The answer is to enable firewall and private endpoints for all AI service endpoints, combined with using managed identities for authentication between Azure OpenAI Service and Azure AI Search. This is correct because managed identities allow Azure OpenAI to authenticate to Azure AI Search via Azure RBAC without storing or rotating credentials, eliminating the security risk of hardcoded API keys or shared access keys in application code or configuration. On the Microsoft Azure AI Engineer Associate AI-102 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of securing AI solutions by integrating network isolation with identity-based access—a common trap is assuming that managed identities alone replace the need for network controls like private endpoints, when in fact both layers are required for defense in depth. Remember the mnemonic “MAP” for Managed identities, Azure RBAC, and Private endpoints—the three pillars to secure Azure AI Search and OpenAI together.
AI-102 Plan and manage an Azure AI solution Practice Question
This AI-102 practice question tests your understanding of plan and manage an azure ai solution. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 THREE practices should be followed to secure an Azure AI solution that uses Azure OpenAI Service and Azure AI Search?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use managed identities to authenticate between Azure OpenAI and Azure AI Search.
Option B is correct because managed identities allow Azure OpenAI and Azure AI Search to authenticate securely without storing or rotating credentials. By assigning a managed identity to the Azure OpenAI service, you can grant it access to Azure AI Search via Azure RBAC, eliminating the need for API keys or shared access keys in code or configuration.
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.
✗
Store API keys in Azure Key Vault but use them directly in application code.
Why it's wrong here
Keys should not be used directly; managed identities are preferred.
✓
Use managed identities to authenticate between Azure OpenAI and Azure AI Search.
Why this is correct
Managed identities provide secure authentication without secrets.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Place all AI services in a DMZ subnet with public IP addresses.
Why it's wrong here
DMZ is not recommended; private endpoints are more secure.
✓
Require that all client applications use HTTPS with TLS 1.2 or higher.
Why this is correct
Encryption in transit protects data from interception.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Enable firewall and private endpoints for all AI service endpoints.
Why this is correct
Private endpoints limit access to trusted networks.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often think storing keys in Key Vault is sufficient for security, but the question tests whether you understand that managed identities eliminate the need to handle keys altogether, and that public endpoints (even in a DMZ) are not secure for AI services.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Managed identities for Azure resources use a service principal automatically created in Azure AD, tied to the lifecycle of the resource. When Azure OpenAI calls Azure AI Search, the managed identity obtains an OAuth 2.0 access token from the Azure Instance Metadata Service (IMDS) endpoint (169.254.169.254) without any secret management. In a real-world scenario, this ensures that even if application code is compromised, no static credentials are leaked, and access can be revoked by disabling the identity.
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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Plan and manage an Azure AI solution — This question tests Plan and manage an Azure AI solution — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use managed identities to authenticate between Azure OpenAI and Azure AI Search. — Option B is correct because managed identities allow Azure OpenAI and Azure AI Search to authenticate securely without storing or rotating credentials. By assigning a managed identity to the Azure OpenAI service, you can grant it access to Azure AI Search via Azure RBAC, eliminating the need for API keys or shared access keys in code or configuration.
What should I do if I get this AI-102 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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