- A
One – assign a policy definition with the Deny effect.
Why wrong: A single Deny effect prevents creation but does not produce a separate compliance state for audit purposes; it only logs a denial event. The requirement explicitly asks for logging attempts for audit, which is more clearly satisfied by an Audit effect.
- B
One – assign a policy definition with the Audit effect.
Why wrong: An Audit effect logs the attempt and shows compliance state, but it does not block the creation of the VM. The requirement also includes preventing the VM from being created.
- C
Two – assign one policy definition with the Deny effect and another with the Audit effect.
Assigning two policies, one with Deny and one with Audit, simultaneously blocks forbidden VM SKU creation and provides a clear compliance view of all attempts (both successful and blocked) for auditing. This is the minimum configuration to satisfy both requirements.
- D
Two – assign one policy definition with the Deny effect and another with the Append effect.
Why wrong: The Append effect adds tags or settings but does not log attempts for audit. Combining Deny with Append still does not address the logging/audit requirement.
Quick Answer
The answer is two, because Azure Policy enforces only a single effect per policy definition, so you need separate assignments for the Deny and Audit effects. The Deny effect blocks the creation of Standard_DS3_v2 VMs, while the Audit effect logs every attempt—whether the VM is blocked or allowed—providing a complete audit trail. On the AZ-900 exam, this tests your understanding that a policy definition cannot combine multiple effects; each assignment applies one effect type to a specific scope. A common trap is assuming a single policy can both deny and audit, but Azure Policy requires distinct definitions for each action. Remember the memory tip: “One effect, one job—Deny blocks, Audit logs.”
AZ-900 Describe Azure management and governance Practice Question
This AZ-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe azure management and governance. 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 uses Azure Policy to enforce governance. They want to prevent users from creating virtual machines of the Standard_DS3_v2 SKU in their subscription, and they also want to log any attempt to create such a VM (whether successful or not) for audit purposes. What is the minimum number of Azure Policy assignments required to meet both requirements?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"minimum / minimize"Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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
Two – assign one policy definition with the Deny effect and another with the Audit effect.
Option C is correct because Azure Policy can only enforce a single effect per policy definition. To both deny the creation of Standard_DS3_v2 VMs and log all attempts (successful or denied) for audit, you need two separate policy assignments: one with the Deny effect to block the action, and another with the Audit effect to log the attempt. A single policy cannot combine both effects, as each definition is limited to one effect type.
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.
- ✗
One – assign a policy definition with the Deny effect.
Why it's wrong here
A single Deny effect prevents creation but does not produce a separate compliance state for audit purposes; it only logs a denial event. The requirement explicitly asks for logging attempts for audit, which is more clearly satisfied by an Audit effect.
- ✗
One – assign a policy definition with the Audit effect.
Why it's wrong here
An Audit effect logs the attempt and shows compliance state, but it does not block the creation of the VM. The requirement also includes preventing the VM from being created.
- ✓
Two – assign one policy definition with the Deny effect and another with the Audit effect.
Why this is correct
Assigning two policies, one with Deny and one with Audit, simultaneously blocks forbidden VM SKU creation and provides a clear compliance view of all attempts (both successful and blocked) for auditing. This is the minimum configuration to satisfy both requirements.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Two – assign one policy definition with the Deny effect and another with the Append effect.
Why it's wrong here
The Append effect adds tags or settings but does not log attempts for audit. Combining Deny with Append still does not address the logging/audit requirement.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume a single policy can have multiple effects or that the Audit effect alone can both log and block, but Azure Policy strictly enforces one effect per definition, requiring separate assignments for deny and audit actions.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
An Audit effect logs the attempt and shows compliance state, but it does not block the creation of the VM. The requirement also includes preventing the VM from being created.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure Policy effects are mutually exclusive per policy definition: Deny blocks the request and returns a 403 Forbidden, Audit logs the request to the activity log without blocking, and Append modifies the resource properties. To meet both requirements, you must assign two separate policy definitions—one with Deny targeting the SKU and one with Audit targeting the same SKU—so that the Audit policy logs the attempt even when the Deny policy blocks it. In a real-world scenario, this dual-assignment pattern is common for compliance frameworks like PCI DSS that require both preventive controls and audit trails.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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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: Two – assign one policy definition with the Deny effect and another with the Audit effect. — Option C is correct because Azure Policy can only enforce a single effect per policy definition. To both deny the creation of Standard_DS3_v2 VMs and log all attempts (successful or denied) for audit, you need two separate policy assignments: one with the Deny effect to block the action, and another with the Audit effect to log the attempt. A single policy cannot combine both effects, as each definition is limited to one effect type.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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.
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