Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure (AZ-204) Practice Exam

Which statement best describes the function of the consumption plan in Azure?

1. It requires a fixed monthly payment regardless of usage

2. It automatically scales based on the number of incoming requests

3. It is ideal for dedicated applications with consistent load

4. It is used only for large enterprise applications

The correct answer is: It automatically scales based on the number of incoming requests

The consumption plan in Azure, particularly in the context of Azure Functions, is designed to scale automatically based on incoming requests. This means that as demand increases—such as when there are more events triggering functions—Azure will dynamically allocate additional resources to handle the load. Conversely, when demand decreases, the resources are scaled back down, ensuring that you only pay for what you use during that time. This automatic scaling capability is a key feature that distinguishes the consumption plan and makes it especially suitable for applications with variable workloads, where usage can fluctuate significantly over time. In contrast, choosing a fixed monthly payment regardless of usage does not align with the essence of a consumption-based billing model. Additionally, a consumption plan does not suit dedicated applications with consistent loads, as those types of applications benefit more from reserved resources and may incur lower costs through a different pricing model. Lastly, it is not restricted to large enterprise applications; the consumption plan is versatile and can be effectively utilized by applications of various sizes, particularly those needing to manage sporadic workloads efficiently.