The answer is Managed Identity with Microsoft Entra ID and subscription keys. Subscription keys are the simplest method for initial development, where you pass either of two generated keys in the 'Ocp-Apim-Subscription-Key' header to authenticate requests to Azure AI services, while Managed Identity with Microsoft Entra ID provides a more secure, role-based authentication for production environments without embedding secrets in code. On the AI-102 exam, this question tests your understanding of both primary and advanced authentication flows, often appearing in scenario-based questions where you must choose the correct method for a given security requirement. A common trap is assuming only one method is valid, but the exam expects you to recognize that both subscription keys and Microsoft Entra ID (via Managed Identity) are officially supported. Memory tip: think "Keys for quick starts, Identity for production hearts."
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 of the following 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
✓
Subscription key (API key)
Option A is correct because Azure AI services accept subscription keys (API keys) as a primary authentication method. When you create an Azure AI resource, the portal generates two keys that can be passed in the 'Ocp-Apim-Subscription-Key' header to authenticate requests. This is the simplest and most common method for initial development and testing.
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.
✓
Subscription key (API key)
Why this is correct
API keys are a primary authentication method for Azure AI services.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Shared access signature (SAS) token
Why it's wrong here
SAS tokens are used for Azure Storage, not AI services.
✓
OAuth 2.0 client credentials flow with Microsoft Entra ID
Why this is correct
Entra ID token-based authentication is supported for Azure AI services.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Managed Identity with Microsoft Entra ID
Why this is correct
Managed Identity allows secure authentication without secrets.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
X.509 certificate
Why it's wrong here
Certificate-based authentication is not directly supported for Azure AI services.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse SAS tokens (which are for Azure Storage) with subscription keys (for AI services), and they may overlook that Managed Identity is a valid Entra ID authentication method, leading them to incorrectly select only one correct answer or pick SAS as a second option.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, subscription keys are static secrets stored in the Azure portal and can be rotated independently. For production scenarios, Microsoft recommends using Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) authentication via OAuth 2.0 client credentials flow or Managed Identity, which eliminates the need to embed keys in code. Managed Identity automatically rotates credentials and is the most secure approach for Azure-hosted workloads, as it uses a service principal tied to the resource.
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: Subscription key (API key) — Option A is correct because Azure AI services accept subscription keys (API keys) as a primary authentication method. When you create an Azure AI resource, the portal generates two keys that can be passed in the 'Ocp-Apim-Subscription-Key' header to authenticate requests. This is the simplest and most common method for initial development and testing.
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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