- A
Configure a WAF policy with a custom rule to allow traffic only from the corporate IP range and deny all other traffic.
WAF custom rules can be used to whitelist source IP ranges, effectively restricting access to only the corporate network.
- B
Create a network security group (NSG) on the subnet hosting the application gateway and allow only the corporate IP range.
Why wrong: NSGs are applied to subnets, but the application gateway is the entry point; the NSG on the subnet would not filter traffic reaching the gateway itself.
- C
Use Azure Front Door with a WAF policy and geo-filtering to allow only your country.
Why wrong: Geo-filtering is based on country, not specific IP ranges, so it would not restrict to the exact corporate IP range.
- D
Set up a private endpoint for the application gateway and disable public access.
Why wrong: A private endpoint would make the gateway accessible only via private IP, but the requirement is to use HTTPS from the corporate network, which typically requires a public endpoint with IP restriction.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to configure a WAF policy with a custom rule that allows traffic only from your corporate IP range and denies all other traffic. This works because Azure Application Gateway’s Web Application Firewall operates at Layer 7 and can inspect source IPs via custom rules, effectively acting as an IP-based access control list before traffic reaches your web application. On the AZ-500 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to combine WAF policies with geo-filtering or IP restrictions, and a common trap is confusing network security groups (which work at the subnet level) with WAF custom rules (which apply directly to the gateway). Remember that for application-layer restrictions on an Application Gateway, you always use WAF custom rules, not NSGs. A helpful memory tip: “WAF whitelists the IP, NSG blocks the subnet.”
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.
You are deploying a web application in Azure that must be accessible only from your corporate network via HTTPS. You have an Azure Application Gateway with a Web Application Firewall (WAF) policy. Your corporate network uses public IP addresses from a specific range. Which configuration should you use to restrict access?
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
Configure a WAF policy with a custom rule to allow traffic only from the corporate IP range and deny all other traffic.
Option B is correct because Azure Application Gateway supports IP-based access control through WAF policies or network security groups. The other options either don't apply at the application gateway level or use incorrect methods.
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.
- ✓
Configure a WAF policy with a custom rule to allow traffic only from the corporate IP range and deny all other traffic.
Why this is correct
WAF custom rules can be used to whitelist source IP ranges, effectively restricting access to only the corporate network.
Related concept
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
- ✗
Create a network security group (NSG) on the subnet hosting the application gateway and allow only the corporate IP range.
Why it's wrong here
NSGs are applied to subnets, but the application gateway is the entry point; the NSG on the subnet would not filter traffic reaching the gateway itself.
- ✗
Use Azure Front Door with a WAF policy and geo-filtering to allow only your country.
Why it's wrong here
Geo-filtering is based on country, not specific IP ranges, so it would not restrict to the exact corporate IP range.
- ✗
Set up a private endpoint for the application gateway and disable public access.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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 — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
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Targeted practice on this topic area only
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-500 question test?
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: Configure a WAF policy with a custom rule to allow traffic only from the corporate IP range and deny all other traffic. — Option B is correct because Azure Application Gateway supports IP-based access control through WAF policies or network security groups. The other options either don't apply at the application gateway level or use incorrect methods.
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.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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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