This AZ-204 practice question tests your understanding of implement azure security. 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 developer accidentally deleted a secret from Azure Key Vault. Soft-delete is enabled with a retention period of 90 days. After 60 days, you attempt to recover the secret. What should you do?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Run the Azure CLI command: az keyvault secret recover
Option A is correct because when soft-delete is enabled on Azure Key Vault, deleted secrets are retained for the specified retention period (90 days in this case). Since only 60 days have passed, the secret is still in a soft-deleted state and can be recovered using the `az keyvault secret recover` command, which restores the secret to an active state.
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.
✓
Run the Azure CLI command: az keyvault secret recover
Why this is correct
This command restores the secret while within the soft-delete retention window (60 days out of 90).
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Enable purge protection on the Key Vault first, then recover the secret.
Why it's wrong here
Purge protection prevents permanent deletion but is not necessary for recovery. You can recover without it.
✗
Recover is not possible because the retention period of 90 days has not elapsed.
Why it's wrong here
Recovery is possible as long as the retention period has not ended (60 < 90).
✗
Run the Azure CLI command: az keyvault secret undelete
Why it's wrong here
The correct command is 'az keyvault secret recover'. 'undelete' is not a valid command for Key Vault secrets.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse the retention period with a mandatory waiting period before recovery, or mistakenly think that purge protection must be enabled first, when in fact recovery is available immediately after deletion as long as soft-delete is enabled.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The correct command is 'az keyvault secret recover'. 'undelete' is not a valid command for Key Vault secrets.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Soft-delete in Azure Key Vault works by marking the secret as deleted but retaining it for a configurable retention period (default 90 days). During this period, the secret is inaccessible for normal operations but can be recovered using the `recover` command, which restores its metadata and access policies. This is crucial in scenarios where accidental deletion occurs, as it provides a safety net without requiring immediate backup restoration.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this AZ-204 question in full detail.
Implement Azure security — This question tests Implement Azure security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Run the Azure CLI command: az keyvault secret recover — Option A is correct because when soft-delete is enabled on Azure Key Vault, deleted secrets are retained for the specified retention period (90 days in this case). Since only 60 days have passed, the secret is still in a soft-deleted state and can be recovered using the `az keyvault secret recover` command, which restores the secret to an active state.
What should I do if I get this AZ-204 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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