The answer is Modify and DeployIfNotExists. These are valid Azure Policy effects that enforce compliance by actively changing or adding resources to align with policy rules, rather than simply auditing or denying non-compliant configurations. DeployIfNotExists, for example, evaluates resources after creation and deploys a template to remediate non-compliance, such as automatically installing the Log Analytics agent on VMs that lack it. On the Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert AZ-305 exam, this question tests your understanding of which effects go beyond passive reporting to actively enforce compliance—a common trap is confusing Audit or Deny with effects that actually remediate. Remember that effects like Modify and DeployIfNotExists are the only ones that can fix non-compliance without manual intervention. A useful memory tip: think of them as “fixers” that deploy or modify resources to meet policy, while others only flag or block.
AZ-305 Practice Question: Design identity, governance, and monitoring solutions
This AZ-305 practice question tests your understanding of design identity, governance, and monitoring 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.
Which TWO of the following are valid Azure Policy effects that can be used to enforce compliance?
DeployIfNotExists deploys resources if they are missing, enforcing compliance.
B
Deny
Why wrong: Deny is a valid effect but not listed as an option; the question asks for two correct ones, and DeployIfNotExists and Modify are the ones that enforce compliance by changing resources.
C
AuditIfNotExists
Why wrong: AuditIfNotExists audits compliance but does not enforce changes.
D
Modify
Modify changes resource properties to be compliant.
E
AutoRemediate
Why wrong: AutoRemediate is not a valid Azure Policy effect.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
DeployIfNotExists
DeployIfNotExists is a valid Azure Policy effect that evaluates resources after creation and deploys a template to remediate non-compliant resources, such as automatically installing the Log Analytics agent on VMs missing it. This effect enforces compliance by actively deploying resources to meet policy rules, making it correct for this question.
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.
✓
DeployIfNotExists
Why this is correct
DeployIfNotExists deploys resources if they are missing, enforcing compliance.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Deny
Why it's wrong here
Deny is a valid effect but not listed as an option; the question asks for two correct ones, and DeployIfNotExists and Modify are the ones that enforce compliance by changing resources.
✗
AuditIfNotExists
Why it's wrong here
AuditIfNotExists audits compliance but does not enforce changes.
✓
Modify
Why this is correct
Modify changes resource properties to be compliant.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
AutoRemediate
Why it's wrong here
AutoRemediate is not a valid Azure Policy effect.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'AuditIfNotExists' with a remediation effect, but it only audits and does not enforce compliance, while 'AutoRemediate' sounds plausible but is not a real Azure Policy effect.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure Policy effects are evaluated during resource creation, update, and existing resource compliance checks. DeployIfNotExists uses a linked ARM template to deploy resources (e.g., network security groups) when a non-compliant condition is detected, while Modify uses 'addOrReplace' or 'remove' operations on resource properties (e.g., tags) via a policy definition with a 'modify' effect. Both effects support remediation tasks that can be triggered manually or on a schedule, ensuring ongoing compliance without manual intervention.
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
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this AZ-305 question in full detail.
Design identity, governance, and monitoring solutions — This question tests Design identity, governance, and monitoring solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: DeployIfNotExists — DeployIfNotExists is a valid Azure Policy effect that evaluates resources after creation and deploys a template to remediate non-compliant resources, such as automatically installing the Log Analytics agent on VMs missing it. This effect enforces compliance by actively deploying resources to meet policy rules, making it correct for this question.
What should I do if I get this AZ-305 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.
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Question Discussion
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