- A
The Application Insights SDK is not installed in the application
Why wrong: If the SDK were not installed, no telemetry (including requests, dependencies) would be sent, not just exceptions.
- B
The developer forgot to set the Instrumentation Key in the application configuration
Why wrong: Missing instrumentation key would prevent all telemetry from being sent, not only exceptions.
- C
The web app is running on a Free tier App Service plan
Why wrong: The App Service plan tier does not affect the capturing of exceptions by Application Insights.
- D
The exceptions are being caught and handled in code without being re-thrown or explicitly logged
Caught exceptions that are not re-thrown or logged via TrackException are not automatically tracked. Developers must explicitly log handled exceptions to see them in Application Insights.
Quick Answer
The answer is that the exceptions are being caught and handled in code without being re-thrown or explicitly logged. This is correct because Application Insights relies on the SDK to track exceptions, and it only captures unhandled exceptions or those explicitly sent via `TelemetryClient.TrackException()`. When a try-catch block swallows an exception—meaning it catches it but does not re-throw it or log it—the SDK never receives the telemetry, so the exception silently disappears from the portal. On the AZ-204 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how the Application Insights SDK instruments code and the common pitfall of silent exception handling. A frequent trap is assuming all exceptions are automatically captured, but the SDK only monitors unhandled ones unless you explicitly instrument your catch blocks. Memory tip: "If you catch it and don't log it, Application Insights won't dog it."
AZ-204 Practice Question: Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize Azure solutions
This AZ-204 practice question tests your understanding of monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize azure 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 have enabled Application Insights on your Azure Web App. You notice that some server-side exceptions are not appearing in the Application Insights portal. What is the most likely reason?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
The exceptions are being caught and handled in code without being re-thrown or explicitly logged
Option D is correct because Application Insights only captures exceptions that are unhandled or explicitly logged via the SDK. If an exception is caught in a try-catch block and not re-thrown or logged using `TelemetryClient.TrackException()`, it will not appear in the portal. This is a common oversight when developers handle exceptions silently without instrumentation.
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 Application Insights SDK is not installed in the application
Why it's wrong here
If the SDK were not installed, no telemetry (including requests, dependencies) would be sent, not just exceptions.
- ✗
The developer forgot to set the Instrumentation Key in the application configuration
Why it's wrong here
Missing instrumentation key would prevent all telemetry from being sent, not only exceptions.
- ✗
The web app is running on a Free tier App Service plan
Why it's wrong here
The App Service plan tier does not affect the capturing of exceptions by Application Insights.
- ✓
The exceptions are being caught and handled in code without being re-thrown or explicitly logged
Why this is correct
Caught exceptions that are not re-thrown or logged via TrackException are not automatically tracked. Developers must explicitly log handled exceptions to see them in Application Insights.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume enabling Application Insights on the Azure portal automatically captures all exceptions, but in reality, caught exceptions require explicit logging via the SDK.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Application Insights uses an `ITelemetryProcessor` pipeline. When an exception is caught and handled, the runtime does not automatically generate an exception telemetry event; the developer must call `TrackException()` or let the exception propagate unhandled. In auto-instrumentation scenarios (e.g., .NET Core with the `Microsoft.ApplicationInsights.AspNetCore` package), only unhandled exceptions are automatically tracked. A real-world scenario is a web API that catches all exceptions in a global filter but returns a generic error response without logging the exception details, leading to silent failures in production monitoring.
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.
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Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize Azure solutions — study guide chapter
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Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize Azure solutions practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-204 question test?
Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize Azure solutions — This question tests Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize Azure solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The exceptions are being caught and handled in code without being re-thrown or explicitly logged — Option D is correct because Application Insights only captures exceptions that are unhandled or explicitly logged via the SDK. If an exception is caught in a try-catch block and not re-thrown or logged using `TelemetryClient.TrackException()`, it will not appear in the portal. This is a common oversight when developers handle exceptions silently without instrumentation.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 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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