Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A company runs a web application on Azure App Service. During a marketing campaign, the application's traffic surges to five times its normal level. The application is configured to automatically add more instances to handle the increased load and then remove them when demand returns to normal. This ability to dynamically provision and de-provision resources based on real-time demand is a direct example of which cloud computing characteristic?
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.
A
Best answer
Elasticity
Correct. Elasticity is the cloud characteristic that enables resources to be automatically added or removed in response to real-time demand, allowing the application to handle traffic spikes and then scale back down to optimize costs.
B
Distractor review
Scalability
Scalability is the ability to increase capacity to handle growing demand, but it does not inherently imply automatic scaling down. Elasticity includes both scaling up and down dynamically, which is the key difference in this scenario.
C
Distractor review
High availability
High availability ensures that the application remains accessible despite component failures through redundancy (e.g., multiple instances in different zones). This scenario focuses on load-driven scaling, not failure recovery.
D
Distractor review
Fault tolerance
Fault tolerance refers to the ability of a system to continue operating without interruption when one or more components fail. The scenario describes scaling in response to demand, not handling component failures.
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.
Related practice questions
Related AZ-900 practice-question pages
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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: Elasticity — The scenario describes the ability to automatically add and remove resources to match fluctuating demand. This is the definition of elasticity in cloud computing. Scalability refers to the ability to increase capacity, but elasticity specifically describes the dynamic, automatic scaling up and down in response to workload changes. High availability focuses on ensuring uptime through redundancy, and fault tolerance is the ability to continue operating after component failures. The automatic, demand-driven scaling described here is the hallmark of elasticity.
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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