Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A startup runs a web application on Azure virtual machines. The application experiences sudden, short-lived spikes in traffic multiple times a day. The startup configures an autoscale rule that adds two additional VM instances when CPU usage exceeds 75% and removes them when CPU drops below 30%. This approach is designed to match resource consumption closely to demand. Which cloud computing 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.
A
Distractor review
High Availability
High availability refers to ensuring an application or service remains operational with minimal downtime, often through redundancy and failover. While autoscaling can contribute to availability, the core purpose described here is adjusting capacity to match demand, not maintaining uptime.
B
Best answer
Elasticity
Elasticity is the cloud characteristic that enables resources to be automatically provisioned and de-provisioned in response to real-time workload changes. The autoscale rule that adds or removes VMs based on CPU usage directly embodies elasticity by ensuring resource consumption closely follows demand.
C
Distractor review
Fault Tolerance
Fault tolerance allows a system to continue operating without interruption when one or more components fail. Autoscaling does not inherently handle component failures; it addresses capacity changes. Fault tolerance is achieved through redundant deployments across availability zones or regions, not through scaling rules.
D
Distractor review
Durability
Durability in cloud computing refers to the long-term protection of data against loss or corruption, typically through replication and backup. This scenario describes compute resource scaling, not data preservation or retention.
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
Related AZ-900 practice-question pages
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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 to automatically scale cloud resources up and down to match fluctuating demand. Autoscaling adds or removes VM instances based on CPU thresholds, ensuring the application has enough capacity during spikes and avoids waste during low usage. High availability focuses on uptime, fault tolerance on surviving failures, and durability on data preservation; none describe the dynamic resource adjustment shown here.
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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