- A
Azure Policy with the DeployIfNotExists effect
This option is correct. The DeployIfNotExists effect automatically deploys a template to configure diagnostic settings on resources that do not have them, making it ideal for ensuring compliance on newly created SQL databases.
- B
Azure Blueprints with a resource group artifact
Why wrong: This option is incorrect. While Blueprints can define policy assignments, the automatic remediation at resource creation time is a feature of the policy effect (DeployIfNotExists) itself, not the Blueprint artifact. Blueprints do not directly deploy configurations to new resources independently.
- C
Azure Resource Manager templates deployed via Azure DevOps
Why wrong: This option is incorrect. ARM templates require manual or pipeline-triggered deployment. They do not automatically apply to newly created resources unless explicitly triggered, which does not meet the 'without manual intervention' requirement.
- D
Azure Monitor with a data collection rule
Why wrong: This option is incorrect. Data collection rules in Azure Monitor are used to specify how data is collected from virtual machines, not to configure diagnostic settings for Azure SQL databases. They do not enforce compliance on resource creation.
Quick Answer
The answer is Azure Policy with the DeployIfNotExists effect. This effect is the correct choice because it automatically evaluates new Azure SQL databases against a policy rule and, if diagnostic settings are missing, triggers a remediation task to deploy them to the specified Log Analytics workspace, enabling automatic remediation without manual scripting. On the AZ-900 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of Azure Policy’s governance capabilities, specifically how DeployIfNotExists enforces compliance at resource creation time across multiple subscriptions. A common trap is confusing this with Azure Blueprints or Azure Resource Manager templates, which require manual deployment or scripting. Remember the key distinction: DeployIfNotExists is for automatic, policy-driven remediation of non-compliant resources as they are created. For a memory tip, think “DeployIfNotExists = Deploy on creation, no scripting needed.”
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 manages hundreds of Azure SQL databases across multiple subscriptions. The compliance team requires that every Azure SQL database has diagnostic settings enabled to send logs to a central Log Analytics workspace. The team wants a solution that automatically configures diagnostic settings for any new Azure SQL database when it is created, without requiring manual intervention or additional scripting. Which Azure governance feature should the team use?
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
Azure Policy with the DeployIfNotExists effect
Azure Policy with the DeployIfNotExists effect is the correct choice because it automatically evaluates new Azure SQL databases against a policy rule and, if diagnostic settings are missing, triggers a remediation task to deploy them to the specified Log Analytics workspace. This effect operates at resource creation time without manual intervention or scripting, fulfilling the compliance team's requirement for automatic, consistent configuration across all subscriptions.
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.
- ✓
Azure Policy with the DeployIfNotExists effect
Why this is correct
This option is correct. The DeployIfNotExists effect automatically deploys a template to configure diagnostic settings on resources that do not have them, making it ideal for ensuring compliance on newly created SQL databases.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Azure Blueprints with a resource group artifact
Why it's wrong here
This option is incorrect. While Blueprints can define policy assignments, the automatic remediation at resource creation time is a feature of the policy effect (DeployIfNotExists) itself, not the Blueprint artifact. Blueprints do not directly deploy configurations to new resources independently.
- ✗
Azure Resource Manager templates deployed via Azure DevOps
Why it's wrong here
This option is incorrect. ARM templates require manual or pipeline-triggered deployment. They do not automatically apply to newly created resources unless explicitly triggered, which does not meet the 'without manual intervention' requirement.
- ✗
Azure Monitor with a data collection rule
Why it's wrong here
This option is incorrect. Data collection rules in Azure Monitor are used to specify how data is collected from virtual machines, not to configure diagnostic settings for Azure SQL databases. They do not enforce compliance on resource creation.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Azure Policy's DeployIfNotExists effect with Azure Blueprints or Azure Monitor data collection rules, mistakenly thinking those can automatically configure resources at creation time, but only Azure Policy provides native, automatic enforcement and remediation without additional scripting or manual triggers.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The DeployIfNotExists effect in Azure Policy uses a managed identity to perform remediation tasks, ensuring that the diagnostic settings are applied even if the resource creator lacks permissions. Under the hood, the policy engine evaluates resources during create or update operations via the Azure Resource Manager, and the remediation task runs asynchronously to deploy the ARM template for diagnostic settings. In a real-world scenario, this ensures that a new Azure SQL database created by a developer in any subscription is automatically configured to stream logs to the central Log Analytics workspace, maintaining compliance without manual oversight.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Describe Azure management and governance — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Describe Azure management and governance practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All AZ-900 questions
1,031 questions across all exam domains
- →
Microsoft Azure Fundamentals AZ-900 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
AZ-900 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related AZ-900 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Describe cloud concepts practice questions
Practise AZ-900 questions linked to Describe cloud concepts.
Describe Azure architecture and services practice questions
Practise AZ-900 questions linked to Describe Azure architecture and services.
Describe Azure management and governance practice questions
Practise AZ-900 questions linked to Describe Azure management and governance.
AZ-900 Azure services practice questions
Practise AZ-900 questions linked to AZ-900 Azure services.
AZ-900 pricing and support practice questions
Practise AZ-900 questions linked to AZ-900 pricing and support.
AZ-900 security and compliance practice questions
Practise AZ-900 questions linked to AZ-900 security and compliance.
AZ-900 governance practice questions
Practise AZ-900 questions linked to AZ-900 governance.
Practice this exam
Start a free AZ-900 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
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: Azure Policy with the DeployIfNotExists effect — Azure Policy with the DeployIfNotExists effect is the correct choice because it automatically evaluates new Azure SQL databases against a policy rule and, if diagnostic settings are missing, triggers a remediation task to deploy them to the specified Log Analytics workspace. This effect operates at resource creation time without manual intervention or scripting, fulfilling the compliance team's requirement for automatic, consistent configuration across all subscriptions.
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 →
Keep practising
More AZ-900 practice questions
- A company uses Azure and wants to organize all their virtual machines, databases, and storage accounts into logical cont…
- A company uses multiple Azure subscriptions for different departments. The finance team wants to monitor spending across…
- A company wants to ensure that all Azure resources are tagged with a 'CostCenter' tag at creation time. If a resource is…
- A company uses Azure Blueprints to define a repeatable set of Azure resources and policies for new subscriptions. They w…
- A company uses Azure Policy to enforce governance. They want to prevent users from creating virtual machines of the Stan…
- A company wants to ensure that all Azure resources are tagged with metadata such as 'Environment' and 'Department'. They…
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.