Question 99 of 1,031

Describe cloud concepts →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The answer is broad network access. This scenario demonstrates that cloud resources are accessible over standard network protocols like HTTPS from a wide range of devices—laptops and smartphones—using public Wi-Fi or cellular networks, without requiring a VPN or dedicated private connection. On the Microsoft Azure Fundamentals AZ-900 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish broad network access from other cloud characteristics like rapid elasticity or measured service; a common trap is confusing it with high availability, but the key clue here is the ability to connect from any internet-connected device anywhere. Remember the memory tip: “Broad network access = BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) over any public network.”

AZ-900 Describe cloud concepts Practice Question

This AZ-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe cloud concepts. 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 global consulting firm has offices in New York, London, and Tokyo. They deployed a document management system on Azure App Service. Consultants need to access the system from any location worldwide using laptops or smartphones over public Wi-Fi or cellular networks, without needing a VPN connection. After deployment, all consultants can successfully log in and use the application from any internet-connected device. Which characteristic of cloud computing does this scenario best illustrate?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.

Question 1mediummultiple choice

Read the full wireless explanation →

A
High availability
Why wrong: High availability focuses on ensuring the application remains operational despite component failures, not on the ability to access it from any location.
B
Broad network access
Broad network access means resources can be accessed over the network from a wide range of devices and locations using standard protocols, which is exactly what the consultants experience.
C
Resource pooling
Why wrong: Resource pooling refers to the cloud provider's multi-tenant model where physical and virtual resources are shared among multiple customers, not the global accessibility of the service.
D
Rapid elasticity
Why wrong: Rapid elasticity is the ability to quickly scale resources up or down based on demand, which is not demonstrated by simply accessing the system from different locations.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

Broad network access

This scenario best illustrates broad network access because the document management system is accessible over the internet from any location using laptops or smartphones without requiring a VPN. Broad network access means resources can be accessed via standard network protocols (e.g., HTTPS) from a wide range of devices, including mobile phones and laptops, over public networks like Wi-Fi or cellular. The consultants' ability to log in and use the application from any internet-connected device directly demonstrates this characteristic.

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.

✗
High availability
Why it's wrong here
High availability focuses on ensuring the application remains operational despite component failures, not on the ability to access it from any location.
✓
Broad network access
Why this is correct
Broad network access means resources can be accessed over the network from a wide range of devices and locations using standard protocols, which is exactly what the consultants experience.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Resource pooling
Why it's wrong here
Resource pooling refers to the cloud provider's multi-tenant model where physical and virtual resources are shared among multiple customers, not the global accessibility of the service.
✗
Rapid elasticity
Why it's wrong here
Rapid elasticity is the ability to quickly scale resources up or down based on demand, which is not demonstrated by simply accessing the system from different locations.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates confuse 'broad network access' with 'high availability' because both involve being 'accessible from anywhere,' but high availability focuses on uptime and fault tolerance, not the variety of devices and network types used for access.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Broad network access is defined by the NIST SP 800-145 standard as 'capabilities are available over the network and accessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneous thin or thick client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and workstations).' In practice, this means Azure App Service exposes an HTTPS endpoint (port 443) that can be reached from any device with a web browser, without requiring site-to-site VPN or ExpressRoute. The underlying HTTP/2 and TLS 1.2+ protocols ensure secure, cross-platform connectivity, which is why consultants can use both laptops and smartphones over public Wi-Fi or cellular networks.

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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this AZ-900 question test?

Describe cloud concepts — This question tests Describe cloud concepts — 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 scenario best illustrates broad network access because the document management system is accessible over the internet from any location using laptops or smartphones without requiring a VPN. Broad network access means resources can be accessed via standard network protocols (e.g., HTTPS) from a wide range of devices, including mobile phones and laptops, over public networks like Wi-Fi or cellular. The consultants' ability to log in and use the application from any internet-connected device directly demonstrates this characteristic.

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: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.

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

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