AZ-900: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals – Cloud Concepts – Practice Test

Below is a collection of practice test questions with one-liner answers, organized by category within the Cloud Concepts domain for the AZ-900 (Microsoft Azure Fundamentals) exam.

Cloud Concepts: Overview

1. What is cloud computing?

   • Cloud computing delivers computing resources like storage and processing power over the internet.

2. What is the main benefit of cloud computing?

   • Flexibility, scalability, cost-efficiency, and global reach.

3. What are the types of cloud models?

   • Public, Private, and Hybrid clouds.

4. Which type of cloud is entirely owned and operated by a third-party provider?

   • Public cloud.

5. What does a private cloud provide?

   • A private cloud is dedicated to a single organization, often hosted on-premises or by a third-party.

6. What is a hybrid cloud?

   • A hybrid cloud integrates both public and private cloud services for greater flexibility.

7. What is the primary difference between a public cloud and a private cloud?

   • Public cloud is shared by multiple organizations, while private cloud is dedicated to one.

8. What is the main advantage of using a hybrid cloud?

   • Flexibility to move workloads between private and public clouds as needed.

9. What is SaaS (Software as a Service)?

   • Software applications delivered over the internet on a subscription basis.

10. Which of the following is an example of SaaS?

    • Microsoft Office 365.

11. What is PaaS (Platform as a Service)?

    • A platform allowing customers to develop, run, and manage applications without managing the infrastructure.

12. Which service is an example of PaaS?

    • Azure App Service.

13. What is IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)?

    • IaaS provides virtualized computing resources over the internet, like virtual machines and storage.

14. Which of the following is an example of IaaS?

    • Azure Virtual Machines.

15. What does FaaS (Function as a Service) refer to?

    • A serverless compute service that runs code in response to events without provisioning or managing servers.

16. Which service in Azure is an example of FaaS?

    • Azure Functions.

17. What does it mean to scale an application in the cloud?

    • Adjusting resources to handle varying workloads, either scaling up (adding more power) or scaling down (reducing resources).

18. What is vertical scaling?

    • Adding more power (CPU, RAM) to an existing machine.

19. What is horizontal scaling?

    • Adding more machines or instances to handle a load.

20. What is elasticity in cloud computing?

    • The ability to automatically scale resources up or down based on demand.

Cloud Service Models

21. What is the primary characteristic of SaaS?

    • Customers access fully managed software applications.

22. What is the main feature of PaaS?

    • Customers can develop and run applications without managing infrastructure.

23. Which service model provides the most control to the customer?

    • IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service).

24. Which cloud model allows users to only manage applications and data?

    • SaaS (Software as a Service).

25. Which of the following is managed by the customer in IaaS?

    • Applications, data, and the operating system.

26. What responsibility does the cloud provider have in PaaS?

    • The provider manages the operating system, middleware, and infrastructure.

27. Which cloud model typically involves the most responsibility for the customer?

    • IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service).

28. Which service model allows users to run code without managing infrastructure?

    • FaaS (Function as a Service).

29. What type of service model would be suitable for an organization building and deploying custom applications?

    • PaaS (Platform as a Service).

30. What is a key benefit of SaaS?

    • Users do not need to worry about software updates or maintenance.

Cloud Benefits and Challenges

31. What is a key benefit of cloud computing?

    • Cost-efficiency and resource scalability.

32. What is one common concern when moving to the cloud?

    • Security and data privacy.

33. How does cloud computing improve business continuity?

    • Cloud solutions offer disaster recovery and redundancy.

34. What is one main challenge of using cloud computing?

    • Potential downtime and service disruptions.

35. How can cloud computing help businesses innovate faster?

    • By providing flexible resources and reducing the time to market for new ideas.

36. How does cloud computing help reduce IT overhead?

    • It shifts the responsibility of hardware and infrastructure management to the cloud provider.

37. What is a major advantage of using the cloud for disaster recovery?

    • Cloud services often provide high availability and data replication.

38. What security advantage does the cloud offer?

    • Cloud providers offer advanced security features, including encryption and access management.

39. What is the main disadvantage of public cloud services?

    • Reduced control over data and infrastructure compared to private or hybrid clouds.

40. What challenge does data governance pose in the cloud?

    • Ensuring compliance with regional and international data regulations.

Cloud Computing Principles

41. What is on-demand self-service in cloud computing?

    • The ability to provision and manage computing resources without human intervention.

42. What does resource pooling mean in cloud computing?

    • The cloud provider’s resources are shared and dynamically allocated among customers.

43. What is rapid elasticity in the context of cloud computing?

    • The ability to quickly scale resources up or down based on demand.

44. What does measured service mean in cloud computing?

    • Cloud resources are metered, and customers pay only for what they use.

45. What is the term used to describe the global nature of cloud computing?

    • Cloud computing enables users to access services from anywhere in the world.

46. What does cloud scalability refer to?

    • The ability to increase or decrease resource allocation as needed.

47. What is the term for the ability to scale resources up or down in real time?

    • Elasticity.

48. What is an example of cloud computing flexibility?

    • The ability to adjust cloud resources based on application demand.

49. What is the difference between a public and private cloud regarding resource allocation?

    • Public clouds share resources across multiple users, while private clouds allocate resources to a single organization.

50. What is a major factor for the high availability of cloud services?

    • Redundancy and data replication across different regions or data centers.

Cloud Economics

51. What is a pay-as-you-go pricing model?

    • You only pay for the cloud services you actually use.

52. What is a consumption-based pricing model in the cloud?

    • Charges are based on actual usage rather than a fixed fee.

53. What is a major benefit of cloud’s pricing model?

    • Cost efficiency as you pay only for what you use.

54. What is a cost optimization strategy in the cloud?

    • Monitoring usage and adjusting resources to avoid unnecessary costs.

55. What type of pricing model does SaaS typically use?

    • Subscription-based pricing.

56. How can businesses reduce costs using cloud services?

    • By scaling resources based on demand and avoiding capital expenditures.

57. What is the role of reserved instances in cloud cost management?

    • Reserved instances allow customers to save money by committing to use resources for a long term.

58. How does Azure’s consumption-based pricing model work?

    • Customers are billed based on their usage of services like computing, storage, and networking.

59. What is the cost advantage of using the cloud instead of on-premises infrastructure?

    • The cloud eliminates the need for upfront capital expenses and allows for flexible pricing.

60. What is an example of an on-demand pricing model in the cloud?

    • Billing based on hourly usage of virtual machines or storage.

61. What is an example of a service provided by the public cloud?

    • Microsoft Azure Virtual Machines.

62. Which of the following is a key component of cloud computing?

    • On-demand self-service.

63. What is cloud elasticity?

    • The ability to scale resources dynamically based on demand.

64. Which feature allows you to pay only for the resources used?

    • Pay-as-you-go pricing.

65. What does the cloud provide regarding infrastructure management?

    • The cloud reduces the need for physical infrastructure management by customers.

66. What is a characteristic of public clouds?

    • Resources are shared between multiple organizations.

67. Which type of cloud service requires customers to manage the operating system and runtime?

    • IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service).

68. Which service model is responsible for the network, storage, and virtualization layers?

    • IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service).

69. What is an example of a SaaS offering?

    • Google Workspace (formerly G Suite).

70. What is an example of a PaaS offering?

    • Azure App Services.

Cloud Deployment Models

71. Which cloud model is suitable for sensitive data requiring compliance control?

    • Private cloud.

72. What is a key feature of a hybrid cloud model?

    • Integration of both public and private cloud infrastructure.

73. What type of cloud environment is shared across multiple organizations?

    • Public cloud.

74. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a public cloud?

    • Dedicated resources for a single organization.

75. What is a benefit of using a hybrid cloud?

    • It allows for workload portability and flexibility.

76. What is a primary challenge in hybrid cloud management?

    • Ensuring seamless integration between on-premises and cloud-based resources.

77. What type of cloud model allows organizations to maintain control over their infrastructure while leveraging external resources?

    • Hybrid cloud.

78. What is a primary advantage of a private cloud?

    • Greater control over security and compliance.

79. What is the key difference between a public cloud and a private cloud?

    • Public clouds are shared among multiple organizations, whereas private clouds are dedicated to a single organization.

80. What can a hybrid cloud model provide that a public cloud cannot?

    • More control and customization of resources and infrastructure.

Cloud Computing Models and Benefits

81. Which of the following is an example of IaaS in Azure?

    • Azure Virtual Machines.

82. Which service model provides users with access to virtualized computing resources over the internet?

    • IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service).

83. Which cloud model does not require users to manage underlying hardware or operating systems?

    • SaaS (Software as a Service).

84. Which service model provides the most control over the infrastructure?

    • IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service).

85. Which of the following models allows users to deploy applications but not manage the underlying operating system?

    • PaaS (Platform as a Service).

86. What service is an example of PaaS in Azure?

    • Azure App Service.

87. Which service is typically an example of IaaS?

    • Azure Virtual Machines.

88. Which type of cloud service offers a managed environment for developers to deploy code?

    • PaaS (Platform as a Service).

89. What is the key advantage of IaaS?

    • Greater control over infrastructure and resources.

90. What is the key benefit of PaaS for developers?

    • Developers can focus on coding without managing the underlying infrastructure.

Cloud Economics

91. What pricing model in cloud computing helps you save costs by reserving resources for a longer term?

    • Reserved instances.

92. Which of the following is a pricing benefit of cloud services?

    • The ability to scale resources according to demand, resulting in cost savings.

93. What is the consumption-based pricing model in cloud services?

    • Customers are charged based on the amount of resources they use.

94. How do cloud providers charge customers in a pay-per-use model?

    • Customers pay based on the time they use the service or the resources consumed.

95. What is the primary benefit of Azure’s pay-as-you-go pricing model?

    • It enables customers to pay only for the services they use, leading to cost savings.

96. Which type of pricing model requires you to pay upfront for services or resources?

    • Reserved pricing model.

97. What is the purpose of scaling resources in the cloud?

    • To adjust resource levels to meet demand, avoiding over-provisioning.

98. What is an example of an event-driven pricing model in the cloud?

    • FaaS (Function as a Service), where users are billed based on the number of function executions.

99. What is a potential cost-saving strategy in cloud computing?

    • Rightsizing resources by adjusting them to meet actual usage.

100. What is the cost-saving advantage of using reserved instances in Azure? – Reserved instances offer discounted pricing for long-term commitments.

Cloud Governance and Compliance

101. What is the role of compliance in cloud computing? – Ensuring that cloud services meet regulatory and security requirements.

102. What is a primary consideration when storing sensitive data in the cloud? – Ensuring data privacy and compliance with data protection regulations.

103. What is a key benefit of using cloud services for compliance? – Cloud providers often offer built-in tools and frameworks to meet compliance requirements.

104. Which regulation focuses on protecting personal data in the European Union? – GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation).

105. Which of the following is a compliance framework commonly used in cloud environments? – SOC 2 (System and Organization Controls).

106. What does a cloud provider’s responsibility for compliance include? – Ensuring the security of the cloud infrastructure and service offerings.

107. What is the shared responsibility model in the cloud? – A model that divides responsibility for security between the cloud provider and the customer.

108. What is a key aspect of Azure’s compliance offerings? – Azure provides a comprehensive set of compliance certifications and tools for customers.

109. How do organizations typically ensure compliance when using cloud services? – By leveraging tools, policies, and governance frameworks provided by cloud providers.

110. What is the responsibility of a customer regarding security in IaaS? – Customers are responsible for securing their applications, data, and operating systems.

Security and Privacy in the Cloud

111. What is the main concern when using cloud computing services? – Security and data privacy.

112. Which feature helps ensure the confidentiality of data in the cloud? – Data encryption.

113. What is the purpose of multi-factor authentication (MFA) in the cloud? – To increase security by requiring multiple forms of verification.

114. What is Azure’s role in cloud security? – Azure provides built-in security features, including encryption, identity management, and network security.

115. What is one of the key security features offered by Azure? – Azure Security Center for monitoring and managing cloud security.

116. How does encryption help secure data in the cloud? – Encryption converts data into an unreadable format to protect it from unauthorized access.

117. What is a common method for securing cloud storage? – Encrypting data both in transit and at rest.

118. Which cloud security practice helps protect against unauthorized access to services? – Identity and Access Management (IAM).

119. How does Azure help manage access to resources? – Using Azure Active Directory for user authentication and authorization.

120. What is the primary benefit of using network security groups (NSGs) in Azure? – NSGs control inbound and outbound traffic to virtual machines and resources.

Cloud Service Provider and Service Types

121. What is the primary advantage of using a public cloud service? – Lower upfront costs and ease of scalability.

122. Which cloud service model allows organizations to focus solely on building applications? – PaaS (Platform as a Service).

123. Which cloud service model is ideal for customers who want complete control over the operating system? – IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service).

124. Which cloud service is responsible for the management of hardware, networking, and storage? – IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service).

125. Which type of cloud service eliminates the need to manage application updates or infrastructure? – SaaS (Software as a Service).

126. Which of the following is an example of a public cloud service? – Azure Blob Storage.

127. What is an example of an IaaS offering in Azure? – Azure Virtual Machines.

128. Which type of service model allows for the least amount of infrastructure management by the user? – SaaS (Software as a Service).

129. Which service model is best for deploying enterprise applications without worrying about underlying infrastructure? – PaaS (Platform as a Service).

130. What is the most common method of cloud computing deployment? – Public cloud.

Cloud Concepts Summary

131. What does cloud elasticity enable? – The ability to dynamically adjust computing resources based on demand.

132. Which model involves using a combination of both public and private clouds? – Hybrid cloud.

133. What does a public cloud provide? – Shared resources, scalability, and cost-effectiveness.

134. Which pricing model is based on consumption? – Pay-as-you-go.

135. What is the term for scaling resources in and out based on traffic? – Elasticity.

136. Which service model gives the user the least responsibility for managing infrastructure? – SaaS (Software as a Service).

137. What does “on-demand” mean in cloud computing? – The ability to provision resources as needed without long-term commitments.

138. Which cloud service provider provides tools to help with cost management and optimization? – Azure.

139. What is the benefit of a shared responsibility model in the cloud? – It clarifies which security tasks are handled by the cloud provider versus the customer.

140. Which of the following is a risk when moving to the cloud? – Loss of control over data and security.