- A
DeployIfNotExists
DeployIfNotExists will automatically deploy a diagnostic setting to a storage account if it does not already exist. This meets the requirement of automatic configuration without blocking the storage account creation.
- B
Audit
Why wrong: Audit creates a compliance log entry when a condition is evaluated, but it does not take any action to deploy or change resources. It would only report non-compliance, not automatically configure the diagnostic settings.
- C
Deny
Why wrong: Deny prevents the creation of resources that do not meet the policy condition. In this case, it would block the creation of a storage account that lacks diagnostic settings, which contradicts the requirement to allow creation and then automatically configure.
- D
Append
Why wrong: Append is used to add additional fields or properties to an existing resource during creation or update, such as adding a tag. It cannot deploy a separate resource like a diagnostic setting, so it is not suitable for this scenario.
Quick Answer
The answer is DeployIfNotExists. This Azure Policy effect is the correct choice because it automatically deploys a remediation task to configure diagnostic settings on storage accounts that lack them, without blocking the initial creation of the resource. Unlike Deny or Append, DeployIfNotExists evaluates resources after creation and triggers a deployment to bring non-compliant resources into compliance, which aligns perfectly with the requirement for automatic configuration without manual intervention. On the Microsoft Azure Fundamentals AZ-900 exam, this question tests your understanding of how Azure Policy effects differ in their enforcement behavior—specifically, that DeployIfNotExists is used for remediation rather than prevention. A common trap is confusing it with Append, which only modifies resource properties but cannot deploy complex configurations like diagnostic settings. Remember the memory tip: "DeployIfNotExists fixes what's missing after creation," contrasting with "Deny blocks before creation."
AZ-900 Describe Azure management and governance Practice Question
This AZ-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe azure management and governance. 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 has a policy that all Azure Storage accounts must have diagnostic settings enabled to send logs and metrics to a specific Log Analytics workspace. The governance team wants to automatically configure these diagnostic settings when a new storage account is created, without blocking the initial creation. The solution must not require manual intervention. Which Azure Policy effect should the team use in their policy definition?
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
DeployIfNotExists
The DeployIfNotExists effect is correct because it automatically deploys a remediation task to configure diagnostic settings on storage accounts that lack them, without blocking the initial creation of the resource. This effect evaluates resources after creation and triggers a deployment to bring non-compliant resources into compliance, which aligns with the requirement for automatic configuration without manual intervention.
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.
- ✓
DeployIfNotExists
Why this is correct
DeployIfNotExists will automatically deploy a diagnostic setting to a storage account if it does not already exist. This meets the requirement of automatic configuration without blocking the storage account creation.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Audit
Why it's wrong here
Audit creates a compliance log entry when a condition is evaluated, but it does not take any action to deploy or change resources. It would only report non-compliance, not automatically configure the diagnostic settings.
- ✗
Deny
Why it's wrong here
Deny prevents the creation of resources that do not meet the policy condition. In this case, it would block the creation of a storage account that lacks diagnostic settings, which contradicts the requirement to allow creation and then automatically configure.
- ✗
Append
Why it's wrong here
Append is used to add additional fields or properties to an existing resource during creation or update, such as adding a tag. It cannot deploy a separate resource like a diagnostic setting, so it is not suitable for this scenario.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose Audit thinking it will automatically fix the issue, or Deny thinking it will enforce compliance, but only DeployIfNotExists provides automatic remediation without blocking creation.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
Append is used to add additional fields or properties to an existing resource during creation or update, such as adding a tag. It cannot deploy a separate resource like a diagnostic setting, so it is not suitable for this scenario.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, DeployIfNotExists uses a managed identity assigned to the policy assignment to execute ARM template deployments via a remediation task. The policy evaluates resources after creation (typically within 30 minutes) and, if the diagnostic settings are missing, triggers a deployment to the Log Analytics workspace using the `Microsoft.Insights/diagnosticSettings` resource type. In a real-world scenario, this effect is ideal for enforcing baseline configurations across subscriptions without disrupting DevOps pipelines that create resources rapidly.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
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 Azure management and governance — This question tests Describe Azure management and governance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: DeployIfNotExists — The DeployIfNotExists effect is correct because it automatically deploys a remediation task to configure diagnostic settings on storage accounts that lack them, without blocking the initial creation of the resource. This effect evaluates resources after creation and triggers a deployment to bring non-compliant resources into compliance, which aligns with the requirement for automatic configuration without manual intervention.
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.
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 →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on AZ-900
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company uses Azure Policy to require that all storage accounts must have blob soft delete enabled. They also want to automatically create a remediation task that fixes any existing non-compliant storage accounts. Which policy effect should they include in the policy definition to achieve automatic remediation?
medium- A.Deny
- B.Audit
- ✓ C.DeployIfNotExists
- D.Append
Why C: The DeployIfNotExists effect is designed to automatically remediate non-compliant resources by deploying a defined template (e.g., enabling blob soft delete) when the resource is evaluated as non-compliant. This effect triggers a remediation task that can be run on existing resources, ensuring all storage accounts meet the policy requirement without manual intervention.
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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