A company deploys two Azure virtual machines in an availability set. The application requires that at least one VM remains running during Azure platform-initiated maintenance, such as operating system updates to the underlying host. Which component of the availability set directly ensures that the VMs are not updated at the same time?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
Distractor review
Fault domains
Fault domains protect VMs from hardware failures by placing them in different server racks, but they do not control which VMs are updated during planned maintenance.
Best answer
Update domains
Update domains ensure that VMs are updated sequentially during planned maintenance. By assigning VMs to different update domains, Azure updates only one update domain at a time, maintaining the required availability.
Distractor review
Proximity placement groups
Proximity placement groups are used to co-locate VMs for low network latency, not to manage maintenance updates or availability during platform updates.
Distractor review
Availability zones
Availability zones are physically separate datacenters within a region and are not a component of an availability set. They provide high availability across datacenters, but the question specifically asks about the component within an availability set that handles maintenance updates.
Common exam trap
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.
Technical deep dive
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.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A developer is building a serverless application that requires integration with an on-premises SQL Server database for real-time data processing. The on-premises network is connected to Azure via a site-to-site VPN. Which Azure service would allow the function to securely access the on-premises database without exposing it to the public internet?
Question 2
A solutions architect is designing a storage solution for a large media company. The company needs to store video files that are accessed infrequently but must be retained for several years for compliance. Which two Azure storage options meet these requirements? (Select two.)
Question 3
A company deploys a multi-tier application using Azure virtual machines. The web tier VMs must be evenly distributed across two distinct data centers within an Azure region to avoid a single point of failure from an infrastructure outage. Which Azure construct should they use to meet this requirement?
Question 4
A company wants to enforce a set of security policies across all their Azure subscriptions. They have created several individual policy definitions. Which Azure construct should they use to group these policies together and assign them as a single package?
Question 5
A company deploys a line-of-business application on an Azure virtual machine. The IT team wants to ensure the application remains secure. According to the shared responsibility model, which of the following security tasks is the sole responsibility of the customer (the company)?
Question 6
A company develops a web API that runs on Azure App Service. The development team wants to deploy a new version of the API to a staging environment, run integration tests against it, and then gradually shift production traffic to the new version. If any issues are detected, they want to immediately roll back to the previous version without redeploying. Which Azure App Service feature should the team use to meet these requirements?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-900 question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Update domains — An availability set groups VMs into update domains and fault domains. Update domains define a set of VMs that are updated together during planned maintenance. By placing VMs in different update domains, Azure ensures that only one update domain is taken offline at a time, keeping at least one VM running. Fault domains protect against hardware failures but do not affect maintenance updates. Availability zones are independent datacenters, not a component of an availability set. Proximity placement groups are used to minimize network latency between VMs.
What should I do if I get this AZ-900 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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