The answer is using API keys and Microsoft Entra ID authentication with a service principal. API keys are the simplest method, requiring you to include the key in the `Ocp-Apim-Subscription-Key` header of each HTTP request, while Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) offers a more secure, token-based approach by obtaining a bearer token for the `Authorization` header. On the AI-102 exam, this question tests your understanding of the two supported authentication pathways for Azure AI services, often appearing as a multiple-select item where you must distinguish valid methods from invalid ones like shared access signatures or certificate-based authentication. A common trap is assuming that only one method is valid, but the exam expects you to recognize both as correct. Memory tip: think “key and token” — the key goes in the subscription header, the token in the authorization header.
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. 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.
Which TWO actions are valid ways to authenticate to Azure AI services?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use an API key.
Option B is correct because Azure AI services accept API keys as a straightforward authentication method. Each service generates a pair of keys that must be included in the `Ocp-Apim-Subscription-Key` header of HTTP requests. Option C is correct because Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) authentication with a service principal is fully supported for Azure AI services, allowing token-based authentication via the `Authorization` header with a bearer token obtained from the Microsoft identity platform.
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.
✗
Use a client certificate.
Why it's wrong here
Azure AI services do not support certificate authentication directly.
✓
Use an API key.
Why this is correct
API keys are a common authentication method.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Use Microsoft Entra ID authentication with a service principal.
Why this is correct
Microsoft Entra ID authentication is supported.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use a shared access signature (SAS) token.
Why it's wrong here
SAS tokens are for Azure Storage, not AI services.
✗
Use a managed identity.
Why it's wrong here
Managed identity is a type of Microsoft Entra ID authentication, not a separate method.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse managed identities as a direct authentication method for Azure AI services, when in fact they are an identity provisioning mechanism that requires an additional token exchange step to authenticate via Entra ID.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, API key authentication works by hashing the key and comparing it against a stored hash on the service side; keys are passed in plaintext over HTTPS, so TLS ensures confidentiality. For Entra ID authentication, the client must acquire an OAuth 2.0 access token from the Microsoft identity platform (v2.0 endpoint) using the resource `https://cognitiveservices.azure.com`, then include it as a Bearer token in the Authorization header. A subtle behavior: when using a managed identity, the token is obtained automatically by the Azure infrastructure, but the AI service still requires that token in the Authorization header—so the managed identity itself is not a direct authentication method to the AI service, but a mechanism to obtain credentials.
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 an API key. — Option B is correct because Azure AI services accept API keys as a straightforward authentication method. Each service generates a pair of keys that must be included in the `Ocp-Apim-Subscription-Key` header of HTTP requests. Option C is correct because Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) authentication with a service principal is fully supported for Azure AI services, allowing token-based authentication via the `Authorization` header with a bearer token obtained from the Microsoft identity platform.
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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