Restrict Storage Account to Subnet Using Service Endpoint
A storage account must accept traffic only from a single subnet. The team wants to keep using the storage account's public endpoint and does not want to deploy a private endpoint. What should you configure?
Quick Answer
The correct configuration is to create a service endpoint on the subnet and a storage firewall rule that allows that specific subnet. This works because the service endpoint extends the virtual network’s identity to the storage account, ensuring that traffic from the subnet is tagged with the subnet’s source IP, while the firewall rule then explicitly permits only that tagged traffic, effectively locking down the public endpoint to that single subnet without needing a private endpoint. On the AZ-104 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of network segmentation and service endpoints versus private endpoints—a common trap is assuming a private endpoint is required when the question explicitly states the public endpoint must remain in use. Remember the key distinction: service endpoints secure the public endpoint by subnet identity; private endpoints give the resource a private IP. Memory tip: “Service endpoint secures the public path; private endpoint creates a private lane.”
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse service endpoints with private endpoints, assuming that restricting access to a subnet requires a private endpoint, but service endpoints with firewall rules achieve the same goal using the public endpoint.
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
✓
A service endpoint on the subnet and a storage firewall rule that allows that subnet
A service endpoint on the subnet extends the virtual network identity to the storage account, and a storage firewall rule that allows that subnet restricts access to only traffic originating from that subnet. This meets the requirement of using the public endpoint without deploying a private endpoint, as the storage account's public endpoint remains accessible but is locked down to the specified subnet via the firewall rule.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
A private endpoint and private DNS zone
Why it's wrong here
A private endpoint creates private IP access, which the team explicitly does not want to use.
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct if the question required that traffic to the storage account must traverse the Microsoft backbone network and not the public internet, and the team is willing to use a private endpoint. For example: 'You need to ensure that traffic to a storage account from a virtual network never leaves the Microsoft network. You can deploy a private endpoint.'
- ✓
A service endpoint on the subnet and a storage firewall rule that allows that subnet
Why this is correct
A service endpoint lets the subnet reach the storage account over the public endpoint while the firewall restricts access to that subnet only.
- ✗
Read-access geo-redundant storage (RA-GRS)
Why it's wrong here
RA-GRS is a redundancy setting and does not control which subnet can connect to the account.
When this WOULD be correct
A question asks: 'You need to ensure that storage data is available for read access from a secondary region in case of a regional outage. What should you configure?' In that scenario, RA-GRS would be correct.
- ✗
Archive access tier for the container
Why it's wrong here
The access tier affects blob retrieval cost and speed, not which network can reach the storage account.
When this WOULD be correct
When the question asks for a cost-optimized storage tier for data that is infrequently accessed and has a high tolerance for retrieval latency, such as long-term backup archives or compliance data.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The AZ-104 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓A service endpoint on the subnet and a storage firewall rule that allows that subnetCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
A service endpoint lets the subnet reach the storage account over the public endpoint while the firewall restricts access to that subnet only.
✗A private endpoint and private DNS zoneWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The question explicitly states the team wants to keep using the public endpoint and does not want to deploy a private endpoint. Option A requires deploying a private endpoint, which contradicts the requirement.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct if the question required that traffic to the storage account must traverse the Microsoft backbone network and not the public internet, and the team is willing to use a private endpoint. For example: 'You need to ensure that traffic to a storage account from a virtual network never leaves the Microsoft network. You can deploy a private endpoint.'
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse private endpoints with service endpoints, or think that private endpoints are the only way to restrict access to a specific subnet, not realizing that service endpoints with firewall rules can achieve the same goal without using a private endpoint.
✗Read-access geo-redundant storage (RA-GRS)Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
RA-GRS provides geo-redundant storage with read access to the secondary region, but it does not restrict network access to a single subnet. It is a replication and data access feature, not a network security control.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question asks: 'You need to ensure that storage data is available for read access from a secondary region in case of a regional outage. What should you configure?' In that scenario, RA-GRS would be correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse high-availability features like RA-GRS with network security controls, or they might think that geo-replication inherently restricts access to specific subnets.
✗Archive access tier for the containerWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Archive access tier is for cost-effective storage of rarely accessed data, not for network access control. It does not restrict traffic to a specific subnet.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
When the question asks for a cost-optimized storage tier for data that is infrequently accessed and has a high tolerance for retrieval latency, such as long-term backup archives or compliance data.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse 'archive' with 'restrict' or think that changing the access tier somehow limits network access, due to misunderstanding of storage tiers.
Analysis generated from the official AZ-104blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Visual reference
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Related to this question
Learn chapter
Privileged Identity Management (PIM)
Key term
Subnet
A subnet is a logical subdivision of an IP network, created by partitioning a larger network address space using subnet masks.
Key term
Firewall
A firewall is a network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing traffic based on predetermined security rules to protect trusted internal networks from untrusted external networks.
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Same concept, more angles
6 more ways this is tested on AZ-104
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. A storage account should accept requests only from a specific virtual network subnet in Azure. The team does not want traffic to reach the public endpoint from the internet. What should the administrator configure?
easy- A.Enable anonymous blob access
- ✓ B.Add a storage network rule for the subnet or use a private endpoint
- C.Move the container to the Archive tier
- D.Assign the Contributor role to the subnet
Why B: Azure storage accounts can restrict access to specific virtual network subnets using service endpoints or private endpoints. A storage network rule for the subnet allows traffic only from that subnet, while a private endpoint maps the storage account to a private IP in the VNet, completely bypassing the public endpoint. This ensures no internet traffic reaches the public endpoint, meeting the requirement.
Variation 2. A web app in a subnet must access a storage account through the storage account's public FQDN. Access must be limited to that single subnet, and the team does not want to deploy a private endpoint or manage private DNS records. Which configuration should you use?
hard- A.Deploy a private endpoint and private DNS zone.
- ✓ B.Enable a service endpoint on the subnet and allow that subnet in the storage account network rules.
- C.Add a route table that sends storage traffic to an NVA.
- D.Place the storage account behind a public load balancer.
Why B: A service endpoint on the subnet allows the web app to access the storage account via its public FQDN while restricting access to that specific subnet. By enabling the Microsoft.Storage service endpoint on the subnet and adding the subnet's virtual network rule to the storage account's network rules, traffic from the subnet to the storage account's public endpoint is routed through the Azure backbone network, and only traffic from that subnet is permitted. This meets the requirement of limiting access without deploying a private endpoint or managing private DNS records.
Variation 3. A team wants to allow a subnet to access a storage account only from that subnet, but they do not want to create a private endpoint or change DNS. The storage account should still be reachable through its public endpoint, just not from other networks. What should the administrator configure?
medium- A.A private endpoint for the storage account and a private DNS zone.
- B.A public IP address for the subnet and a storage account firewall exception.
- ✓ C.A service endpoint on the subnet and a storage firewall rule allowing that subnet.
- D.An NSG rule that permits outbound TCP 443 to the storage account.
Why C: A service endpoint on the subnet extends the virtual network identity to the storage account, allowing the storage firewall to restrict access to traffic originating from that specific subnet. This ensures the storage account remains reachable via its public endpoint, but only from the configured subnet, without requiring a private endpoint or DNS changes.
Variation 4. An application on a VM in subnet AppSubnet must access a storage account over the public endpoint. The security team wants to allow traffic only from AppSubnet and does not want to deploy a private endpoint. What should the administrator configure?
medium- A.Disable the storage account firewall and rely on the VM's source IP address.
- ✓ B.Enable the Microsoft.Storage service endpoint on AppSubnet and allow that virtual network in the storage account firewall.
- C.Create a private endpoint and leave the firewall set to allow all networks.
- D.Grant the VM Contributor access to the storage account and the network rule will be enforced automatically.
Why B: Enabling a Microsoft.Storage service endpoint on AppSubnet allows traffic from that subnet to the storage account over the Azure backbone network, while still using the public endpoint. Then, configuring the storage account firewall to allow that virtual network restricts access exclusively to AppSubnet, meeting the security requirement without deploying a private endpoint.
Variation 5. An application runs on an Azure VM in a subnet and must access a storage account over the public endpoint without using a private IP address. The administrator wants to restrict access so only that subnet can reach the account. What should be configured?
medium- A.Create a private endpoint for the storage account and disable the public endpoint.
- ✓ B.Enable a service endpoint for Microsoft.Storage on the subnet and add the subnet to the storage account network rules.
- C.Allow trusted Microsoft services to bypass the firewall.
- D.Add a user-defined route that points storage traffic to the virtual network gateway.
Why B: A service endpoint for Microsoft.Storage extends the virtual network identity to the subnet, allowing the storage account firewall to accept traffic from that subnet via its public endpoint. This meets the requirement of restricting access to the storage account's public endpoint without using a private IP address.
Variation 6. Based on the exhibit, the security team wants AppSubnet to access an Azure Storage account through the public endpoint, but only that subnet should be allowed. They do not want a private IP or DNS changes. What should the administrator configure?
medium- ✓ A.Enable the Microsoft.Storage service endpoint on AppSubnet and add AppSubnet as a network rule on the storage account.
- B.Create a private endpoint for the storage account and disable public access.
- C.Attach a route table that sends storage traffic to the internet.
- D.Grant the subnet a Reader role assignment on the storage account.
Why A: Enabling the Microsoft.Storage service endpoint on AppSubnet allows traffic from that subnet to reach the storage account over the Azure backbone network using the public endpoint, without requiring a private IP or DNS changes. Adding AppSubnet as a network rule on the storage account restricts access exclusively to that subnet, fulfilling the security team's requirement.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.