The answer is to enable diagnostic settings on Azure Bastion and send the logs to a Log Analytics workspace. This configuration captures detailed connection metadata—such as who connected, from which IP address, and session duration—by funneling Bastion’s built-in audit logs into Azure Monitor for querying and retention. On the AZ-500 exam, this question tests your understanding that Azure Bastion operates as a fully managed PaaS service in the control plane, so its activity is not captured by NSG flow logs (which track VM traffic) or the Azure Activity Log (which records management operations). A common trap is assuming that enabling diagnostics on the target VM itself will log the Bastion session; in reality, Bastion proxies the RDP/SSH connection, so the VM’s OS logs lack the Bastion-specific metadata needed for auditing. Memory tip: think “Bastion logs are about the bridge, not the island”—the diagnostic setting captures the bridge’s activity, not what happens on the VM island.
AZ-500 Secure networking Practice Question
This AZ-500 practice question tests your understanding of secure networking. 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 is deploying Azure Bastion to provide secure RDP/SSH access to VMs in a virtual network. The security requirement is that all administrative access must be logged and audited. What additional configuration is needed to meet this requirement?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable diagnostic settings on Azure Bastion to send logs to a Log Analytics workspace.
Option D is correct because Azure Bastion integrates with Azure Monitor to capture logs of connections (e.g., who connected, from where, and duration). Option A is wrong because NSG flow logs do not capture Bastion activity; they log traffic to/from VMs. Option B is wrong because Azure Activity Log captures management plane operations, not data plane RDP/SSH sessions. Option C is wrong because enabling diagnostics on the VM itself would log OS-level events, but Bastion sessions are proxied; the VM logs would not include Bastion metadata.
Key principle: Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Enable NSG flow logs on the subnet containing the target VMs.
Why it's wrong here
NSG flow logs capture IP traffic, not Bastion session details.
✓
Enable diagnostic settings on Azure Bastion to send logs to a Log Analytics workspace.
Why this is correct
Bastion diagnostics provide logs about user connections, including source IP, username, and session duration.
Enable Azure Activity Log for the Bastion resource.
Why it's wrong here
Activity Log records resource management events, not user sessions.
✗
Configure diagnostic settings on the target VMs to send logs to Log Analytics.
Why it's wrong here
This would log OS-level events, but not Bastion session metadata.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
→Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
→Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
→Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
Key takeaway
Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this AZ-500 question in full detail.
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related AZ-500 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
Secure networking — This question tests Secure networking — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable diagnostic settings on Azure Bastion to send logs to a Log Analytics workspace. — Option D is correct because Azure Bastion integrates with Azure Monitor to capture logs of connections (e.g., who connected, from where, and duration). Option A is wrong because NSG flow logs do not capture Bastion activity; they log traffic to/from VMs. Option B is wrong because Azure Activity Log captures management plane operations, not data plane RDP/SSH sessions. Option C is wrong because enabling diagnostics on the VM itself would log OS-level events, but Bastion sessions are proxied; the VM logs would not include Bastion metadata.
What should I do if I get this AZ-500 question wrong?
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related AZ-500 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company uses Azure Bastion to provide secure RDP and SSH access to Azure VMs without public IPs. Recently, a security audit recommended logging all connections to Bastion. What should you enable?
medium
A.Azure Monitor alerts for Bastion resource health
B.Azure Activity Logs for the Bastion resource
C.Network Security Group flow logs on the subnet containing Bastion
✓ D.Diagnostic settings on the Bastion resource to stream Bastion logs to a Log Analytics workspace
Why D: Azure Bastion integrates with Azure Diagnostic Logs to capture connection logs. Enabling diagnostic settings on the Bastion resource sends logs to a Log Analytics workspace, Storage account, or Event Hub.
Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
Question Discussion
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This AZ-500 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-500 exam.
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