- A
Use Azure Files over SMB and enable AD DS authentication
Azure Files over SMB supports both Windows and Linux clients, and AD DS authentication lets the team use existing domain identities and groups instead of storage keys. This keeps permissions centralized and avoids embedding secrets in scripts or mount commands. It is the most appropriate choice when both operating systems must share the same file data and access control should come from the established directory service.
- B
Use a blob container and mount it through the Blob API
Why wrong: Blob containers are object storage, not shared file systems, and they do not provide the same SMB file-share experience.
- C
Use anonymous access on an Azure File share
Why wrong: Anonymous access is not appropriate for a secured enterprise file share and would not satisfy the access control requirement.
- D
Use a premium NFS file share with a shared access signature
Why wrong: NFS does not provide the same Windows-and-AD-DS file-sharing model, and a SAS is a secret-based access mechanism that violates the key restriction.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to use Azure Files over SMB and enable AD DS authentication. This configuration allows both Windows and Linux VMs to mount the same Azure file share using the native SMB protocol, while leveraging existing on-premises Active Directory group memberships for granular access control—eliminating the need for storage account keys entirely. On the AZ-104 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of hybrid identity integration and the distinction between Azure Files authentication methods; a common trap is assuming Linux VMs cannot use SMB or that you must fall back to key-based access. Remember, Azure Files with AD DS authentication works over SMB 3.0, which Linux clients support via the cifs-utils package, so the key is to focus on protocol compatibility and identity-based access. Memory tip: think “SMB + AD = no keys needed” for cross-platform mounts.
AZ-104 Implement and Manage Storage Practice Question
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of implement and manage storage. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 team needs one Azure Files share that can be mounted by both Windows and Linux VMs. The VMs are joined to the same on-premises Active Directory Domain Services domain, and the security team forbids storage account keys. The team also wants to manage access with existing AD group memberships. What should the administrator configure?
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
Use Azure Files over SMB and enable AD DS authentication
Option A is correct because Azure Files supports SMB protocol, which can be mounted by both Windows and Linux VMs. By enabling AD DS authentication, the administrator can use existing on-premises Active Directory group memberships to control access to the file share without requiring storage account keys, satisfying the security team's requirement.
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.
- ✓
Use Azure Files over SMB and enable AD DS authentication
Why this is correct
Azure Files over SMB supports both Windows and Linux clients, and AD DS authentication lets the team use existing domain identities and groups instead of storage keys. This keeps permissions centralized and avoids embedding secrets in scripts or mount commands. It is the most appropriate choice when both operating systems must share the same file data and access control should come from the established directory service.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use a blob container and mount it through the Blob API
Why it's wrong here
Blob containers are object storage, not shared file systems, and they do not provide the same SMB file-share experience.
- ✗
Use anonymous access on an Azure File share
Why it's wrong here
Anonymous access is not appropriate for a secured enterprise file share and would not satisfy the access control requirement.
- ✗
Use a premium NFS file share with a shared access signature
Why it's wrong here
NFS does not provide the same Windows-and-AD-DS file-sharing model, and a SAS is a secret-based access mechanism that violates the key restriction.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse NFS with SMB, assuming NFS is the only option for Linux, but Azure Files supports SMB for both Windows and Linux, and AD DS authentication is only available for SMB shares, not NFS.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure Files with AD DS authentication uses Kerberos to authenticate users against on-premises Active Directory, allowing the file share to appear as a standard SMB share in the domain. The Linux VMs can mount the share using the `mount.cifs` command with the `sec=krb5` option, while Windows VMs use standard drive mapping. This integration requires the storage account to be domain-joined to the on-premises AD, which creates a computer account in the domain for the storage account.
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: Use Azure Files over SMB and enable AD DS authentication — Option A is correct because Azure Files supports SMB protocol, which can be mounted by both Windows and Linux VMs. By enabling AD DS authentication, the administrator can use existing on-premises Active Directory group memberships to control access to the file share without requiring storage account keys, satisfying the security team's requirement.
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.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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