- A
Use Azure Storage account snapshots for on-premises files and Azure VM snapshots for VMs.
Why wrong: Snapshots are not a centralized backup solution and do not provide long-term retention management or compliance features.
- B
Deploy Azure Backup with the Microsoft Azure Recovery Services (MARS) agent for on-premises and the Azure Backup extension for VMs.
Azure Backup supports both on-premises (MARS agent) and Azure VMs (extension) with configurable retention policies up to 99 years, meeting the 7-year compliance requirement.
- C
Set up Azure File Sync to sync on-premises files to Azure Files, then back up the Azure file shares.
Why wrong: Azure File Sync syncs files but does not replace backup; it also does not back up Azure VMs.
- D
Use Azure Site Recovery for both on-premises servers and Azure VMs.
Why wrong: Azure Site Recovery is for disaster recovery replication, not for long-term backup retention.
Quick Answer
The correct design is to deploy Azure Backup with the Microsoft Azure Recovery Services (MARS) agent for on-premises servers and the Azure Backup extension for Azure VMs. This hybrid backup strategy using Azure Backup with MARS agent provides a unified solution that covers both environments, supporting long-term retention of up to 99 years in the Recovery Services vault—easily meeting the 7-year compliance requirement—while also enabling immediate file-level recovery for recent versions through the MARS agent’s instant restore capability. On the AZ-305 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish backup from disaster recovery and synchronization: a common trap is choosing Azure Site Recovery (which replicates for failover, not backup) or Azure File Sync (which syncs files but lacks backup management). Remember the memory tip: “MARS for on-prem files, Extension for Azure VMs, and a vault for long-term holds.”
AZ-305 Design business continuity solutions Practice Question
This AZ-305 practice question tests your understanding of design business continuity 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.
Your company has a hybrid infrastructure with on-premises servers and Azure virtual machines. You need to design a backup strategy that includes on-premises file servers and Azure VMs. The solution must support long-term retention for compliance (7 years) and provide immediate recovery for recent versions. What should you include in the design?
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 Azure Backup with the Microsoft Azure Recovery Services (MARS) agent for on-premises and the Azure Backup extension for VMs.
Option C is correct because Azure Backup provides a unified backup solution for both on-premises (via MARS agent) and Azure VMs, with support for long-term retention using Backup Vault and Recovery Services vault. Option A is wrong because Azure Site Recovery is for disaster recovery, not backup. Option B is wrong because Azure File Sync syncs files but does not provide backup capabilities. Option D is wrong because Azure Storage snapshots are not a comprehensive backup solution with centralized management.
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.
- ✗
Use Azure Storage account snapshots for on-premises files and Azure VM snapshots for VMs.
Why it's wrong here
Snapshots are not a centralized backup solution and do not provide long-term retention management or compliance features.
- ✓
Deploy Azure Backup with the Microsoft Azure Recovery Services (MARS) agent for on-premises and the Azure Backup extension for VMs.
Why this is correct
Azure Backup supports both on-premises (MARS agent) and Azure VMs (extension) with configurable retention policies up to 99 years, meeting the 7-year compliance requirement.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Set up Azure File Sync to sync on-premises files to Azure Files, then back up the Azure file shares.
Why it's wrong here
Azure File Sync syncs files but does not replace backup; it also does not back up Azure VMs.
- ✗
Use Azure Site Recovery for both on-premises servers and Azure VMs.
Why it's wrong here
Azure Site Recovery is for disaster recovery replication, not for long-term backup retention.
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 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.
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 Azure Backup with the Microsoft Azure Recovery Services (MARS) agent for on-premises and the Azure Backup extension for VMs. — Option C is correct because Azure Backup provides a unified backup solution for both on-premises (via MARS agent) and Azure VMs, with support for long-term retention using Backup Vault and Recovery Services vault. Option A is wrong because Azure Site Recovery is for disaster recovery, not backup. Option B is wrong because Azure File Sync syncs files but does not provide backup capabilities. Option D is wrong because Azure Storage snapshots are not a comprehensive backup solution with centralized management.
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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