- A
Azure ExpressRoute
Why wrong: Azure ExpressRoute provides a dedicated private connection from on-premises to Azure that bypasses the public internet. It offers higher reliability and lower latency but does not use encryption by default and is more expensive. It is not the service for creating an encrypted tunnel over the internet.
- B
Azure VPN Gateway
Azure VPN Gateway is the correct answer. It creates a site-to-site VPN connection that encrypts traffic using IPsec/IKE protocols over the public internet. It is designed to securely connect on-premises networks to Azure virtual networks.
- C
Azure Virtual WAN
Why wrong: Azure Virtual WAN is a hub-and-spoke networking service that can manage multiple VPN connections and branches. While it can use VPN Gateway connections, it is overkill for a simple site-to-site VPN and adds unnecessary complexity and cost. The basic VPN Gateway is the appropriate service for this requirement.
- D
Azure Bastion
Why wrong: Azure Bastion provides secure and seamless RDP and SSH connectivity to virtual machines directly through the Azure portal. It does not create a network-to-network connection or encrypt traffic between on-premises and Azure; it is used for individual VM access.
Quick Answer
The answer is Azure VPN Gateway. This service is the correct choice because it establishes an encrypted site-to-site VPN connection to Azure over the public internet using IPsec/IKE protocols, creating a secure tunnel that protects all traffic between an on-premises data center and an Azure virtual network. On the Microsoft Azure Fundamentals AZ-900 exam, this question tests your understanding of hybrid connectivity options, specifically how to securely extend an on-premises network into Azure without using a private dedicated line. A common trap is confusing Azure VPN Gateway with Azure ExpressRoute, but remember that ExpressRoute bypasses the public internet entirely, while a site-to-site VPN explicitly uses it with encryption. For a quick memory tip, think of the phrase “VPN over the public net, IPsec is the bet” — this reinforces that Azure VPN Gateway relies on IPsec encryption to secure traffic across the internet.
AZ-900 Describe Azure architecture and services Practice Question
This AZ-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe azure architecture and services. 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 an on-premises data center with a site-to-site VPN connection to Azure. The company wants to ensure that the connection remains secure by encrypting all traffic between the on-premises network and Azure virtual network. The connection must be established over the public internet. Which Azure service should the company use to create this encrypted tunnel?
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
Azure VPN Gateway
Azure VPN Gateway is the correct service because it creates an encrypted site-to-site VPN tunnel over the public internet using IPsec/IKE protocols. This meets the requirement for a secure connection between the on-premises data center and Azure virtual network over the public internet.
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.
- ✗
Azure ExpressRoute
Why it's wrong here
Azure ExpressRoute provides a dedicated private connection from on-premises to Azure that bypasses the public internet. It offers higher reliability and lower latency but does not use encryption by default and is more expensive. It is not the service for creating an encrypted tunnel over the internet.
- ✓
Azure VPN Gateway
Why this is correct
Azure VPN Gateway is the correct answer. It creates a site-to-site VPN connection that encrypts traffic using IPsec/IKE protocols over the public internet. It is designed to securely connect on-premises networks to Azure virtual networks.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Azure Virtual WAN
Why it's wrong here
Azure Virtual WAN is a hub-and-spoke networking service that can manage multiple VPN connections and branches. While it can use VPN Gateway connections, it is overkill for a simple site-to-site VPN and adds unnecessary complexity and cost. The basic VPN Gateway is the appropriate service for this requirement.
- ✗
Azure Bastion
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Azure ExpressRoute as a secure option because it is private, but it does not encrypt traffic by default and does not use the public internet, which is explicitly required in the question.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure VPN Gateway supports both policy-based and route-based VPNs, with route-based being the recommended configuration for dynamic routing using BGP. The gateway uses a public IP address and establishes an IPsec tunnel with the on-premises VPN device, supporting IKEv1 and IKEv2 with AES-256 encryption and SHA-256 hashing. In a real-world scenario, if the on-premises device does not support BGP, you can still use a static route-based VPN, but BGP provides automatic failover and route propagation.
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 healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
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 Azure architecture and services — This question tests Describe Azure architecture and services — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Azure VPN Gateway — Azure VPN Gateway is the correct service because it creates an encrypted site-to-site VPN tunnel over the public internet using IPsec/IKE protocols. This meets the requirement for a secure connection between the on-premises data center and Azure virtual network over the public internet.
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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