Read-access geo-redundant storage (RA-GRS) is the correct choice because it combines geo-redundant storage (GRS) with the ability to read from the secondary region at any time, even when the primary region is fully operational. This meets the requirement for a readable secondary copy during a primary outage, as RA-GRS asynchronously replicates blobs to a paired secondary region and exposes a separate read-only endpoint. On the AZ-104 exam, this question tests your understanding of Azure storage redundancy options for readable secondary region scenarios, often contrasting RA-GRS with standard GRS, which only allows failover reads. A common trap is choosing GRS alone, forgetting that read access is not enabled by default. Remember the mnemonic: "RA-GRS lets you Read Always from the Geo-Redundant Secondary."
AZ-104 Implement and Manage Storage Practice Question
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of implement and manage storage. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 records team wants blobs to be replicated to a secondary region, and the secondary copy must be readable if the primary region becomes unavailable. Which redundancy option should you choose?
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 the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Read-access geo-redundant storage (RA-GRS)
RA-GRS (Read-access geo-redundant storage) is correct because it provides geo-redundant replication (GRS) to a secondary region, plus read access to the secondary copy even if the primary region is unavailable. This ensures the blob data is replicated asynchronously to a paired secondary region, and the secondary endpoint can be read immediately during a primary outage, meeting the team's requirement for readable secondary copies.
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.
✗
Locally redundant storage (LRS)
Why it's wrong here
LRS keeps data within one datacenter and does not provide a readable secondary region.
✗
Zone-redundant storage (ZRS)
Why it's wrong here
ZRS protects against zone failure inside a region, but it does not replicate to another region.
✗
Geo-redundant storage (GRS)
Why it's wrong here
GRS replicates to a secondary region, but the secondary region is not readable during normal operations.
✓
Read-access geo-redundant storage (RA-GRS)
Why this is correct
RA-GRS replicates data to a secondary region and allows reads from that secondary copy, which fits the requirement exactly.
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-GRS, assuming that geo-redundant replication automatically provides readable secondary copies, but GRS does not allow read access to the secondary region until a failover occurs, whereas RA-GRS explicitly enables read access at all times.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
RA-GRS uses asynchronous replication to a paired secondary region, typically with a lag of minutes (RPO of 15 minutes or less). The secondary endpoint (e.g., `https://<storage-account>-secondary.blob.core.windows.net`) is always available for reads, but data may not be fully consistent due to the asynchronous nature. In a real-world scenario, if the primary region suffers a prolonged outage, RA-GRS allows immediate read access to the last replicated state, while GRS requires a manual or Microsoft-initiated failover to promote the secondary to primary before reads are possible.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this AZ-104 question in full detail.
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: Read-access geo-redundant storage (RA-GRS) — RA-GRS (Read-access geo-redundant storage) is correct because it provides geo-redundant replication (GRS) to a secondary region, plus read access to the secondary copy even if the primary region is unavailable. This ensures the blob data is replicated asynchronously to a paired secondary region, and the secondary endpoint can be read immediately during a primary outage, meeting the team's requirement for readable secondary copies.
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.
About these practice questions
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These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. You need to choose a storage redundancy option that provides the lowest cost and protects data against local hardware failure within a single datacenter only. Which redundancy option should you select?
medium
✓ A.LRS
B.ZRS
C.GRS
D.GZRS
Why A: LRS (Locally Redundant Storage) replicates data three times within a single datacenter (or availability zone) in the same region, protecting against local hardware failures such as disk or server crashes. It is the lowest-cost redundancy option because it does not incur the additional replication costs of cross-zone or cross-region copying. This meets the requirement of protecting data against local hardware failure within a single datacenter only.
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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