This AZ-400 practice question tests your understanding of configure processes and communications. 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.
Your team uses Azure Boards with a Kanban board. You want to limit the number of work items in the 'In Progress' column to prevent bottlenecks. What should you configure?
Column limits on the Kanban board
Column limits restrict the number of items in a column, preventing bottlenecks.
Branch policies
Why wrong: Branch policies are for code quality, not work item limits.
Backlog level settings
Why wrong: Backlog settings control hierarchy, not limits.
Work item rules
Why wrong: Rules enforce behavior on state changes, not column limits.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Column limits on the Kanban board
Column limits on the Kanban board directly enforce work-in-progress (WIP) constraints by capping the number of work items allowed in a specific column, such as 'In Progress'. This prevents bottlenecks by signaling the team to complete existing work before pulling new items, aligning with Lean and Kanban principles. Azure Boards supports this configuration through the board settings, where you can set a maximum limit per column.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Column limits on the Kanban board
Why this is correct
Column limits restrict the number of items in a column, preventing bottlenecks.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Branch policies
Why it's wrong here
Branch policies are for code quality, not work item limits.
Backlog level settings
Why it's wrong here
Backlog settings control hierarchy, not limits.
Work item rules
Why it's wrong here
Rules enforce behavior on state changes, not column limits.
Common exam traps
The trap here is confusing process configuration (column limits) with code governance (branch policies) or automation (work item rules), leading candidates to select options that manage code or workflows rather than direct board constraints.
Detailed technical explanation
Column limits in Azure Boards are enforced at the board level using the 'Limits' tab in column settings, where you can set a maximum number of items per column (e.g., 5 for 'In Progress'). When the limit is reached, the column displays a visual warning (e.g., red highlight) and prevents dragging additional items into it, though items can still be moved via other methods like bulk update. This is a key feature of Kanban methodology, often paired with cumulative flow diagrams to monitor cycle time and throughput.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Configure processes and communications — This question tests Configure processes and communications — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Column limits on the Kanban board — Column limits on the Kanban board directly enforce work-in-progress (WIP) constraints by capping the number of work items allowed in a specific column, such as 'In Progress'. This prevents bottlenecks by signaling the team to complete existing work before pulling new items, aligning with Lean and Kanban principles. Azure Boards supports this configuration through the board settings, where you can set a maximum limit per column.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
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