Quick Answer
Azure Container Instances is the correct choice because it provides a serverless, on-demand container execution environment ideal for a nightly batch job that processes data from Azure Blob Storage and writes results to Azure SQL Database, with the job’s up-to-2-hour runtime fitting comfortably within ACI’s configurable timeout of up to 24 hours. This service eliminates the need to manage virtual machines or orchestration clusters, offering fast startup and per-second billing, which makes it cost-effective for short-lived, scheduled workloads. On the AZ-204 exam, this scenario tests your ability to differentiate between container-based compute services—specifically, ACI versus Azure Container Apps or Azure Batch—where the key trap is choosing Azure Batch for its job-scheduling features, but ACI is simpler when you just need a single container per trigger and can handle scheduling externally via Azure Logic Apps or a timer-triggered Function. Remember: for a nightly batch job under 2 hours, think “ACI for quick, containerized tasks without cluster overhead.”
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 run a batch job every night that processes data from Azure Blob Storage and writes results to Azure SQL Database. The job may run for up to 2 hours. Which Azure service should you use?
Azure Logic Apps.
Why wrong: Logic Apps are not ideal for long-running custom code.
Azure Batch.
Why wrong: Azure Batch is for large-scale parallel jobs.
Azure Functions (Consumption plan).
Why wrong: Consumption plan has a 10-minute timeout.
Azure Container Instances.
ACI can run containers for up to 2 hours.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Azure Container Instances.
Azure Container Instances (ACI) is the correct choice because it allows you to run a containerized batch job on-demand without managing underlying infrastructure. The job's duration of up to 2 hours fits well within ACI's default timeout of 60 minutes (configurable up to 24 hours), and you can trigger it nightly via a scheduler like Azure Logic Apps or a timer-triggered Azure Function. ACI provides fast startup, per-second billing, and direct access to Azure Blob Storage and SQL Database via connection strings or managed identities.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Azure Logic Apps.
Why it's wrong here
Logic Apps are not ideal for long-running custom code.
Azure Batch.
Why it's wrong here
Azure Batch is for large-scale parallel jobs.
Azure Functions (Consumption plan).
Why it's wrong here
Consumption plan has a 10-minute timeout.
Azure Container Instances.
Why this is correct
ACI can run containers for up to 2 hours.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often choose Azure Functions (Consumption plan) for batch jobs because of its serverless appeal, but they overlook the strict 10-minute execution timeout, which makes it impossible for a 2-hour job without switching to the Premium plan or using Durable Functions.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, Azure Container Instances uses a hypervisor-level isolation with a fast startup time of under 10 seconds, leveraging the same underlying infrastructure as Azure VMs but without the overhead of managing a host OS. For nightly scheduling, you can pair ACI with a timer-triggered Azure Function or Logic App that uses the Azure CLI or REST API to create a container group, run the job, and then delete it, ensuring cost efficiency with per-second billing. A real-world scenario is a data ETL pipeline that reads CSV files from Blob Storage, transforms them using a Python script in a Docker container, and writes aggregated results to SQL Database, where the container image is stored in Azure Container Registry for versioning.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
What to study next
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FAQ
Develop Azure compute solutions — This question tests Develop Azure compute solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Azure Container Instances. — Azure Container Instances (ACI) is the correct choice because it allows you to run a containerized batch job on-demand without managing underlying infrastructure. The job's duration of up to 2 hours fits well within ACI's default timeout of 60 minutes (configurable up to 24 hours), and you can trigger it nightly via a scheduler like Azure Logic Apps or a timer-triggered Azure Function. ACI provides fast startup, per-second billing, and direct access to Azure Blob Storage and SQL Database via connection strings or managed identities.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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.
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