- A
LRS, because it stores three copies in one datacenter and is the lowest-cost option.
Why wrong: LRS protects against local disk or node failures, but all copies stay within one datacenter. It does not provide zone resilience or a readable secondary replica in another region. This does not satisfy the business continuity requirement.
- B
ZRS, because it replicates data across zones in the same region but not to another region.
Why wrong: ZRS helps with a zone failure in the primary region, but it does not create a secondary regional copy. Administrators would not have a read-accessible replica in the paired region for disaster recovery verification. The cross-region requirement is missing.
- C
GRS, because it replicates to the paired region and supports a secondary copy for recovery.
Why wrong: GRS does replicate to a paired region, but the secondary copy is not readable. The scenario explicitly requires administrators to verify data in the secondary region before failover, which GRS does not provide. Read access is the key missing feature.
- D
RA-GZRS, because it provides zone redundancy in the primary region and read access to the secondary region.
RA-GZRS combines zone-redundant storage in the primary region with geo-replication to the paired region, and it also enables read access to the secondary endpoint. That combination satisfies both requirements: survive a zone failure and allow administrators to validate replicated data before a planned or unplanned failover.
AZ-104 Implement and Manage Storage Practice Question
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of implement and manage storage. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
A business-critical storage account must keep data available if one availability zone fails in the primary region. It must also keep a readable copy in the paired region so administrators can verify data during disaster recovery testing before failover. Which redundancy option should be selected?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"primary"Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
RA-GZRS, because it provides zone redundancy in the primary region and read access to the secondary region.
D is correct because RA-GZRS (Read-Access Geo-Zone-Redundant Storage) provides synchronous replication across three Azure availability zones within the primary region, ensuring data remains available if one zone fails. It also asynchronously replicates data to the paired region, where a read-only copy is available for verification during disaster recovery testing without requiring a failover.
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.
- ✗
LRS, because it stores three copies in one datacenter and is the lowest-cost option.
Why it's wrong here
LRS protects against local disk or node failures, but all copies stay within one datacenter. It does not provide zone resilience or a readable secondary replica in another region. This does not satisfy the business continuity requirement.
- ✗
ZRS, because it replicates data across zones in the same region but not to another region.
Why it's wrong here
ZRS helps with a zone failure in the primary region, but it does not create a secondary regional copy. Administrators would not have a read-accessible replica in the paired region for disaster recovery verification. The cross-region requirement is missing.
- ✗
GRS, because it replicates to the paired region and supports a secondary copy for recovery.
Why it's wrong here
GRS does replicate to a paired region, but the secondary copy is not readable. The scenario explicitly requires administrators to verify data in the secondary region before failover, which GRS does not provide. Read access is the key missing feature.
- ✓
RA-GZRS, because it provides zone redundancy in the primary region and read access to the secondary region.
Why this is correct
RA-GZRS combines zone-redundant storage in the primary region with geo-replication to the paired region, and it also enables read access to the secondary endpoint. That combination satisfies both requirements: survive a zone failure and allow administrators to validate replicated data before a planned or unplanned failover.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
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 confuse GRS with RA-GZRS, assuming geo-replication alone provides both zone redundancy and readable secondary access, but GRS does not offer zone-level protection within the primary region and its secondary copy is not readable until a failover is initiated.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
GRS does replicate to a paired region, but the secondary copy is not readable. The scenario explicitly requires administrators to verify data in the secondary region before failover, which GRS does not provide. Read access is the key missing feature.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
RA-GZRS uses synchronous replication within the primary region across three availability zones, ensuring strong consistency for write operations. The asynchronous geo-replication to the paired region uses a separate endpoint (e.g., .secondary.blob.core.windows.net) that provides read access without requiring a full failover, enabling administrators to validate data integrity during DR drills. This is particularly useful for compliance scenarios where read access to the secondary region is needed before initiating a failover.
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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-104 question test?
Implement and Manage Storage — This question tests Implement and Manage Storage — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: RA-GZRS, because it provides zone redundancy in the primary region and read access to the secondary region. — D is correct because RA-GZRS (Read-Access Geo-Zone-Redundant Storage) provides synchronous replication across three Azure availability zones within the primary region, ensuring data remains available if one zone fails. It also asynchronously replicates data to the paired region, where a read-only copy is available for verification during disaster recovery testing without requiring a failover.
What should I do if I get this AZ-104 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This AZ-104 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the AZ-104 exam.
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