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AZ-400 · Question #560

You are developing an Azure Pipelines pipeline. You need to configure a check in the pipeline that will query Azure Boards to ensure that there are no active work item issues before the pipeline deplo

The correct answer is C. pre-deployment gates. Pre-deployment gates (Option C) are automated checks that run before a deployment begins, and they can query external systems - like Azure Boards - to validate conditions are met before allowing the pipeline to proceed. Gates are specifically designed for automated, condition-bas

Submitted by tunde_lagos· Mar 6, 2026Design and implement build and release pipelines

Question

You are developing an Azure Pipelines pipeline. You need to configure a check in the pipeline that will query Azure Boards to ensure that there are no active work item issues before the pipeline deploys a build to production. Which type of check should you implement?

Options

  • Apost-deployment approvals
  • Bmanual validations
  • Cpre-deployment gates
  • Dpre-deployment approvals

How the community answered

(40 responses)
  • A
    8% (3)
  • B
    13% (5)
  • C
    78% (31)
  • D
    3% (1)

Explanation

Pre-deployment gates (Option C) are automated checks that run before a deployment begins, and they can query external systems - like Azure Boards - to validate conditions are met before allowing the pipeline to proceed. Gates are specifically designed for automated, condition-based queries (e.g., "are there zero active bugs?"), making them the ideal tool for this scenario.

Why the distractors are wrong:

  • A (Post-deployment approvals): These occur after a deployment, so they cannot prevent a flawed build from reaching production.
  • B (Manual validations): These require a human to manually confirm a step, rather than automatically querying Azure Boards programmatically.
  • D (Pre-deployment approvals): These also require human sign-off before a deployment, not an automated system query.

Memory Tip: Think of Gates = Automated and Approvals = Human. If the question involves querying a system or checking a condition automatically, the answer is almost always a gate. If it involves a person reviewing or approving, it's an approval. The prefix "pre-" vs "post-" simply tells you when it runs relative to the deployment.

Topics

#Azure Pipelines#Pre-deployment gates#Azure Boards#Deployment strategy

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