The answer is yes, you can select any supported Azure region as the recovery target for on-premises virtual machines using Azure Site Recovery, not just the paired region. This is because Azure Site Recovery’s replication architecture is region-agnostic within the service’s supported locations; the paired region is merely a default recommendation for cost and latency optimization, not a technical requirement. On the Microsoft Azure Fundamentals AZ-900 exam, this concept tests your understanding that Site Recovery offers flexible region selection, and a common trap is assuming paired regions are mandatory for disaster recovery. Instead, remember that while paired regions provide automatic failover benefits, you are free to choose any region that meets your regulatory or geographic needs. A helpful memory tip: “Paired is preferred, not required—pick any region that’s supported.”
AZ-900 Describe Azure architecture and services Practice Question
This AZ-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe azure architecture and services. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 plans to use Azure Site Recovery to replicate on-premises virtual machines to Azure for disaster recovery. Due to regulatory restrictions, they cannot use the paired region and must replicate to a specific Azure region in the same continent. Can they select this non-paired region as the recovery target?
Yes, you can select any Azure region as the target for replication.
Correct. Azure Site Recovery does not restrict you to paired regions; you can choose any region as the recovery target.
B
No, replication is only allowed to the paired region.
Why wrong: Incorrect. While Azure suggests paired regions for optimal performance and data residency, you are not forced to use only the paired region.
C
Yes, but only if both regions are within the same availability zone.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Availability zones are within a region, not across regions. The question involves two different regions.
D
No, only to regions that are within the same geography.
Why wrong: Incorrect. ASR can replicate to any region globally, not limited by geography boundaries.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Yes, you can select any Azure region as the target for replication.
Azure Site Recovery allows you to replicate on-premises virtual machines to any Azure region that supports the service, not just the paired region. The paired region is a default recommendation for cost and latency optimization, but it is not a mandatory requirement. Therefore, you can select a non-paired region as the recovery target as long as it is within the same continent and meets regulatory restrictions.
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.
✓
Yes, you can select any Azure region as the target for replication.
Why this is correct
Correct. Azure Site Recovery does not restrict you to paired regions; you can choose any region as the recovery target.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
No, replication is only allowed to the paired region.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. While Azure suggests paired regions for optimal performance and data residency, you are not forced to use only the paired region.
✗
Yes, but only if both regions are within the same availability zone.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Availability zones are within a region, not across regions. The question involves two different regions.
✗
No, only to regions that are within the same geography.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. ASR can replicate to any region globally, not limited by geography boundaries.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume Azure's paired region is mandatory for disaster recovery replication, but Azure Site Recovery explicitly allows selection of any supported region, making paired regions a recommendation rather than a requirement.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure Site Recovery uses the Azure Site Recovery service and the Microsoft Azure Recovery Services (MARS) agent or Azure Site Recovery Provider to replicate data asynchronously to a target region. The replication traffic flows over the internet or ExpressRoute, and the service supports cross-continent replication, though latency and bandwidth considerations apply. In real-world scenarios, regulatory restrictions may require selecting a specific region, and Azure Site Recovery's flexibility allows this without being forced to use the paired region.
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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
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 Azure architecture and services — This question tests Describe Azure architecture and services — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Yes, you can select any Azure region as the target for replication. — Azure Site Recovery allows you to replicate on-premises virtual machines to any Azure region that supports the service, not just the paired region. The paired region is a default recommendation for cost and latency optimization, but it is not a mandatory requirement. Therefore, you can select a non-paired region as the recovery target as long as it is within the same continent and meets regulatory restrictions.
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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