The answer is to use Azure Key Vault and managed identities for Azure resources. This is correct because Key Vault provides a centralized, secure store for AI service access keys, secrets, and certificates, eliminating the need to hardcode credentials in code or configuration files. Managed identities then allow your Azure AI services to authenticate to Key Vault without storing any secrets—Azure automatically handles the identity and token exchange, enforcing least privilege through Azure RBAC. On the AI-102 exam, this pairing tests your understanding of secure secret lifecycle management versus less secure alternatives like connection strings in app settings. A common trap is choosing a single method, but the question explicitly requires two complementary approaches: one for storage (Key Vault) and one for access (managed identities). Remember the mnemonic “KVM” for Key Vault + Managed identities—if you see a question about secure key management for multiple AI services, think of this duo as the gold standard for zero-trust credential handling.
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.
You are deploying an Azure AI solution that uses multiple services. You need to manage access keys securely. Which TWO methods should you use?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use Azure Key Vault to store the keys.
Azure Key Vault is the recommended service for securely storing and managing access keys, secrets, and certificates. By storing AI service keys in Key Vault, you centralize secret management, control access via Azure RBAC, and avoid hardcoding credentials in code or configuration files. This aligns with the principle of least privilege and reduces the risk of accidental exposure.
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 Azure Key Vault to store the keys.
Why this is correct
Key Vault securely stores secrets like access keys.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Use managed identities for Azure resources where possible.
Why this is correct
Managed identities eliminate the need for keys by providing an automatically managed identity.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Embed the keys directly in application code.
Why it's wrong here
Embedding keys in code is a security risk.
✗
Store keys in Azure App Configuration.
Why it's wrong here
App Configuration is for configuration, not secrets; Key Vault is preferred.
✗
Use Key Vault's automatic key rotation feature.
Why it's wrong here
Key Vault can rotate keys, but it's not the primary method for access management; the question asks for methods to manage keys securely.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Azure App Configuration with Azure Key Vault, thinking App Configuration can securely store secrets, but App Configuration is for non-sensitive settings and lacks the dedicated security controls (e.g., hardware security modules, access policies, and audit logging) that Key Vault provides.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Managed identities provide an Azure AD-authenticated identity for Azure resources, allowing them to authenticate to services like Key Vault without storing any credentials in code. Under the hood, managed identities use a token-based authentication flow where Azure automatically rotates the service principal secret, eliminating the need for manual key management. In a real-world scenario, you might combine managed identities with Key Vault references in App Settings to securely pull keys at runtime without ever exposing them in application logs or configuration files.
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 Azure Key Vault to store the keys. — Azure Key Vault is the recommended service for securely storing and managing access keys, secrets, and certificates. By storing AI service keys in Key Vault, you centralize secret management, control access via Azure RBAC, and avoid hardcoding credentials in code or configuration files. This aligns with the principle of least privilege and reduces the risk of accidental exposure.
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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