The answer is Azure Application Gateway. This service is the correct choice because it operates as a reverse proxy at Layer 7 of the OSI model, handling HTTP and HTTPS traffic to provide SSL termination, where incoming encrypted requests are decrypted at the gateway, and layer 7 load balancing, which routes traffic based on URL paths or host headers. On the Microsoft Azure Fundamentals AZ-900 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between Azure’s load balancing services: Azure Load Balancer works at Layer 4 (TCP/UDP) and does not offer SSL termination or application-level routing, while Application Gateway is specifically designed for web application delivery, acceleration, and protection via its integrated Web Application Firewall. A common trap is confusing it with Azure Front Door, which is a global, anycast-based service for multi-region distribution, not a regional reverse proxy. To remember, think of the Gateway as your app’s front door that “terminates” SSL and “routes” by URL—just like a smart receptionist who checks IDs (SSL) and directs visitors to the right office (Layer 7 routing).
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.
Which Azure service acts as a reverse proxy to protect, accelerate, and deliver web applications with SSL termination and layer 7 load balancing?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Azure Application Gateway
Azure Application Gateway is a web traffic load balancer that operates at Layer 7 (HTTP/HTTPS). It provides SSL termination, URL-based routing, and Web Application Firewall (WAF) capabilities, making it the correct choice for a reverse proxy that protects, accelerates, and delivers web applications.
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 Load Balancer
Why it's wrong here
Azure Load Balancer operates at layer 4 (TCP/UDP), not layer 7, and does not provide SSL termination or URL routing.
✓
Azure Application Gateway
Why this is correct
Application Gateway provides layer 7 load balancing with SSL termination, URL routing, and WAF for web apps.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Azure Front Door
Why it's wrong here
Front Door provides global layer 7 load balancing; Application Gateway operates regionally.
✗
Azure Traffic Manager
Why it's wrong here
Traffic Manager provides DNS-based routing, not a reverse proxy with SSL termination.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Azure Application Gateway (Layer 7 reverse proxy) with Azure Load Balancer (Layer 4) or Azure Front Door (global multi-region), but the question specifically requires SSL termination and Layer 7 load balancing, which only Application Gateway provides among the options.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure Application Gateway uses a listener to accept incoming HTTP/HTTPS traffic, terminates SSL at the gateway, and then forwards requests to backend pools based on routing rules. It supports cookie-based session affinity, URL path-based routing, and can offload SSL processing to reduce backend server load. In a real-world scenario, a company might use Application Gateway to expose a single public IP for multiple web apps (e.g., /app1 and /app2) while applying WAF rules to block SQL injection and cross-site scripting attacks.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this AZ-900 question in full detail.
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 Application Gateway — Azure Application Gateway is a web traffic load balancer that operates at Layer 7 (HTTP/HTTPS). It provides SSL termination, URL-based routing, and Web Application Firewall (WAF) capabilities, making it the correct choice for a reverse proxy that protects, accelerates, and delivers web applications.
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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Question Discussion
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