The correct answer is Active Directory Domain Services credentials and the storage account key. This is because Azure Files supports two distinct SMB authentication methods: identity-based authentication via AD DS, which allows domain-joined Windows and Linux VMs to mount the share using their domain credentials, and shared-key authentication using the storage account key, which grants full administrative access to the share from any SMB client. On the AZ-104 exam, this question tests your understanding of Azure Files authentication options and the distinction between identity-based access and key-based access. A common trap is assuming that only Windows VMs can use AD DS authentication, but Linux VMs joined to the same domain can also authenticate with AD DS credentials. Remember the memory tip: “Key for admin, domain for identity”—the storage account key is like a master key for full control, while AD DS credentials enforce user-level permissions.
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 Windows VM and a Linux VM are both joined to the same Active Directory Domain Services domain. Which two authentication methods can be used to mount the same Azure Files share over SMB? Select two.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Storage account key
Option A is correct because the storage account key provides administrative access to the Azure Files share, allowing any SMB client (Windows or Linux) to mount the share by using the key as the credential. Option B is correct because when both VMs are joined to the same Active Directory Domain Services domain, the Azure Files share can be enabled for AD DS authentication, allowing domain-joined clients to mount the share using their domain credentials.
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.
✓
Storage account key
Why this is correct
The storage account key can authenticate SMB mounts from supported Windows and Linux clients.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Active Directory Domain Services credentials
Why this is correct
Domain credentials support identity-based SMB access for Azure Files in an AD DS environment.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Blob SAS token
Why it's wrong here
A blob SAS token is for blob data, not for mounting an Azure Files SMB share.
✗
Network security group rule
Why it's wrong here
NSG rules control traffic flow, but they do not authenticate file-share access.
✗
Azure resource lock
Why it's wrong here
A lock protects the storage account from changes, but it does not help clients mount the share.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Azure Files authentication with Blob Storage authentication, mistakenly selecting a SAS token as a valid method for SMB mounting, when in fact SAS tokens are only used for REST-based access to Blob or File storage (via HTTPS), not for SMB protocol.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure Files supports SMB 3.0 and later, which requires encryption in transit for connections from outside Azure. When using AD DS authentication, the storage account must be domain-joined to the same AD domain, and the NTFS permissions on the share are enforced alongside share-level RBAC roles. The Linux VM can mount the share using the `mount` command with the `-o username=<storage-account-name>,password=<storage-account-key>` option for key-based access, or with `-o credentials=<cred-file>` for AD DS authentication if the Linux client is domain-joined and configured with Kerberos.
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: Storage account key — Option A is correct because the storage account key provides administrative access to the Azure Files share, allowing any SMB client (Windows or Linux) to mount the share by using the key as the credential. Option B is correct because when both VMs are joined to the same Active Directory Domain Services domain, the Azure Files share can be enabled for AD DS authentication, allowing domain-joined clients to mount the share using their domain credentials.
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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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 Windows VM and a Linux VM in the same on-premises Active Directory Domain Services domain must mount the same Azure Files share over SMB. Security policy forbids storage account keys and long-lived SAS tokens. What should the administrator configure?
hard
✓ A.Use Azure Files with Active Directory Domain Services authentication and grant permissions to the required AD group.
B.Use a private endpoint and rely on network isolation instead of authentication.
C.Use the storage account access key because SMB requires shared-key authentication.
D.Use Azure Files NFS authentication because Linux and Windows workloads can both mount it.
Why A: Option A is correct because Azure Files supports identity-based authentication over SMB using on-premises Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS). By enabling AD DS authentication for the storage account and granting share-level permissions to an AD group that includes both the Windows and Linux VMs, the administrator can mount the Azure Files share without using storage account keys or SAS tokens. This satisfies the security policy while allowing SMB access from both operating systems.
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Question Discussion
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