The answer is CanNotDelete and ReadOnly. These are the only two types of Azure Resource Locks, and they serve to protect critical resources from accidental deletion or modification. CanNotDelete allows authorized users to read and update a resource but blocks any deletion attempts, while ReadOnly is more restrictive, permitting only read operations and blocking both deletion and updates. On the Microsoft Azure Fundamentals AZ-900 exam, this distinction tests your understanding of governance and resource protection, often appearing in scenario-based questions where you must choose the correct lock to prevent a specific action. A common trap is confusing CanNotDelete with a full read-only state—remember that CanNotDelete still allows edits. For a quick memory tip: think of CanNotDelete as “lock the door but leave the window open” for changes, while ReadOnly is “seal the entire room.”
AZ-900 Describe Azure management and governance Practice Question
This AZ-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe azure management and governance. 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.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
CanNotDelete and ReadOnly
Azure Resource Locks are designed to prevent accidental deletion or modification of critical resources. The two types are CanNotDelete, which allows read and update operations but blocks deletion, and ReadOnly, which permits only read operations and blocks both deletion and update. This distinction is correct because ReadOnly is more restrictive than CanNotDelete, and both are the only lock types available in Azure.
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.
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ReadOnly and ReadWrite
Why it's wrong here
The lock types are ReadOnly and CanNotDelete (Delete), not ReadWrite.
✓
CanNotDelete and ReadOnly
Why this is correct
CanNotDelete prevents deletion (read/modify allowed); ReadOnly prevents both modification and deletion.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Shared and Exclusive
Why it's wrong here
These are database concurrency terms; Azure resource locks are CanNotDelete and ReadOnly.
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Deny and Allow
Why it's wrong here
Deny and Allow are RBAC policy terms; Resource Lock types are CanNotDelete and ReadOnly.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse Azure Resource Locks with Azure Policy effects (Deny/Allow) or database lock types (Shared/Exclusive), leading them to select options that describe unrelated Azure or general IT concepts.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Azure Resource Locks are applied at the subscription, resource group, or resource scope and are inherited by child resources. They work by adding an authorization check that overrides any RBAC permissions—even an Owner cannot delete a resource with a CanNotDelete lock. A real-world scenario is locking a production database resource group with a ReadOnly lock during a critical audit to ensure no accidental writes or deletes occur, while using CanNotDelete on a storage account to allow updates but prevent deletion.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
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 management and governance — This question tests Describe Azure management and governance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: CanNotDelete and ReadOnly — Azure Resource Locks are designed to prevent accidental deletion or modification of critical resources. The two types are CanNotDelete, which allows read and update operations but blocks deletion, and ReadOnly, which permits only read operations and blocks both deletion and update. This distinction is correct because ReadOnly is more restrictive than CanNotDelete, and both are the only lock types available in Azure.
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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