AZ-104 Implement and Manage Storage Practice Question
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of implement and manage storage. 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. A key principle to apply: user Delegation SAS is signed with Microsoft Entra credentials.. 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 contractor needs to upload files into one blob container for six hours. The administrator must avoid sharing the storage account key, and the access token should keep working even if the storage account keys are rotated later. Which access mechanism should be issued?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
A user delegation SAS signed through Microsoft Entra authentication
A user delegation SAS is signed with Microsoft Entra credentials rather than the storage account key, so it remains valid even if the storage account keys are rotated. This meets the requirement to avoid sharing the account key while providing temporary, scoped access for exactly six hours. The contractor can upload files without the administrator exposing the account key or needing to manage key rotation.
Key principle: User Delegation SAS is signed with Microsoft Entra credentials.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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An account SAS signed with the storage account key
Why it's wrong here
This still depends on the account key, so rotating the keys can invalidate the access strategy.
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A service SAS signed with the storage account key
Why it's wrong here
This is container-scoped, but it still relies on the storage account key for signing.
✓
A user delegation SAS signed through Microsoft Entra authentication
Why this is correct
User delegation SAS avoids exposing the account key and is signed with identity-based authorization.
Related concept
User Delegation SAS is signed with Microsoft Entra credentials.
✗
The storage account access key itself in a temporary script variable
Why it's wrong here
Sharing the account key directly violates the security requirement and creates broad long-lived access.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse service SAS and user delegation SAS, assuming both are tied to the account key, but only service SAS is; user delegation SAS uses Entra ID and survives key rotation.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A user delegation SAS is obtained by first requesting a user delegation key from Azure Storage using Microsoft Entra (formerly Azure AD) credentials with the appropriate RBAC role (e.g., Storage Blob Data Contributor). This delegation key is then used to sign the SAS token, which can have a validity period up to 7 days. The key is independent of the storage account keys, so rotating the account keys has no effect on existing user delegation SAS tokens, ensuring uninterrupted access for the contractor.
KKey Concepts to Remember
User Delegation SAS is signed with Microsoft Entra credentials.
User Delegation SAS tokens remain valid after storage account key rotation.
It requires an Entra identity with appropriate RBAC roles on the storage account.
It provides granular, time-bound access to Azure Blob Storage resources.
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
User Delegation SAS is signed with Microsoft Entra credentials.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this AZ-104 question in full detail.
Review user Delegation SAS is signed with Microsoft Entra credentials., then practise related AZ-104 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Implement and Manage Storage — This question tests Implement and Manage Storage — User Delegation SAS is signed with Microsoft Entra credentials..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: A user delegation SAS signed through Microsoft Entra authentication — A user delegation SAS is signed with Microsoft Entra credentials rather than the storage account key, so it remains valid even if the storage account keys are rotated. This meets the requirement to avoid sharing the account key while providing temporary, scoped access for exactly six hours. The contractor can upload files without the administrator exposing the account key or needing to manage key rotation.
What should I do if I get this AZ-104 question wrong?
Review user Delegation SAS is signed with Microsoft Entra credentials., then practise related AZ-104 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
User Delegation SAS is signed with Microsoft Entra credentials.
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