The answer is to disable encryption on the VM and then re-enable ADE specifying the new key version. This is necessary because Azure Disk Encryption does not support automatic re-encryption after key rotation; the old key remains in use on the disk until you manually force a re-encryption cycle. On the AZ-500 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that ADE is a client-side encryption method that binds the disk to a specific key version at the time of encryption, and rotating the key in Key Vault only updates the key itself, not the disk’s encryption state. A common trap is assuming that updating the disk encryption set or deleting the old key will propagate the change, but those actions either only affect new disks or break the VM entirely. Remember the mnemonic: “Rotate the key, then re-encrypt the VM—disable and re-enable to force the new key in.”
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.
Your company uses Azure Managed Disks for VMs running a production database. The disks are encrypted with Azure Disk Encryption (ADE) using Azure Key Vault. Security policy requires that all encryption keys be rotated every 90 days. You have automated key rotation in Key Vault. However, after rotating the key, you find that the disks are still using the old key. You need to ensure that the disks use the new key after rotation. What should you do?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Disable encryption on the VM, then re-enable ADE specifying the new key version.
Option B is correct: ADE does not automatically re-encrypt disks after key rotation. You must disable encryption on the VM and then re-enable it with the new key version to force re-encryption. Option A: ADE does not support automatic re-encryption. Option C: Deleting the old key would break the VM. Option D: Updating the disk encryption set only affects new disks, not existing ones.
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.
✓
Disable encryption on the VM, then re-enable ADE specifying the new key version.
Why this is correct
Re-enabling encryption forces the disk to be re-encrypted with the new key.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Delete the old key version from Key Vault to force the disk to use the new key.
Why it's wrong here
Deleting the old key would make the disk unreadable.
✗
No action is needed; ADE automatically re-encrypts disks with the new key after rotation.
Why it's wrong here
ADE does not automatically re-encrypt after key rotation.
✗
Update the disk encryption set to reference the new key version; the disk will automatically use it.
Why it's wrong here
The disk encryption set association does not trigger re-encryption of existing disks.
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
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.
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: Disable encryption on the VM, then re-enable ADE specifying the new key version. — Option B is correct: ADE does not automatically re-encrypt disks after key rotation. You must disable encryption on the VM and then re-enable it with the new key version to force re-encryption. Option A: ADE does not support automatic re-encryption. Option C: Deleting the old key would break the VM. Option D: Updating the disk encryption set only affects new disks, not existing ones.
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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