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.
You need to allow a partner application to upload files to a blob container for the next 24 hours. The partner must not receive the storage account key. What should you provide?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
A shared access signature (SAS)
A shared access signature (SAS) provides delegated, time-limited access to a specific Azure Storage resource (like a blob container) without exposing the storage account key. By generating a SAS token with write permissions and a 24-hour expiry, you grant the partner application the ability to upload files while maintaining security and control over the access window.
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.
✗
The storage account access key
Why it's wrong here
This grants broad access and violates the requirement.
✓
A shared access signature (SAS)
Why this is correct
A SAS provides limited access for a defined time and permission scope.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The connection string with the account key
Why it's wrong here
This still exposes the underlying secret and gives too much access.
✗
A Recovery Services vault
Why it's wrong here
A Recovery Services vault is for backup and disaster recovery, not delegated blob uploads.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse a SAS with a connection string or access key, mistakenly thinking that any shared credential will work, but the exam specifically tests the ability to grant time-limited, scoped access without exposing the account key.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A SAS token is generated using the storage account key or a user-assigned managed identity, and it includes parameters such as signed permissions (e.g., 'w' for write), signed expiry (e.g., 24 hours from now), and signed resource (e.g., 'c' for container). The token is appended to the blob container URL as a query string, and Azure Storage validates the token's signature and expiry on each request. In practice, you can also use a stored access policy on the container to revoke the SAS before expiry if needed, providing an additional layer of control.
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: A shared access signature (SAS) — A shared access signature (SAS) provides delegated, time-limited access to a specific Azure Storage resource (like a blob container) without exposing the storage account key. By generating a SAS token with write permissions and a 24-hour expiry, you grant the partner application the ability to upload files while maintaining security and control over the access window.
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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Question Discussion
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