- A
Create a site-to-site VPN connection with a secondary on-premises data center.
Why wrong: If primary on-premises is down, secondary may also be affected; still dependent on on-premises.
- B
Configure Azure AD Connect with password hash synchronization and enable seamless single sign-on.
Why wrong: Password hash sync does not provide domain authentication without on-premises DC.
- C
Deploy Microsoft Entra Domain Services and join the Azure VMs to the managed domain.
Entra Domain Services provides AD DS in the cloud, accessible even if on-premises is down.
- D
Use Azure AD Application Proxy to publish the application and authenticate via Azure AD.
Why wrong: Application Proxy requires Azure AD authentication, not on-premises AD; but application may expect domain auth.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to deploy Microsoft Entra Domain Services and join the Azure VMs to the managed domain. This solution provides a fully managed domain in Azure that synchronizes identities from your on-premises AD DS via Microsoft Entra ID, ensuring that authentication continues seamlessly even during a network outage. The critical technical concept here is that Entra Domain Services operates independently of on-premises connectivity, offering native LDAP, Kerberos, and NTLM authentication for Azure workloads without requiring a VPN or ExpressRoute back to the local data center. On the AZ-305 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of identity disaster recovery for hybrid environments, where the key trap is confusing high-availability networking solutions like VPN gateways with actual identity continuity. Remember that Azure AD Connect only synchronizes objects but cannot authenticate if on-premises AD DS is unreachable, and Application Proxy handles remote access, not authentication. Memory tip: think “DS for DR” — Domain Services for Disaster Recovery.
AZ-305 Design business continuity solutions Practice Question
This AZ-305 practice question tests your understanding of design business continuity 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.
Your organization has a hybrid identity infrastructure using Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) and Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) on-premises. You plan to deploy a critical application on Azure VMs that must remain available even if the on-premises network connection fails. The application authenticates users via on-premises AD DS. You need to design an identity disaster recovery solution that works during a network outage. What should you implement?
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
Deploy Microsoft Entra Domain Services and join the Azure VMs to the managed domain.
Option C is correct because deploying Microsoft Entra Domain Services in Azure provides managed domain services independent of on-premises connectivity. The application can authenticate using Entra Domain Services. Option A (Azure AD Connect) does not provide authentication if on-premises is unreachable. Option B (VPN gateway) does not help if the on-premises network is down. Option D (Azure AD Application Proxy) is for remote access, not authentication.
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.
- ✗
Create a site-to-site VPN connection with a secondary on-premises data center.
Why it's wrong here
If primary on-premises is down, secondary may also be affected; still dependent on on-premises.
- ✗
Configure Azure AD Connect with password hash synchronization and enable seamless single sign-on.
Why it's wrong here
Password hash sync does not provide domain authentication without on-premises DC.
- ✓
Deploy Microsoft Entra Domain Services and join the Azure VMs to the managed domain.
Why this is correct
Entra Domain Services provides AD DS in the cloud, accessible even if on-premises is down.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use Azure AD Application Proxy to publish the application and authenticate via Azure AD.
Why it's wrong here
Application Proxy requires Azure AD authentication, not on-premises AD; but application may expect domain auth.
Common exam traps
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 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 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.
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Design business continuity solutions — study guide chapter
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Design business continuity solutions practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-305 question test?
Design business continuity solutions — This question tests Design business continuity solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Deploy Microsoft Entra Domain Services and join the Azure VMs to the managed domain. — Option C is correct because deploying Microsoft Entra Domain Services in Azure provides managed domain services independent of on-premises connectivity. The application can authenticate using Entra Domain Services. Option A (Azure AD Connect) does not provide authentication if on-premises is unreachable. Option B (VPN gateway) does not help if the on-premises network is down. Option D (Azure AD Application Proxy) is for remote access, not authentication.
What should I do if I get this AZ-305 question wrong?
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.
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 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.
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