The correct answer is that the password is passed as a parameter and may be exposed in deployment logs. This is a critical ARM template password exposure security risk because when you pass sensitive values like a password directly as a parameter in an ARM template, the plaintext value is recorded in the deployment history and logs, which can be viewed by anyone with read access to the resource group. On the Microsoft Azure Developer Associate AZ-204 exam, this tests your understanding of secure deployment practices, specifically that secrets should never be passed as parameters but instead retrieved from Azure Key Vault using a reference. A common trap is confusing runtime encryption (which App Service does for connection strings at rest) with deployment-time exposure—the vulnerability is during template deployment, not while the app runs. Memory tip: think of it as “parameters are public, secrets belong in Key Vault.”
AZ-204 Develop Azure compute solutions Practice Question
This AZ-204 practice question tests your understanding of develop azure compute solutions. 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.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The password is passed as a parameter and may be exposed in deployment logs.
Option A is correct because the connection string includes the password as a parameter, which may be stored in plain text in the ARM template parameters file or deployment history. Option B is wrong because the connection string uses SQLAzure type, which is correct. Option C is wrong because the connection string is encrypted at rest in App Service, but the issue is at deployment time. Option D is wrong because the connection string is stored in App Service configuration, not in source code, but the ARM template exposes the password.
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.
✗
The connection string is stored in the source code.
Why it's wrong here
It's stored in App Service configuration, not source code.
✓
The password is passed as a parameter and may be exposed in deployment logs.
Why this is correct
Parameters can be logged, exposing the password.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The connection string type should be 'Custom' instead of 'SQLAzure'.
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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.
Identify which AZ-204 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Develop Azure compute solutions — This question tests Develop Azure compute solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The password is passed as a parameter and may be exposed in deployment logs. — Option A is correct because the connection string includes the password as a parameter, which may be stored in plain text in the ARM template parameters file or deployment history. Option B is wrong because the connection string uses SQLAzure type, which is correct. Option C is wrong because the connection string is encrypted at rest in App Service, but the issue is at deployment time. Option D is wrong because the connection string is stored in App Service configuration, not in source code, but the ARM template exposes the password.
What should I do if I get this AZ-204 question wrong?
Identify which AZ-204 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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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