The answer is a dedicated subnet named AzureBastionSubnet and a private IP address on the virtual machine. Azure Bastion provides secure RDP and SSH connectivity to Azure VMs directly through the Azure portal, bypassing the need for any public IP exposure. To function, it must be deployed into its own dedicated subnet called AzureBastionSubnet (minimum /26) within the same virtual network, and the target VM must have a private IP assigned so Bastion can establish the session internally. On the AZ-500 exam, this question tests your understanding of secure remote access architecture and common misconfigurations—many candidates mistakenly think the VM or Bastion host needs a public IP, but Bastion actually eliminates that requirement. The key trap is confusing Bastion’s subnet requirement with a public IP requirement for the VM. Memory tip: think “Bastion = Bridge, not a Public IP”—the subnet is the bridge, the private IP is the destination.
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.
Which TWO configurations are required to enable Azure Bastion to connect to a virtual machine without a public IP address?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The virtual network must have a subnet named AzureBastionSubnet.
Options A and D are correct. Azure Bastion requires a dedicated subnet named AzureBastionSubnet and the VM must have a private IP. Option B is wrong because Bastion does not require a public IP for the VM. Option C is wrong because Bastion does not require an NSG on the VM's subnet. Option E is wrong because Bastion does not require a public IP on the Bastion host.
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.
✗
The virtual machine must have a public IP address.
Why it's wrong here
Bastion eliminates the need for a public IP on the VM.
✓
The virtual network must have a subnet named AzureBastionSubnet.
Why this is correct
Azure Bastion requires a dedicated subnet with this name.
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
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
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: The virtual network must have a subnet named AzureBastionSubnet. — Options A and D are correct. Azure Bastion requires a dedicated subnet named AzureBastionSubnet and the VM must have a private IP. Option B is wrong because Bastion does not require a public IP for the VM. Option C is wrong because Bastion does not require an NSG on the VM's subnet. Option E is wrong because Bastion does not require a public IP on the Bastion host.
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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Question Discussion
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