AZ-400 Implement an instrumentation strategy Practice Question
This AZ-400 practice question tests your understanding of implement an instrumentation strategy. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
A company deploys a .NET Core web application to Azure App Service. The application uses Application Insights for monitoring. The operations team reports that dependency tracking is missing for calls to a third-party REST API made using HttpClient. The application is instrumented with the Application Insights SDK. Which action should be taken to enable dependency tracking for HttpClient calls?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Ensure the SDK is configured using services.AddApplicationInsightsTelemetry(); in the Startup.cs file.
Option A is correct because `services.AddApplicationInsightsTelemetry()` in `Startup.cs` automatically registers the `DependencyTrackingModule` for .NET Core applications. This module collects dependency telemetry for `HttpClient` calls made via `IHttpClientFactory` or typed `HttpClient` instances, provided the SDK is properly configured. Since the application already uses the Application Insights SDK, this single line enables automatic dependency tracking without additional packages or agents.
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.
✓
Ensure the SDK is configured using services.AddApplicationInsightsTelemetry(); in the Startup.cs file.
Why this is correct
This enables automatic dependency tracking for HttpClient.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Install the Application Insights Agent on the App Service instance.
Why it's wrong here
The Agent is for codeless attach, not needed when SDK is used.
✗
Add a reference to Microsoft.ApplicationInsights.DependencyCollector and call DependencyTrackingModule.Initialize().
Why it's wrong here
This is for custom instrumentation; SDK auto-collects HttpClient calls.
✗
Use the Application Insights Status Monitor to enable dependency tracking.
Why it's wrong here
Status Monitor is for on-premises .NET Framework apps.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse the .NET Core SDK approach with legacy .NET Framework tools like Status Monitor or manual `DependencyTrackingModule.Initialize()`, assuming dependency tracking requires extra packages or agent installation, when in fact `AddApplicationInsightsTelemetry()` handles it automatically for .NET Core.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, `AddApplicationInsightsTelemetry()` calls `AddApplicationInsightsSettings()` and registers an `ITelemetryModule` for dependency collection, which hooks into `DiagnosticSource` events emitted by `HttpClient`. For .NET Core 3.0+, the SDK uses `HttpClient`'s `DiagnosticListener` to capture outbound requests automatically, including headers like `Request-Id` for distributed tracing. A subtle behavior: if `HttpClient` is created manually (not via `IHttpClientFactory`), dependency tracking still works as long as the SDK is initialized, but using `IHttpClientFactory` ensures consistent telemetry and resilience patterns.
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
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this AZ-400 question in full detail.
Implement an instrumentation strategy — This question tests Implement an instrumentation strategy — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Ensure the SDK is configured using services.AddApplicationInsightsTelemetry(); in the Startup.cs file. — Option A is correct because `services.AddApplicationInsightsTelemetry()` in `Startup.cs` automatically registers the `DependencyTrackingModule` for .NET Core applications. This module collects dependency telemetry for `HttpClient` calls made via `IHttpClientFactory` or typed `HttpClient` instances, provided the SDK is properly configured. Since the application already uses the Application Insights SDK, this single line enables automatic dependency tracking without additional packages or agents.
What should I do if I get this AZ-400 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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