AZ-400 Practice Question: Design and implement a source control strategy
This AZ-400 practice question tests your understanding of design and implement a source control strategy. 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 is migrating from TFVC to Git in Azure Repos. The repository contains a large number of binary files (e.g., .dll, .exe) that are frequently updated. You need to minimize repository size and clone time. What should you include in your migration plan?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "minimum / minimize"
Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use Git LFS to track binary files.
Option B is correct because Git LFS (Large File Storage) replaces large binary files in the repository with lightweight text pointers, storing the actual binary content in external storage. This prevents the repository from bloating with frequently updated binaries, reducing clone time and repository size since only the pointers are cloned.
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.
✗
Perform a shallow clone of the last commit only.
Why it's wrong here
Shallow clones limit history but binary files still bloat the repo.
✓
Use Git LFS to track binary files.
Why this is correct
Git LFS replaces large files with pointers, keeping the repo lean.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use sparse checkout to exclude binary files from the working tree.
Why it's wrong here
Sparse checkout does not affect repository size on the server.
✗
Use TFVC to Git converter with default settings.
Why it's wrong here
Default settings do not handle large files efficiently.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse sparse checkout (which only affects the working tree) with a solution for repository size, or assume a shallow clone is sufficient without realizing it does not prevent binary bloat from accumulating in the repository history.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Git LFS works by intercepting git commands (e.g., checkout, commit, push) via smudge and clean filters configured in .gitattributes. When a binary file is added, Git LFS stores the file content in a separate object store (e.g., on Azure Repos LFS storage) and commits a pointer file (e.g., 'version https://git-lfs.github.com/spec/v1') in the repository. During clone, only the pointer files are downloaded, and the actual binary content is lazily fetched only when the file is checked out, dramatically reducing clone time for repositories with large binaries.
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 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-400 question in full detail.
Design and implement a source control strategy — This question tests Design and implement a source control strategy — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use Git LFS to track binary files. — Option B is correct because Git LFS (Large File Storage) replaces large binary files in the repository with lightweight text pointers, storing the actual binary content in external storage. This prevents the repository from bloating with frequently updated binaries, reducing clone time and repository size since only the pointers are cloned.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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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