- A
Apply a 'ReadOnly' lock on the resource group.
Why wrong: A 'ReadOnly' lock prevents any modifications, including updates and deletions. This is too restrictive because the requirement is to allow modifications to the resources while only blocking deletion.
- B
Apply a 'CanNotDelete' lock on the resource group.
A 'CanNotDelete' lock allows read and update operations but blocks delete operations on the resource group. This lock applies to all users, including those with the Owner role, making it the correct governance control to prevent accidental or intentional deletion while allowing modifications.
- C
Assign a custom RBAC role that denies delete actions at the resource group scope.
Why wrong: While a custom RBAC role can deny delete actions, it is not a foolproof governance control. Users with elevated roles (such as Owner) might override the deny assignment, or the assignment could be changed by other administrators. Azure Resource Locks provide a stronger enforcement that overrides RBAC permissions.
- D
Move the resource group to a separate subscription with billing separation.
Why wrong: Moving the resource group to a different subscription does not inherently prevent deletion. Users with administrative access to that subscription could still delete the resource group. This action does not provide the required protection against deletion.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to apply a CanNotDelete lock at the resource group level. This governance control explicitly prevents any user, including those with the Owner role, from deleting the resource group while still allowing all modifications—such as adding or updating virtual machines and databases—inside it. The lock overrides all Azure RBAC permissions for delete operations, making it the ideal solution when you need to protect the container itself without restricting changes to its contents. On the AZ-900 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how resource locks differ from role-based access control, with a common trap being confusion between the CanNotDelete and ReadOnly locks. Remember that CanNotDelete is a "soft shield" for the resource group boundary, not for the resources within. A helpful memory tip: think of CanNotDelete as a "gate lock" that keeps the group safe from removal but leaves the door open for daily work.
AZ-900 Describe Azure management and governance Practice Question
This AZ-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe azure management and governance. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 has a critical Azure resource group that contains all production virtual machines and databases. The IT security administrator wants to ensure that no user, including members of the 'Owner' role, can accidentally or intentionally delete this resource group. The solution must not prevent modification of resources inside the resource group. The administrator needs to apply a governance control at the resource group level. What should the administrator do?
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
Apply a 'CanNotDelete' lock on the resource group.
Option B is correct because applying a 'CanNotDelete' lock at the resource group level prevents any user, including those with the Owner role, from deleting the resource group while still allowing modifications (e.g., adding or updating resources) inside it. This lock overrides all RBAC permissions for delete operations, making it the appropriate governance control for this requirement.
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.
- ✗
Apply a 'ReadOnly' lock on the resource group.
Why it's wrong here
A 'ReadOnly' lock prevents any modifications, including updates and deletions. This is too restrictive because the requirement is to allow modifications to the resources while only blocking deletion.
- ✓
Apply a 'CanNotDelete' lock on the resource group.
Why this is correct
A 'CanNotDelete' lock allows read and update operations but blocks delete operations on the resource group. This lock applies to all users, including those with the Owner role, making it the correct governance control to prevent accidental or intentional deletion while allowing modifications.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Assign a custom RBAC role that denies delete actions at the resource group scope.
Why it's wrong here
While a custom RBAC role can deny delete actions, it is not a foolproof governance control. Users with elevated roles (such as Owner) might override the deny assignment, or the assignment could be changed by other administrators. Azure Resource Locks provide a stronger enforcement that overrides RBAC permissions.
- ✗
Move the resource group to a separate subscription with billing separation.
Why it's wrong here
Moving the resource group to a different subscription does not inherently prevent deletion. Users with administrative access to that subscription could still delete the resource group. This action does not provide the required protection against deletion.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse resource locks with RBAC roles, thinking a custom RBAC deny assignment is sufficient, but locks are the only mechanism that can prevent deletion even by Owners without requiring additional permission management.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure resource locks operate at a higher priority than RBAC, meaning they apply even to users with Owner permissions, effectively creating a 'deny' that cannot be overridden by role assignments. The 'CanNotDelete' lock specifically blocks delete operations on the resource group and its child resources, but allows read and update operations, which is why it is ideal for protecting critical production environments. In contrast, RBAC deny assignments can be removed by a user with sufficient privileges (e.g., Owner), making them less secure for this use case.
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.
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: Apply a 'CanNotDelete' lock on the resource group. — Option B is correct because applying a 'CanNotDelete' lock at the resource group level prevents any user, including those with the Owner role, from deleting the resource group while still allowing modifications (e.g., adding or updating resources) inside it. This lock overrides all RBAC permissions for delete operations, making it the appropriate governance control for this requirement.
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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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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