The correct choice is to configure diagnostic settings for each Azure resource to send logs and metrics to a Log Analytics workspace. This works because Log Analytics serves as the single, centralized log collection and analysis hub, supporting long-term retention policies that can be set up to 7 years for compliance needs. On the AZ-305 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the Azure Monitor suite’s layered services: Log Analytics is designed for log-based analytics and retention, while Application Insights focuses on application performance monitoring and Azure Monitor Metrics only handles numeric time-series data. A common trap is confusing Application Insights for long-term storage, but remember that Log Analytics is the compliance-grade repository for raw logs. The memory tip is “LARS” — Log Analytics for Retention and Storage, not Metrics or Insights.
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.
You are designing a monitoring solution for a cloud-native application that uses Azure Functions, Azure Storage, and Azure Cosmos DB. The solution must provide centralized log collection and analysis, enable proactive alerting on application errors, and support long-term log retention for compliance (7 years). What should you include in the design?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure diagnostic settings for each Azure resource to send logs and metrics to a Log Analytics workspace.
Option A is correct because Azure Log Analytics workspace provides centralized log storage, analysis, and retention up to 7 years. Option B is wrong because Application Insights is for application performance monitoring, not long-term retention. Option C is wrong because Azure Monitor Metrics store numeric data only, not logs. Option D is wrong because Azure Storage with archive tier is for raw log files, not analysis.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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 Storage with cool tier for logs and enable Azure Storage Analytics logs.
Why it's wrong here
Storage Analytics logs are not centralized and lack analysis capabilities.
✗
Store logs in Azure Monitor Metrics with a retention of 93 days.
Why it's wrong here
Metrics store numeric data, not logs, and retention is limited.
✗
Use Application Insights to collect logs and set retention to 90 days, then export to Azure Blob Storage for archival.
Why it's wrong here
Application Insights is for APM, not long-term log retention; export adds complexity.
✓
Configure diagnostic settings for each Azure resource to send logs and metrics to a Log Analytics workspace.
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this AZ-305 question in full detail.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related AZ-305 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Design identity, governance, and monitoring solutions — This question tests Design identity, governance, and monitoring solutions — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure diagnostic settings for each Azure resource to send logs and metrics to a Log Analytics workspace. — Option A is correct because Azure Log Analytics workspace provides centralized log storage, analysis, and retention up to 7 years. Option B is wrong because Application Insights is for application performance monitoring, not long-term retention. Option C is wrong because Azure Monitor Metrics store numeric data only, not logs. Option D is wrong because Azure Storage with archive tier is for raw log files, not analysis.
What should I do if I get this AZ-305 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related AZ-305 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Question Discussion
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