- A
Enable a system-assigned managed identity on the VM.
A system-assigned managed identity lets the VM request Azure access tokens without storing secrets on the server. The identity is automatically created and tied to that VM, which fits a simple single-VM app. This is the safest starting point when a workload must authenticate to Azure Storage without an account key or SAS token.
- B
Assign the Storage Blob Data Contributor role to that managed identity at the container scope.
Storage Blob Data Contributor is a data-plane RBAC role that allows writing blobs without granting broader management permissions. Assigning it at the container scope keeps access limited to only the target data. This is the right permission model when a VM identity needs to upload files to one container.
- C
Store the storage account access key in an environment variable on the VM.
Why wrong: An access key is a long-lived secret, and storing it on the VM violates the requirement to avoid credentials. It also grants broad access to the storage account rather than only the needed container. This is less secure than using managed identity and RBAC.
- D
Generate a service SAS and copy it into the application configuration.
Why wrong: A SAS token is still a secret, even if it can be time-limited and scoped. The requirement explicitly says the app must not store a SAS token on the VM. Managed identity is preferred because it removes the need to manage shared secrets in the workload.
- E
Assign the Contributor role on the resource group to the managed identity.
Why wrong: Contributor is a management-plane role and does not grant blob data access by itself. It would also give far more permission than needed for a single container upload. The app needs a data role such as Storage Blob Data Contributor, not broad resource control.
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. 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 Python app running on an Azure VM must upload blobs to one container in a storage account. The app must not store a storage account key or SAS token on the VM. Which two actions should the administrator take? Select two.
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
Enable a system-assigned managed identity on the VM.
A system-assigned managed identity on the VM allows Azure AD authentication without storing any credentials on the VM. By assigning the Storage Blob Data Contributor role to that identity at the container scope, the app can use Azure AD tokens to authenticate and upload blobs, eliminating the need for a storage account key or SAS token.
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.
- ✓
Enable a system-assigned managed identity on the VM.
Why this is correct
A system-assigned managed identity lets the VM request Azure access tokens without storing secrets on the server. The identity is automatically created and tied to that VM, which fits a simple single-VM app. This is the safest starting point when a workload must authenticate to Azure Storage without an account key or SAS token.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Assign the Storage Blob Data Contributor role to that managed identity at the container scope.
Why this is correct
Storage Blob Data Contributor is a data-plane RBAC role that allows writing blobs without granting broader management permissions. Assigning it at the container scope keeps access limited to only the target data. This is the right permission model when a VM identity needs to upload files to one container.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Store the storage account access key in an environment variable on the VM.
Why it's wrong here
An access key is a long-lived secret, and storing it on the VM violates the requirement to avoid credentials. It also grants broad access to the storage account rather than only the needed container. This is less secure than using managed identity and RBAC.
- ✗
Generate a service SAS and copy it into the application configuration.
Why it's wrong here
A SAS token is still a secret, even if it can be time-limited and scoped. The requirement explicitly says the app must not store a SAS token on the VM. Managed identity is preferred because it removes the need to manage shared secrets in the workload.
- ✗
Assign the Contributor role on the resource group to the managed identity.
Why it's wrong here
Contributor is a management-plane role and does not grant blob data access by itself. It would also give far more permission than needed for a single container upload. The app needs a data role such as Storage Blob Data Contributor, not broad resource control.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the Contributor role (which grants management-level access) with the Storage Blob Data Contributor role (which grants data-plane access), and may overlook that scoping the role to the container (rather than the storage account or resource group) is the most secure and correct approach.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Managed identities use Azure Instance Metadata Service (IMDS) to obtain Azure AD tokens, which are then used to authenticate to Azure Storage via OAuth 2.0. The Storage Blob Data Contributor role includes the 'Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts/blobServices/containers/blobs/write' action, enabling blob uploads. Under the hood, the app calls the Azure Storage REST API with an Authorization header containing a Bearer token, avoiding any shared key or SAS in the request.
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 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.
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: Enable a system-assigned managed identity on the VM. — A system-assigned managed identity on the VM allows Azure AD authentication without storing any credentials on the VM. By assigning the Storage Blob Data Contributor role to that identity at the container scope, the app can use Azure AD tokens to authenticate and upload blobs, eliminating the need for a storage account key or SAS token.
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.
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
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