- A
On-demand self-service
Why wrong: On-demand self-service allows users to provision computing resources (e.g., VMs, storage) as needed without requiring manual approval from the cloud provider's IT staff. The scenario does not describe the users provisioning any resources; they are simply accessing an already-deployed application.
- B
Broad network access
Broad network access means that cloud resources are available over the network through standard mechanisms (e.g., web browser, SSH, RDP) from a variety of client platforms (laptops, mobile phones, tablets). The scenario explicitly describes salespeople accessing the CRM via standard web browsers from any location, without special client software, which perfectly matches this characteristic.
- C
Resource pooling
Why wrong: Resource pooling refers to the cloud provider's ability to serve multiple customers using a multi-tenant model, with physical and virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned based on demand. While the CRM application may technically run in a pooled environment, the scenario focuses on how users access the application, not on how the underlying infrastructure is shared.
- D
Rapid elasticity
Why wrong: Rapid elasticity is the ability to quickly scale resources up or down, often automatically, to meet changing demand. The scenario does not mention any scaling activity; it only describes the accessibility of the application from various devices and locations.
Quick Answer
The answer is broad network access, as this scenario directly demonstrates the cloud computing characteristic where resources are available over the network and accessed through standard mechanisms by heterogeneous client platforms. The sales team’s ability to use company laptops and personal mobile devices from airports, homes, and client offices—via a standard web browser over the internet without special software or dedicated connections—perfectly matches the NIST SP 800-145 definition of broad network access. On the Microsoft Azure Fundamentals AZ-900 exam, this concept tests your understanding of how cloud services are universally reachable, often appearing in scenarios contrasting it with limited access or requiring VPNs. A common trap is confusing broad network access with on-demand self-service; remember that broad network access focuses on ubiquitous connectivity and device diversity, not provisioning speed. A useful memory tip is to think of “broad” as “broad reach”—any device, any location, any network, as long as it’s standard.
AZ-900 Describe cloud concepts Practice Question
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.
A company hosts a customer relationship management (CRM) application on Azure virtual machines. The sales team needs to access the CRM from various locations, including the airport, home, and client offices, using company-issued laptops and personal mobile devices. The application is accessible via a standard web browser over the internet without requiring any special client software or dedicated network connections. Which fundamental characteristic of cloud computing does this scenario primarily demonstrate?
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
Broad network access
The scenario describes users accessing the CRM application from various locations (airport, home, client offices) using different devices (company laptops and personal mobile phones) over the internet via a standard web browser without special client software or dedicated network connections. This directly maps to the cloud computing characteristic of broad network access, which is defined by NIST SP 800-145 as resources that are available over the network and accessed through standard mechanisms (e.g., web browsers, HTTPS) that promote use by heterogeneous client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, laptops, workstations).
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.
- ✗
On-demand self-service
Why it's wrong here
On-demand self-service allows users to provision computing resources (e.g., VMs, storage) as needed without requiring manual approval from the cloud provider's IT staff. The scenario does not describe the users provisioning any resources; they are simply accessing an already-deployed application.
- ✓
Broad network access
Why this is correct
Broad network access means that cloud resources are available over the network through standard mechanisms (e.g., web browser, SSH, RDP) from a variety of client platforms (laptops, mobile phones, tablets). The scenario explicitly describes salespeople accessing the CRM via standard web browsers from any location, without special client software, which perfectly matches this characteristic.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Resource pooling
Why it's wrong here
Resource pooling refers to the cloud provider's ability to serve multiple customers using a multi-tenant model, with physical and virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned based on demand. While the CRM application may technically run in a pooled environment, the scenario focuses on how users access the application, not on how the underlying infrastructure is shared.
- ✗
Rapid elasticity
Why it's wrong here
Rapid elasticity is the ability to quickly scale resources up or down, often automatically, to meet changing demand. The scenario does not mention any scaling activity; it only describes the accessibility of the application from various devices and locations.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse 'broad network access' with 'on-demand self-service' because both involve user interaction over the internet, but on-demand self-service specifically requires the user to provision or manage resources themselves, not just consume an existing application.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
On-demand self-service allows users to provision computing resources (e.g., VMs, storage) as needed without requiring manual approval from the cloud provider's IT staff. The scenario does not describe the users provisioning any resources; they are simply accessing an already-deployed application.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Broad network access is enabled by standard network protocols such as HTTPS (RFC 2818) and TLS (RFC 8446), which allow encrypted communication over the internet from any device with a compliant browser. In Azure, this is often facilitated by Azure Application Gateway or Azure Front Door, which provide SSL termination, load balancing, and global routing to ensure consistent access regardless of the user's location. A subtle behavior is that broad network access does not require the user to be on a VPN or corporate network; it relies on publicly routable endpoints and standard ports (443 for HTTPS), which is why the scenario explicitly mentions 'no dedicated network connections'.
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
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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: Broad network access — The scenario describes users accessing the CRM application from various locations (airport, home, client offices) using different devices (company laptops and personal mobile phones) over the internet via a standard web browser without special client software or dedicated network connections. This directly maps to the cloud computing characteristic of broad network access, which is defined by NIST SP 800-145 as resources that are available over the network and accessed through standard mechanisms (e.g., web browsers, HTTPS) that promote use by heterogeneous client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, laptops, workstations).
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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