- A
Configure spoke VNets with a route table that has a default route to the hub VNet IP address.
Why wrong: This would not route through the firewall correctly and may cause asymmetric routing.
- B
Enable 'Use remote gateway' on the spoke-to-hub peering and 'Allow gateway transit' on the hub-to-spoke peering.
Why wrong: This configuration is for using the hub's VPN gateway, but does not force traffic through the firewall. Additional route tables are needed.
- C
Enable 'Use remote gateway' on the hub-to-spoke peering and configure spoke subnets with a default route pointing to the hub VPN gateway.
Why wrong: The hub VPN gateway should be used for on-prem connectivity, not for spoke-to-spoke routing; traffic should go through the firewall.
- D
Enable 'Allow gateway transit' on the hub-to-spoke peering and configure spoke subnets with a default route pointing to the Azure Firewall private IP.
This ensures traffic from spoke goes to firewall, which can route to other spokes or on-prem. 'Allow gateway transit' allows the hub to advertise routes from its gateway to spokes.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to enable 'Allow gateway transit' on the hub-to-spoke peering and configure spoke subnets with a default route pointing to the Azure Firewall private IP. This works because gateway transit allows the hub VPN gateway to be shared with peered spoke VNets, while the user-defined route (UDR) forces spoke-to-spoke traffic through the Azure Firewall for inspection and routing, rather than relying on the hub VPN gateway alone for inter-spoke forwarding. On the AZ-500 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to combine VNet peering settings with forced tunneling to achieve secure spoke-to-spoke communication via a hub firewall, a common design for regulated environments. A frequent trap is assuming the VPN gateway alone can route spoke-to-spoke traffic—it cannot, as it only handles VPN and ExpressRoute traffic; the firewall must be the routing intermediary. Remember the mnemonic: "Transit for the hub, route for the spoke, firewall for the hop."
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 designing a hub-spoke network topology in Azure. The hub VNet contains Azure Firewall and a VPN gateway. Spoke VNets need to communicate with each other and with on-premises network through the hub. Which peering configuration is required to allow spoke-to-spoke communication via the hub?
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
Enable 'Allow gateway transit' on the hub-to-spoke peering and configure spoke subnets with a default route pointing to the Azure Firewall private IP.
To allow spoke-to-spoke communication through the hub, you need to enable 'Use remote gateway' on spoke VNet peering (to use the hub's VPN gateway) and 'Allow gateway transit' on hub VNet peering. Additionally, you need to configure routes in the spoke subnets to send traffic to the hub firewall.
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 spoke VNets with a route table that has a default route to the hub VNet IP address.
Why it's wrong here
This would not route through the firewall correctly and may cause asymmetric routing.
- ✗
Enable 'Use remote gateway' on the spoke-to-hub peering and 'Allow gateway transit' on the hub-to-spoke peering.
- ✗
Enable 'Use remote gateway' on the hub-to-spoke peering and configure spoke subnets with a default route pointing to the hub VPN gateway.
- ✓
Enable 'Allow gateway transit' on the hub-to-spoke peering and configure spoke subnets with a default route pointing to the Azure Firewall private IP.
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 healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
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
- →
Secure networking practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
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All AZ-500 questions
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Microsoft Azure Security Engineer Associate AZ-500 study guide
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AZ-500 practice test guide
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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: Enable 'Allow gateway transit' on the hub-to-spoke peering and configure spoke subnets with a default route pointing to the Azure Firewall private IP. — To allow spoke-to-spoke communication through the hub, you need to enable 'Use remote gateway' on spoke VNet peering (to use the hub's VPN gateway) and 'Allow gateway transit' on hub VNet peering. Additionally, you need to configure routes in the spoke subnets to send traffic to the hub firewall.
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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