- A
Use the Maven task to build and test, and use the Azure Web App task to deploy to Azure App Service.
Why wrong: Incorrect: The requirement specifies on-premises Tomcat, not Azure App Service.
- B
Use the Maven task with SonarQube goals (sonar:sonar) for analysis, then use the Copy Files task and Windows Machine File Copy task to deploy to the on-premises Tomcat server.
Correct: Maven handles build/test/SonarQube, and Windows Machine File Copy deploys to on-premises.
- C
Use the Maven task to build, then use PowerShell to copy the WAR file to the Tomcat server via Invoke-Command.
Why wrong: Incorrect: PowerShell is less maintainable and doesn't use Azure Pipelines built-in deployment tasks.
- D
Use the Maven task to build and test, and use SSH tasks to copy the WAR file to the Tomcat server and restart the service.
Why wrong: Incorrect: SSH tasks are available but less integrated; also missing SonarQube integration.
AZ-400 Practice Question: Design and implement build and release pipelines
This AZ-400 practice question tests your understanding of design and implement build and release pipelines. 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.
Your team is migrating from Jenkins to Azure Pipelines. You have a Jenkins pipeline that builds a Java application, runs unit tests, performs static code analysis with SonarQube, packages the application as a WAR file, and deploys to a Tomcat server. You need to replicate this pipeline in Azure Pipelines using YAML. The build and deployment must be triggered by commits to the main branch. You also need to ensure that the SonarQube analysis results are published to the SonarQube server and that the pipeline breaks if the quality gate fails. The Tomcat server is on-premises and requires a service connection. Which YAML pipeline structure should you use?
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 the Maven task with SonarQube goals (sonar:sonar) for analysis, then use the Copy Files task and Windows Machine File Copy task to deploy to the on-premises Tomcat server.
Option C is correct because it uses Maven for build/test, SonarQubePrepare/Analyze tasks (or Maven with SonarQube goals), and a CopyFiles/WindowsMachineFileCopy task for on-premises deployment. Option A is wrong because SSH tasks may not work for Tomcat deployment directly. Option B is wrong because Azure App Service is not on-premises. Option D is wrong because it uses PowerShell to copy files, which is less maintainable and doesn't leverage Azure Pipelines tasks.
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 the Maven task to build and test, and use the Azure Web App task to deploy to Azure App Service.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: The requirement specifies on-premises Tomcat, not Azure App Service.
- ✓
Use the Maven task with SonarQube goals (sonar:sonar) for analysis, then use the Copy Files task and Windows Machine File Copy task to deploy to the on-premises Tomcat server.
Why this is correct
Correct: Maven handles build/test/SonarQube, and Windows Machine File Copy deploys to on-premises.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use the Maven task to build, then use PowerShell to copy the WAR file to the Tomcat server via Invoke-Command.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: PowerShell is less maintainable and doesn't use Azure Pipelines built-in deployment tasks.
- ✗
Use the Maven task to build and test, and use SSH tasks to copy the WAR file to the Tomcat server and restart the service.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: SSH tasks are available but less integrated; also missing SonarQube integration.
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 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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which AZ-400 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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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-400 question test?
Design and implement build and release pipelines — This question tests Design and implement build and release pipelines — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use the Maven task with SonarQube goals (sonar:sonar) for analysis, then use the Copy Files task and Windows Machine File Copy task to deploy to the on-premises Tomcat server. — Option C is correct because it uses Maven for build/test, SonarQubePrepare/Analyze tasks (or Maven with SonarQube goals), and a CopyFiles/WindowsMachineFileCopy task for on-premises deployment. Option A is wrong because SSH tasks may not work for Tomcat deployment directly. Option B is wrong because Azure App Service is not on-premises. Option D is wrong because it uses PowerShell to copy files, which is less maintainable and doesn't leverage Azure Pipelines tasks.
What should I do if I get this AZ-400 question wrong?
Identify which AZ-400 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-400 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-400 exam.
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