This AZ-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe cloud concepts. 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.
Which of the following is an example of a 'hybrid cloud' deployment?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Running customer-facing applications on Azure while keeping sensitive HR data on on-premises servers
Option B is correct because a hybrid cloud deployment combines public cloud resources (Azure) with on-premises infrastructure, connected via technologies like VPNs or Azure ExpressRoute. Running customer-facing apps on Azure while keeping sensitive HR data on-premises exemplifies this blend, allowing organizations to maintain compliance or low latency for critical data while leveraging cloud scalability.
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.
✗
Using only Azure for all company workloads
Why it's wrong here
Using only Azure is a public cloud deployment; hybrid requires combining on-premises with cloud.
✓
Running customer-facing applications on Azure while keeping sensitive HR data on on-premises servers
Why this is correct
Hybrid cloud combines on-premises infrastructure for sensitive workloads with public cloud for others.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Using both Azure and AWS for different workloads
Why it's wrong here
Using multiple cloud providers describes multi-cloud, not hybrid (hybrid specifically combines on-premises with cloud).
✗
Storing data only in the cloud with no on-premises infrastructure
Why it's wrong here
Cloud-only deployment is public cloud; hybrid requires both on-premises and cloud components.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is confusing multi-cloud (using multiple public cloud providers) with hybrid cloud (public cloud plus on-premises/private cloud), leading candidates to incorrectly select Option C.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Hybrid cloud relies on seamless connectivity between environments, often using site-to-site VPNs (IPsec/IKE) or dedicated private links like Azure ExpressRoute with BGP peering for low-latency, consistent networking. This architecture enables workload portability and unified management through tools like Azure Arc, which extends Azure Resource Manager to on-premises servers, allowing consistent policy enforcement and monitoring across boundaries.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this AZ-900 question in full detail.
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: Running customer-facing applications on Azure while keeping sensitive HR data on on-premises servers — Option B is correct because a hybrid cloud deployment combines public cloud resources (Azure) with on-premises infrastructure, connected via technologies like VPNs or Azure ExpressRoute. Running customer-facing apps on Azure while keeping sensitive HR data on-premises exemplifies this blend, allowing organizations to maintain compliance or low latency for critical data while leveraging cloud scalability.
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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Question Discussion
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