resource telemetry.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question asked for a way to notify security personnel when specific storage events occur (e.g., unauthorized access), an action group would be correct as part of an alert rule to send notifications.
- ✗
Create a metric alert on the storage account and use it as the retention mechanism.
Why it's wrong here
Metric alerts can notify on thresholds, but they do not store logs or provide archival retention.
When this WOULD be correct
A question asking how to get notified when storage account metrics exceed a threshold (e.g., high latency or low capacity) for troubleshooting, with no requirement for log retention or Log Analytics integration.
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.
✓Create a diagnostic setting that sends the storage resource logs and AllMetrics to Log Analytics and a storage account.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
Diagnostic settings can stream both resource logs and supported metrics from the storage account. Sending the logs to Log Analytics makes them searchable for troubleshooting, while sending them to a storage account preserves a second copy for the required one-year retention. Including metrics in the same diagnostic setting gives operators a unified view of performance and troubleshooting data. This is the most complete configuration for the stated retention and analysis goals.
✗Enable only the activity log export because it already includes all storage telemetry.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The activity log does not include storage resource logs (e.g., storage read/write logs) or storage metrics; it only contains control-plane events like creating a storage account. The requirement to search application logs and monitor storage metrics necessitates resource logs and AllMetrics, which are only available via diagnostic settings.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct if the question asked for a simple way to export control-plane audit events (e.g., who created/deleted the storage account) to Log Analytics for compliance, without needing storage-specific logs or metrics.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may mistakenly believe the activity log captures all telemetry, or they may confuse the activity log with resource logs, leading them to think enabling activity log export alone satisfies the monitoring and retention requirements.
✗Create an action group that archives storage events and forwards them to investigators.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
An action group is used to define actions (e.g., email, SMS) triggered by alerts, not to archive or forward storage events to Log Analytics or for long-term retention. It does not collect logs or metrics.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question asked for a way to notify security personnel when specific storage events occur (e.g., unauthorized access), an action group would be correct as part of an alert rule to send notifications.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse action groups with diagnostic settings, thinking that action groups can route data to investigators, but action groups only handle notifications, not data collection or archiving.
✗Create a metric alert on the storage account and use it as the retention mechanism.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Metric alerts are for notifying on threshold breaches, not for retention or sending logs to Log Analytics; they cannot retain logs for 30 days or archive for one year.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question asking how to get notified when storage account metrics exceed a threshold (e.g., high latency or low capacity) for troubleshooting, with no requirement for log retention or Log Analytics integration.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse alerting with monitoring and retention, assuming that setting an alert somehow captures or retains the metric data for later analysis.
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 the activity log (which only covers Azure resource management events) with resource logs (which capture data-plane operations), leading them to choose Option A, or they mistakenly think an action group or metric alert can handle log retention.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Diagnostic settings in Azure use a pipeline that streams resource-level logs and platform metrics to one or more destinations (Log Analytics, Event Hubs, or storage) in near real-time. The Log Analytics workspace retains data based on its configured retention policy (default 30 days, extendable up to 730 days), while the storage account destination allows indefinite archival using immutable blob storage or lifecycle management policies. This dual-destination approach is essential for compliance scenarios where logs must be searchable for short-term analysis and preserved for long-term 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
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
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.
- →
Monitor and Maintain Azure Resources — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Monitor and Maintain Azure Resources practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All AZ-104 questions
1,170 questions across all exam domains
- →
AZ-104 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
AZ-104 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related AZ-104 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Manage Azure Identities and Governance practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to Manage Azure Identities and Governance.
Implement and Manage Storage practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to Implement and Manage Storage.
Deploy and Manage Azure Compute practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to Deploy and Manage Azure Compute.
Implement and Manage Virtual Networking practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to Implement and Manage Virtual Networking.
Monitor and Maintain Azure Resources practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to Monitor and Maintain Azure Resources.
AZ-104 Azure RBAC practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to AZ-104 Azure RBAC.
AZ-104 storage account practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to AZ-104 storage account.
AZ-104 virtual network practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to AZ-104 virtual network.
AZ-104 NSG practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to AZ-104 NSG.
AZ-104 Azure Monitor practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to AZ-104 Azure Monitor.
AZ-104 backup practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to AZ-104 backup.
AZ-104 managed identity practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to AZ-104 managed identity.
Practice this exam
Start a free AZ-104 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-104 question test?
Monitor and Maintain Azure Resources — This question tests Monitor and Maintain Azure Resources — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a diagnostic setting that sends the storage resource logs and AllMetrics to Log Analytics and a storage account. — Option B is correct because a diagnostic setting on a storage account can send both resource logs (e.g., StorageRead, StorageWrite) and AllMetrics (e.g., transactions, ingress) to a Log Analytics workspace for querying and to a secondary storage account for long-term retention. This meets the requirement to search logs for 30 days in Log Analytics (which has its own retention setting) and keep a separate archived copy for one year in the storage account.
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 →
Keep practising
More AZ-104 practice questions
- A storage automation service principal must upload, read, and delete blob data in one container by using Microsoft Entra…
- A subnet contains several application servers. You need to allow inbound TCP 3389 only from a management subnet named Su…
- A subscription admin wants to investigate who changed a resource and also review the platform-generated events for that…
- Based on the exhibit, which Azure feature should the administrator use to track this kind of platform-wide service issue…
- An administrator wants a script running on an Azure VM to create a resource in Azure without storing any passwords or cl…
- A PowerShell script runs on an Azure VM every night and uses Azure CLI commands to create tags and VM resources in anoth…
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This AZ-104 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the AZ-104 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.