Question 845 of 997

Develop Azure compute solutions →easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

AZ-204 Develop Azure compute solutions Practice Question

This AZ-204 practice question tests your understanding of develop azure compute solutions. 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.

You need to execute a PowerShell script every night to clean up unused resources in your Azure subscription. The script should run with a specific service principal identity that has the necessary permissions. You want a serverless solution with minimal management overhead. Which Azure service should you use?

Question 1easymultiple choice

Full question →

A
Azure Functions with a timer trigger running PowerShell.
Why wrong: Azure Functions support PowerShell, but scheduling is more complex (timer trigger works, but you need to manage the function app and identity). Azure Automation is purpose-built for runbooks and schedule management.
B
Azure Automation with a scheduled runbook.
Azure Automation allows you to create PowerShell runbooks, link them to a schedule, and use a Run As account (Microsoft Entra ID service principal) for authentication. This provides a low-management, serverless solution.
C
Azure Logic Apps with a recurrence trigger running a PowerShell action.
Why wrong: Logic Apps do not natively support running PowerShell scripts. You would need to use an Azure Automation runbook as a connector, which adds complexity.
D
Set up a scheduled task on an Azure VM to run the script.
Why wrong: This requires managing a VM, which incurs ongoing costs and maintenance overhead, violating the 'serverless with minimal management' requirement.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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 Automation with a scheduled runbook.

Azure Automation with a scheduled runbook is the correct choice because it is designed specifically for running PowerShell scripts on a recurring schedule using a service principal identity, with built-in support for Azure authentication via managed identities or Run As accounts. This provides a serverless solution with minimal management overhead, as Azure Automation handles the scheduling, execution, and identity management without requiring you to maintain any infrastructure.

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 Functions with a timer trigger running PowerShell.
Why it's wrong here
Azure Functions support PowerShell, but scheduling is more complex (timer trigger works, but you need to manage the function app and identity). Azure Automation is purpose-built for runbooks and schedule management.
✓
Azure Automation with a scheduled runbook.
Why this is correct
Azure Automation allows you to create PowerShell runbooks, link them to a schedule, and use a Run As account (Microsoft Entra ID service principal) for authentication. This provides a low-management, serverless solution.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Azure Logic Apps with a recurrence trigger running a PowerShell action.
Why it's wrong here
Logic Apps do not natively support running PowerShell scripts. You would need to use an Azure Automation runbook as a connector, which adds complexity.
✗
Set up a scheduled task on an Azure VM to run the script.
Why it's wrong here
This requires managing a VM, which incurs ongoing costs and maintenance overhead, violating the 'serverless with minimal management' requirement.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates often choose Azure Functions (Option A) because it is a popular serverless compute option, but they overlook that Azure Automation is the dedicated service for scheduled PowerShell administration in Azure, with built-in identity management and longer execution time limits.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Azure Automation uses a sandbox environment (with a 3-hour timeout for free jobs and unlimited for paid) that can authenticate to Azure using a Run As account (a service principal created automatically) or a managed identity, enabling secure, credential-free execution. The PowerShell runbook can leverage the Azure Az module and the `Connect-AzAccount -Identity` cmdlet to authenticate without storing secrets, making it ideal for nightly cleanup tasks that may involve enumerating resources across multiple subscriptions.

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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.

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.

Related AZ-204 practice-question pages

Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.

Develop Azure compute solutions practice questions

Practise AZ-204 questions linked to Develop Azure compute solutions.

Develop for Azure storage practice questions

Practise AZ-204 questions linked to Develop for Azure storage.

Implement Azure security practice questions

Practise AZ-204 questions linked to Implement Azure security.

Connect to and consume Azure services and third-party services practice questions

Practise AZ-204 questions linked to Connect to and consume Azure services and third-party services.

Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize Azure solutions practice questions

Practise AZ-204 questions linked to Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize Azure solutions.

AZ-204 fundamentals practice questions

Practise AZ-204 questions linked to AZ-204 fundamentals.

AZ-204 scenario practice questions

Practise AZ-204 questions linked to AZ-204 scenario.

AZ-204 troubleshooting practice questions

Practise AZ-204 questions linked to AZ-204 troubleshooting.

Practice this exam

Start a free AZ-204 practice session

Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.

10 questions 20 questions 30 questions 50 questions Timed 30

AZ-204 practice-test guide →Study guide →Browse all practice tests

FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this AZ-204 question test?

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: Azure Automation with a scheduled runbook. — Azure Automation with a scheduled runbook is the correct choice because it is designed specifically for running PowerShell scripts on a recurring schedule using a service principal identity, with built-in support for Azure authentication via managed identities or Run As accounts. This provides a serverless solution with minimal management overhead, as Azure Automation handles the scheduling, execution, and identity management without requiring you to maintain any infrastructure.

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.

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 →

How Courseiva writes practice questions · Editorial policy

Keep practising

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.

Loading comments…

This AZ-204 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-204 exam.