A company's field employees use a custom mobile app to upload sales data from their smartphones while at client sites. The app connects to an Azure-hosted backend API. The company's IT team notes that the mobile app can connect to the Azure service using standard HTTPS from any location with internet connectivity, without requiring a VPN. This ability to access cloud resources over the internet from various devices and locations is an example of which key characteristic of cloud computing?
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
Rapid elasticity
This option is incorrect. Rapid elasticity refers to the ability to quickly scale computing resources out and in based on demand, automatically. The scenario describes accessing services from remote devices, not scaling resources.
Distractor review
Measured service
This option is incorrect. Measured service means that cloud systems automatically control and optimize resource usage by leveraging a metering capability. The scenario is about connectivity and device access, not about metering or billing.
Best answer
Broad network access
This option is correct. Broad network access is the characteristic that cloud resources are available over the network and can be accessed by standard protocols from a wide variety of client devices (e.g., smartphones, laptops). The scenario explicitly describes this capability.
Distractor review
Resource pooling
This option is incorrect. Resource pooling refers to the cloud provider's computing resources being pooled to serve multiple consumers using a multi-tenant model. The scenario involves individual device access, not the pooling or sharing of resources among customers.
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
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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: Broad network access — This question tests understanding of the five essential characteristics of cloud computing as defined by NIST. The described scenario – accessing cloud services from various devices (smartphones) over standard network protocols (HTTPS) from any location with internet connectivity – directly illustrates 'broad network access'. This characteristic ensures that resources are available over the network and can be accessed by diverse client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, laptops) using standard mechanisms. The other options describe different characteristics: rapid elasticity refers to quickly scaling resources up or down; measured service involves metering resource usage for billing and optimization; resource pooling means the provider's computing resources are pooled to serve multiple customers using a multi-tenant model.
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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