This AZ-500 practice question tests your understanding of secure networking. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
Your company has a hub-and-spoke network topology in Azure. The hub virtual network contains an Azure Firewall and a VPN gateway. Spoke virtual networks are peered to the hub. You need to ensure that all outbound traffic from spoke VMs to the internet is routed through the Azure Firewall. What should you configure on the spoke virtual networks?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create a route table with a route for 0.0.0.0/0 pointing to the Azure Firewall private IP, and associate it with the spoke subnets
Option C is correct because adding a route table with a default route (0.0.0.0/0) pointing to the Azure Firewall as the next hop forces all outbound traffic through the firewall. Option A is wrong because VNet peering does not automatically route internet traffic through a firewall. Option B is wrong because NSGs can control inbound/outbound rules but cannot route traffic. Option D is wrong because the firewall itself doesn't need a route table change.
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.
✗
Apply a network security group (NSG) to the spoke subnets with a deny rule for internet traffic
Why it's wrong here
An NSG can block traffic but cannot route it through a firewall.
✗
Configure VNet peering with 'Use remote gateway' enabled
Why it's wrong here
This only allows spokes to use the hub's VPNgateway for on-premises connectivity, not for internet routing.
✓
Create a route table with a route for 0.0.0.0/0 pointing to the Azure Firewall private IP, and associate it with the spoke subnets
Why this is correct
User-defined routes (UDRs) force traffic to the firewall for inspection.
Configure the Azure Firewall to use forced tunneling
Why it's wrong here
Forced tunneling is for firewall management traffic, not for routing spoke traffic.
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.
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: Create a route table with a route for 0.0.0.0/0 pointing to the Azure Firewall private IP, and associate it with the spoke subnets — Option C is correct because adding a route table with a default route (0.0.0.0/0) pointing to the Azure Firewall as the next hop forces all outbound traffic through the firewall. Option A is wrong because VNet peering does not automatically route internet traffic through a firewall. Option B is wrong because NSGs can control inbound/outbound rules but cannot route traffic. Option D is wrong because the firewall itself doesn't need a route table change.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.