A manufacturing company deploys a batch processing application on Azure. The processing workload is highly unpredictable; sometimes the application requires hundreds of virtual machines for a few hours to process a large queue of jobs, and at other times it requires only a handful of virtual machines. The company configures the application to automatically add and remove virtual machines based on the size of the processing queue, ensuring that they never pay for idle capacity. Which cloud characteristic does this scenario primarily demonstrate?
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.
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High availability
High availability refers to systems that remain operational for a long period of time without significant downtime. It does not describe the dynamic scaling of resources based on workload demand.
Best answer
Elasticity
Elasticity is the cloud characteristic that allows resources to be automatically provisioned and de-provisioned in response to changing demand. The scenario's automatic addition and removal of virtual machines based on queue size perfectly illustrates this principle.
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Fault tolerance
Fault tolerance enables a system to continue operating properly in the event of a component failure. While Azure can provide fault tolerance, the scenario describes scaling based on workload, not handling failures.
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Disaster recovery
Disaster recovery involves the processes and policies for restoring IT infrastructure and data after a natural or human-induced disaster. The scenario does not involve recovery from a disaster, but rather adjusting capacity to match workload fluctuations.
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.
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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 — This scenario demonstrates elasticity, which is the ability of a cloud system to automatically scale resources up or down based on real-time demand. Elasticity ensures that the company only consumes and pays for the resources it needs at any given moment, avoiding over-provisioning and waste. High availability focuses on uptime, fault tolerance on continued operation despite failures, and disaster recovery on restoring services after a catastrophic event.
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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