- A
Patching the operating system of the web server
Why wrong: In PaaS like Azure App Service, the cloud provider manages the underlying operating system, including patching. The customer does not have to patch the OS.
- B
Managing network security groups for the virtual network
Why wrong: In PaaS, the provider manages the network infrastructure. While customers can configure some network controls (e.g., access restrictions), the underlying network security groups are managed by Azure for the platform. The customer is responsible for configuring inbound/outbound access rules at the application level, but not the virtual network NSGs unless they integrate their own VNet.
- C
Managing user access to the application and database
Correct. Identity and access management, including who can access the application and the data, is always the customer's responsibility, regardless of the service model. The customer must enforce authentication and authorization.
- D
Physical security of the Azure data center
Why wrong: Physical security of the data center, including facility access controls, guards, and environmental controls, is the responsibility of the cloud provider. The customer has no control over physical infrastructure in PaaS.
AZ-900 Describe cloud concepts Practice Question
This AZ-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe cloud concepts. 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.
A company migrates its web application to Azure App Service (PaaS) and its data to Azure SQL Database (PaaS). The company wants to understand which security responsibilities it retains after the migration. According to the shared responsibility model, which of the following responsibilities remains the responsibility of the company (customer) when using these PaaS services?
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
Managing user access to the application and database
In the shared responsibility model for PaaS, the cloud provider manages the underlying infrastructure, including the OS and network security groups, while the customer retains responsibility for managing access to their application and data. For Azure App Service and Azure SQL Database, this means the customer must configure authentication, authorization, and user permissions (e.g., using Azure Active Directory or SQL logins) to control who can access the application and database.
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.
- ✗
Patching the operating system of the web server
Why it's wrong here
In PaaS like Azure App Service, the cloud provider manages the underlying operating system, including patching. The customer does not have to patch the OS.
- ✗
Managing network security groups for the virtual network
Why it's wrong here
In PaaS, the provider manages the network infrastructure. While customers can configure some network controls (e.g., access restrictions), the underlying network security groups are managed by Azure for the platform. The customer is responsible for configuring inbound/outbound access rules at the application level, but not the virtual network NSGs unless they integrate their own VNet.
- ✓
Managing user access to the application and database
Why this is correct
Correct. Identity and access management, including who can access the application and the data, is always the customer's responsibility, regardless of the service model. The customer must enforce authentication and authorization.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Physical security of the Azure data center
Why it's wrong here
Physical security of the data center, including facility access controls, guards, and environmental controls, is the responsibility of the cloud provider. The customer has no control over physical infrastructure in PaaS.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse PaaS with IaaS, assuming they must manage OS patching or network security groups, when in fact PaaS shifts those responsibilities to the provider, leaving user access management as the key retained duty.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Azure App Service runs on a multi-tenant platform where Microsoft applies OS patches via automated update processes (e.g., using Azure Update Manager for the underlying VMs), and Azure SQL Database uses a managed instance where Microsoft handles OS and SQL Server patching. A real-world scenario where this matters is a compliance audit: the customer must demonstrate they control user access via Azure RBAC roles (e.g., 'SQL DB Contributor') or SQL authentication, while Microsoft provides evidence of physical and OS-level controls.
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.
TExam Day Tips
- 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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-900 question test?
Describe cloud concepts — This question tests Describe cloud concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Managing user access to the application and database — In the shared responsibility model for PaaS, the cloud provider manages the underlying infrastructure, including the OS and network security groups, while the customer retains responsibility for managing access to their application and data. For Azure App Service and Azure SQL Database, this means the customer must configure authentication, authorization, and user permissions (e.g., using Azure Active Directory or SQL logins) to control who can access the application and database.
What should I do if I get this AZ-900 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This AZ-900 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-900 exam.
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