- A
Use Azure Policy to enforce service endpoints on storage accounts and deny creation if not present, along with a policy requiring CMK encryption.
Azure Policy can enforce both network restrictions (via service endpoints) and CMK encryption. Deny policy prevents creation outside approved boundaries.
- B
Use Azure Policy to require storage account encryption with CMK, and use network security groups (NSGs) to restrict storage account access to specific subnets.
Why wrong: NSGs apply to network interfaces, not to storage accounts. Storage account access is controlled via firewall rules or service endpoints.
- C
Deploy Azure Firewall in the hub virtual network and configure application rules to allow only approved storage accounts.
Why wrong: Azure Firewall controls outbound traffic from VMs but does not prevent creation of storage accounts or enforce encryption.
- D
Use Azure Policy to require storage accounts to use private endpoints, and use Azure Private Link to restrict access from specific virtual networks.
Why wrong: This approach meets network restrictions but does not enforce CMK encryption via policy; also, private endpoints are not mandatory if service endpoints suffice.
AZ-305 Design infrastructure solutions Practice Question
This AZ-305 practice question tests your understanding of design infrastructure 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.
You are designing a landing zone in Azure for a regulated financial services company. They require that all storage accounts be restricted to specific virtual networks and have encryption using customer-managed keys (CMK). Additionally, they want to ensure that any storage account creation outside of the approved network boundaries is prevented. Which combination of Azure Policy and Network Security controls should you recommend?
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
Use Azure Policy to enforce service endpoints on storage accounts and deny creation if not present, along with a policy requiring CMK encryption.
Option B is correct because Azure Policy can enforce service endpoints and deny creation if a required tag (like 'network') is not set. Network security groups alone cannot enforce encryption or creation policies. Option A is wrong because NSGs are not used for storage account access control. Option C is wrong because Azure Firewall is for outbound traffic, not storage access. Option D is wrong because Private Endpoint is recommended for private connectivity, but service endpoints can also be used with policies; however, the question requires enforcement of network restrictions and CMK, which Azure Policy does.
Key principle: Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Use Azure Policy to enforce service endpoints on storage accounts and deny creation if not present, along with a policy requiring CMK encryption.
Why this is correct
Azure Policy can enforce both network restrictions (via service endpoints) and CMK encryption. Deny policy prevents creation outside approved boundaries.
Related concept
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
- ✗
Use Azure Policy to require storage account encryption with CMK, and use network security groups (NSGs) to restrict storage account access to specific subnets.
Why it's wrong here
NSGs apply to network interfaces, not to storage accounts. Storage account access is controlled via firewall rules or service endpoints.
- ✗
Deploy Azure Firewall in the hub virtual network and configure application rules to allow only approved storage accounts.
Why it's wrong here
Azure Firewall controls outbound traffic from VMs but does not prevent creation of storage accounts or enforce encryption.
- ✗
Use Azure Policy to require storage accounts to use private endpoints, and use Azure Private Link to restrict access from specific virtual networks.
Why it's wrong here
This approach meets network restrictions but does not enforce CMK encryption via policy; also, private endpoints are not mandatory if service endpoints suffice.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
- Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
- Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
- The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
- Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
- Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
- Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
Key takeaway
Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
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.
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related AZ-305 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-305 question test?
Design infrastructure solutions — This question tests Design infrastructure solutions — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use Azure Policy to enforce service endpoints on storage accounts and deny creation if not present, along with a policy requiring CMK encryption. — Option B is correct because Azure Policy can enforce service endpoints and deny creation if a required tag (like 'network') is not set. Network security groups alone cannot enforce encryption or creation policies. Option A is wrong because NSGs are not used for storage account access control. Option C is wrong because Azure Firewall is for outbound traffic, not storage access. Option D is wrong because Private Endpoint is recommended for private connectivity, but service endpoints can also be used with policies; however, the question requires enforcement of network restrictions and CMK, which Azure Policy does.
What should I do if I get this AZ-305 question wrong?
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related AZ-305 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
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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