The correct choice is Azure Backup with Geo-Redundant Storage (GRS) and enabling soft delete, because this combination satisfies both compliance requirements: GRS automatically replicates backup data to a paired Azure region for geo-redundancy, while soft delete provides immutability by preventing permanent deletion of backup data within the retention window, effectively locking backups for the required 90 days. On the AZ-500 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how Azure Backup’s native features—not separate services—meet regulatory mandates for cross-region storage and ransomware protection. A common trap is confusing Azure Site Recovery, which handles disaster recovery replication rather than long-term immutable backups, or assuming that encryption alone provides immutability. Remember the memory tip: “GRS for geo, soft delete for lock” — geo-redundancy comes from the storage account tier, immutability comes from the backup service’s soft delete policy.
AZ-500 Secure compute, storage, and databases Practice Question
This AZ-500 practice question tests your understanding of secure compute, storage, and databases. 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.
You are designing a backup strategy for Azure Virtual Machines that host a critical database. Compliance requires that backups be stored in a separate Azure region and be immutable for 90 days. What should you use?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Azure Backup with Geo-Redundant Storage (GRS) and enable soft delete
Azure Backup with geo-redundant storage (GRS) stores backups in a paired region. Immutable storage for Azure Backup is achieved by enabling soft delete and using backup policies with retention that prevents deletion. Option B is correct. Option A is incorrect because LRS does not provide cross-region storage. Option C is incorrect because Azure Site Recovery is for disaster recovery, not long-term backup. Option D is incorrect because Azure Disk Encryption encrypts disks but does not provide geo-redundancy or immutability.
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.
✗
Azure Backup with Locally Redundant Storage (LRS) and a retention policy of 90 days
Why it's wrong here
LRS does not replicate to another region.
✓
Azure Backup with Geo-Redundant Storage (GRS) and enable soft delete
Why this is correct
GRS replicates to a paired region; soft delete provides immutability for 90 days.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Azure Disk Encryption with a backup policy stored in a different region
Why it's wrong here
Disk Encryption does not provide backup or geo-redundancy.
✗
Azure Site Recovery with a recovery plan and retention of 90 days
Why it's wrong here
Site Recovery is for replication and failover, not long-term backup retention.
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 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-500 question in full detail.
Identify which AZ-500 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.
Secure compute, storage, and databases — This question tests Secure compute, storage, and databases — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Azure Backup with Geo-Redundant Storage (GRS) and enable soft delete — Azure Backup with geo-redundant storage (GRS) stores backups in a paired region. Immutable storage for Azure Backup is achieved by enabling soft delete and using backup policies with retention that prevents deletion. Option B is correct. Option A is incorrect because LRS does not provide cross-region storage. Option C is incorrect because Azure Site Recovery is for disaster recovery, not long-term backup. Option D is incorrect because Azure Disk Encryption encrypts disks but does not provide geo-redundancy or immutability.
What should I do if I get this AZ-500 question wrong?
Identify which AZ-500 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.
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Question Discussion
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