Quick Answer
The correct answer is to assign a static public IP address to the Azure VM. This is because a static IP address, whether public or private, is explicitly assigned and remains fixed even when the virtual machine is stopped and deallocated, unlike a dynamic IP which is released upon deallocation and reassigned with a new value on restart. For the Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert AZ-305 exam, this question tests your understanding of IP address allocation methods in Azure networking, specifically how they behave during VM lifecycle events. A common trap is assuming a private IP is always static or that a dynamic public IP will persist; in reality, only a static assignment guarantees the IP does not change across stop/start cycles. Memory tip: think of “static” as “stuck” — once assigned, it stays put regardless of the VM’s power state.
This AZ-305 practice question tests your understanding of design infrastructure 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.
A company is migrating a legacy application to Azure VMs. The application requires a static IP address that does not change if the VM is stopped and started. Which type of IP address should they assign to the VM?
Dynamic private IP address
Why wrong: Dynamic private IP changes if VM is deallocated.
Dynamic public IP address
Why wrong: Dynamic public IP changes when VM is stopped and started.
Static public IP address
Static public IP remains assigned even when VM is stopped.
Ephemeral IP address
Why wrong: Ephemeral IP is used for outbound only and is temporary.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Static public IP address
A static public IP address or a static private IP address ensures the IP does not change. Option A is wrong because dynamic public IPs change on stop/start. Option C is wrong because private IPs can be dynamic or static; dynamic changes. Option D is wrong because ephemeral IPs are for temporary usage.
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.
Dynamic private IP address
Why it's wrong here
Dynamic private IP changes if VM is deallocated.
Dynamic public IP address
Why it's wrong here
Dynamic public IP changes when VM is stopped and started.
Static public IP address
Why this is correct
Static public IP remains assigned even when VM is stopped.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Ephemeral IP address
Why it's wrong here
Ephemeral IP is used for outbound only and is temporary.
Common exam traps
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
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
What to study next
Identify which AZ-305 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.
Design infrastructure solutions — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
Design infrastructure solutions practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
All AZ-305 questions
999 questions across all exam domains
Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert AZ-305 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
AZ-305 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise AZ-305 questions linked to Design identity, governance, and monitoring solutions.
Practise AZ-305 questions linked to Design data storage solutions.
Practise AZ-305 questions linked to Design business continuity solutions.
Practise AZ-305 questions linked to Design infrastructure solutions.
Practise AZ-305 questions linked to SAA-C03 VPC.
Practise AZ-305 questions linked to SAA-C03 S3 lifecycle policy questions.
Practise AZ-305 questions linked to SAA-C03 RDS Multi-AZ questions.
Practise AZ-305 questions linked to SAA-C03 IAM policy.
Practise AZ-305 questions linked to SAA-C03 Route 53 failover questions.
Practise AZ-305 questions linked to SAA-C03 CloudFront.
Practise AZ-305 questions linked to SAA-C03 NAT gateway questions.
Practise AZ-305 questions linked to SAA-C03 VPC endpoint questions.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Design infrastructure solutions — This question tests Design infrastructure solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Static public IP address — A static public IP address or a static private IP address ensures the IP does not change. Option A is wrong because dynamic public IPs change on stop/start. Option C is wrong because private IPs can be dynamic or static; dynamic changes. Option D is wrong because ephemeral IPs are for temporary usage.
Identify which AZ-305 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.
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 →
Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
This AZ-305 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-305 exam.
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.
Sign in to join the discussion.