The answer is to configure Azure Backup with the same Key Vault that holds the encryption keys and allow Backup service access to Key Vault. This is correct because Azure Backup natively supports backing up Azure VMs with Azure Disk Encryption, which uses both a Key Encryption Key (KEK) and a BitLocker Encryption Key (BEK). During a restore, the service must access the same Key Vault to reapply these keys to the restored disks, ensuring the VM remains encrypted and secure without manual key handling. On the AZ-500 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how backup and encryption interact under shared responsibility—a common trap is choosing a separate Key Vault for backups, which breaks the restore chain. Remember the memory tip: “Same vault, same keys, secure restore with ease.” This question often appears as a design scenario where you must balance security with operational simplicity, and the key insight is that Azure Backup’s service principal must have explicit get and unwrapKey permissions on the Key Vault to handle encrypted restores automatically.
AZ-500 Secure compute, storage, and databases Practice Question
This AZ-500 practice question tests your understanding of secure compute, storage, and databases. 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 designing a backup strategy for Azure VMs running critical workloads. The VMs have Azure Disk Encryption enabled with Azure Key Vault. You need to ensure that backups can be restored securely. What should you configure?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure Azure Backup with the same Key Vault that holds the encryption keys and allow Backup service access to Key Vault.
Option A is correct because Azure Backup supports backing up encrypted VMs with KEK and BEK. During restore, you can specify the same Key Vault to restore the keys. Option B (separate Key Vault) complicates restore. Option C (disable encryption) is not secure. Option D (export keys) is risky.
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.
✗
Create a separate Key Vault for backup vault and copy the keys there.
Why it's wrong here
Unnecessary complexity; backup can use the same Key Vault.
✗
Disable encryption before backup and re-enable after restore.
Why it's wrong here
This defeats the purpose of encryption and creates downtime.
✓
Configure Azure Backup with the same Key Vault that holds the encryption keys and allow Backup service access to Key Vault.
Why this is correct
This enables seamless backup and restore of encrypted VMs.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Export the encryption keys to a secure location and import them during restore.
Why it's wrong here
Exporting keys increases risk of exposure.
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 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.
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: Configure Azure Backup with the same Key Vault that holds the encryption keys and allow Backup service access to Key Vault. — Option A is correct because Azure Backup supports backing up encrypted VMs with KEK and BEK. During restore, you can specify the same Key Vault to restore the keys. Option B (separate Key Vault) complicates restore. Option C (disable encryption) is not secure. Option D (export keys) is risky.
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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