- A
A log query alert only, with the query scheduled to run during business hours
Why wrong: This stops evaluation outside the schedule, which means the alert would not continue to monitor continuously.
- B
A metric alert rule with an action group and an alert processing rule that suppresses actions outside business hours
A metric alert keeps evaluating all day and night, while an alert processing rule can mute notifications during the excluded time window without disabling detection.
- C
A diagnostic setting that sends CPU logs to a storage account and a Logic App for email delivery
Why wrong: Diagnostic settings export telemetry, but they do not create threshold-based alerting logic on their own.
- D
An action group with an email receiver and a virtual machine extension to pause the workload outside business hours
Why wrong: This changes workload behavior rather than suppressing notification delivery, and it does not satisfy the monitoring requirement.
Suppress Metric Alert Notifications Outside Business Hours with Alert Processing Rule
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of monitor and maintain azure resources. 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.
A production VM must generate an alert when average CPU exceeds 80 percent for 10 minutes. The alert must be evaluated continuously, but email notifications should be suppressed outside 08:00 to 18:00 on weekdays. What should the administrator configure?
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 metric alert rule with an action group and an alert processing rule that suppresses actions outside business hours
Option B is correct because it combines a metric alert rule (which continuously evaluates the CPU threshold) with an alert processing rule that suppresses notifications outside business hours. The metric alert rule evaluates every minute by default, meeting the 'continuously evaluated' requirement, while the alert processing rule (formerly action rule) allows you to suppress actions based on a schedule without altering the alert rule itself.
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 log query alert only, with the query scheduled to run during business hours
Why it's wrong here
This stops evaluation outside the schedule, which means the alert would not continue to monitor continuously.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question required alerting based on a complex KQL query (e.g., joining multiple tables or calculating custom metrics) and the evaluation frequency could be scheduled (e.g., every 5 minutes), then a log query alert would be appropriate. For example: 'Alert when average CPU exceeds 80% over the last 10 minutes, evaluated every 5 minutes.'
- ✓
A metric alert rule with an action group and an alert processing rule that suppresses actions outside business hours
Why this is correct
A metric alert keeps evaluating all day and night, while an alert processing rule can mute notifications during the excluded time window without disabling detection.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
A diagnostic setting that sends CPU logs to a storage account and a Logic App for email delivery
Why it's wrong here
Diagnostic settings export telemetry, but they do not create threshold-based alerting logic on their own.
When this WOULD be correct
A question requiring long-term historical analysis of CPU usage for compliance or capacity planning, where the alert is not time-sensitive and can tolerate delays, and where email delivery is needed only during specific hours via a Logic App.
- ✗
An action group with an email receiver and a virtual machine extension to pause the workload outside business hours
Why it's wrong here
This changes workload behavior rather than suppressing notification delivery, and it does not satisfy the monitoring requirement.
When this WOULD be correct
Option D would be correct in a scenario where the requirement is to automatically shut down or pause a non-production VM during off-hours to save costs, and an action group is used to notify administrators of the shutdown. For example: 'A development VM must be automatically stopped outside business hours and send an email notification when stopped.'
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 metric alert rule with an action group and an alert processing rule that suppresses actions outside business hoursCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
A metric alert keeps evaluating all day and night, while an alert processing rule can mute notifications during the excluded time window without disabling detection.
✗A log query alert only, with the query scheduled to run during business hoursWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A log query alert runs on a schedule (e.g., every 5 minutes) and evaluates historical data, not continuously. The requirement for continuous evaluation (real-time) is better met by a metric alert, which monitors metrics in near real-time.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question required alerting based on a complex KQL query (e.g., joining multiple tables or calculating custom metrics) and the evaluation frequency could be scheduled (e.g., every 5 minutes), then a log query alert would be appropriate. For example: 'Alert when average CPU exceeds 80% over the last 10 minutes, evaluated every 5 minutes.'
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think that scheduling the query to run only during business hours achieves the suppression requirement, but this fails the continuous evaluation requirement and does not properly suppress notifications outside hours.
✗A diagnostic setting that sends CPU logs to a storage account and a Logic App for email deliveryWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This option does not meet the requirement for continuous evaluation of CPU metrics; it relies on logs sent to a storage account, which introduces latency and does not support real-time metric alerting. Additionally, it lacks a mechanism to suppress notifications outside business hours.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question requiring long-term historical analysis of CPU usage for compliance or capacity planning, where the alert is not time-sensitive and can tolerate delays, and where email delivery is needed only during specific hours via a Logic App.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think that sending logs to a storage account and using a Logic App provides flexibility for custom processing and scheduling, but they overlook that metric alerts are simpler and more appropriate for real-time threshold monitoring.
✗An action group with an email receiver and a virtual machine extension to pause the workload outside business hoursWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Option D is wrong because it suggests pausing the workload outside business hours, which is not required by the question. The requirement is to suppress email notifications, not to alter VM operation. Additionally, using a VM extension to pause workloads is an overly complex and inappropriate solution for notification suppression.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
Option D would be correct in a scenario where the requirement is to automatically shut down or pause a non-production VM during off-hours to save costs, and an action group is used to notify administrators of the shutdown. For example: 'A development VM must be automatically stopped outside business hours and send an email notification when stopped.'
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose D because they think suppressing notifications requires modifying the VM's behavior, or they confuse the need to suppress actions with the need to stop the workload itself. The mention of 'pause the workload' might seem like a direct way to avoid high CPU alerts outside hours.
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 often confuse alert processing rules with action group schedules or diagnostic settings, failing to realize that alert processing rules are the correct mechanism to suppress notifications based on time without altering the alert rule's evaluation frequency.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Metric alerts in Azure Monitor use a sliding window of aggregated data (e.g., average CPU over 10 minutes) and evaluate every 1 minute by default, ensuring continuous monitoring. Alert processing rules (formerly action rules) can be applied to a scope (e.g., a resource group or subscription) and can suppress actions based on a recurring schedule, such as weekdays 08:00–18:00, by setting the 'Suppress notifications' effect. This allows the alert to still fire and be visible in the Azure portal, but no email or SMS is sent during the suppressed period.
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: A metric alert rule with an action group and an alert processing rule that suppresses actions outside business hours — Option B is correct because it combines a metric alert rule (which continuously evaluates the CPU threshold) with an alert processing rule that suppresses notifications outside business hours. The metric alert rule evaluates every minute by default, meeting the 'continuously evaluated' requirement, while the alert processing rule (formerly action rule) allows you to suppress actions based on a schedule without altering the alert rule itself.
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
1 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. A team already has a metric alert on a production VM. The alert should continue evaluating 24/7, but email notifications must be sent only Monday through Friday from 08:00 to 18:00 local time. What should the administrator add or change?
hard- A.Replace the metric alert with a diagnostic setting and store the data in Log Analytics.
- ✓ B.Create an alert processing rule that suppresses notifications outside business hours.
- C.Lower the alert threshold so fewer alerts occur during the week.
- D.Use an autoscale profile instead of an alert rule.
Why B: Option B is correct because an alert processing rule (formerly action rule) can suppress notifications for a metric alert based on a schedule. By creating a rule with a suppression action that applies outside business hours (e.g., 18:00 to 08:00 and weekends), the alert continues to evaluate and fire, but email notifications are blocked during those times. This meets the requirement without altering the alert rule itself.
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.