AZ-104 Implement and Manage Storage Practice Question
An administrator wants a storage account to be accessible only from one subnet. The storage account should still use its public FQDN, the team does not want a private IP address in the VNet, and they do not want to manage private DNS zones. Which solution should be used?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse service endpoints with private endpoints, assuming that only private endpoints can restrict network access, but service endpoints combined with firewall rules achieve the same restriction without changing the endpoint type or requiring DNS management.
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
✓
Enable a service endpoint on the subnet and restrict the storage firewall to that subnet.
A service endpoint allows the storage account to be accessed from a specific subnet while still using the public FQDN. By enabling a service endpoint on the subnet and configuring the storage firewall to allow traffic only from that subnet, the administrator meets all requirements: no private IP, no private DNS zones, and access restricted to one subnet.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Create a private endpoint and disable public network access.
Why it's wrong here
A private endpoint gives the storage service a private IP in the VNet and usually requires private DNS planning. That conflicts with the stated requirement to avoid a private IP and avoid managing private DNS zones.
When this WOULD be correct
When the requirement is to ensure the storage account is completely isolated from the public internet and accessible only via a private IP address within the VNet, and the organization is willing to manage private DNS zones.
- ✓
Enable a service endpoint on the subnet and restrict the storage firewall to that subnet.
Why this is correct
A service endpoint allows the subnet to access the storage account over the Azure backbone while the storage account still uses its public FQDN and does not require a private IP in the VNet. Because the administrator also wants to avoid private DNS zone management, this is the best fit. The storage firewall can then be restricted to the specific subnet.
- ✗
Peer the subnet to a dedicated storage VNet and route traffic through peering.
Why it's wrong here
VNet peering only provides IP connectivity between virtual networks; it does not register the peered subnet as a trusted source on the storage account. A 'dedicated storage VNet' would still need a service endpoint or private endpoint to make the storage account reachable, and peering does not assign the storage service an IP address in your VNet. Even if you route traffic through peering, the storage account's firewall would still see the request from a public IP unless an endpoint is configured, and that would require the very private DNS or endpoint management the administrator wants to avoid.
When this WOULD be correct
A question where two VNets need to communicate privately, and the storage account is in a dedicated VNet with a service endpoint or private endpoint, but the requirement is to route traffic through VNet peering without using the public internet.
- ✗
Assign a route table with a host route to the storage account.
Why it's wrong here
Route tables (user-defined routes) only influence the next-hop path for traffic; they do not change the authorization or network rules applied by the storage account. Even with a host route directing traffic to the storage account's public IP, the storage firewall still evaluates the source IP of each request, and without a service endpoint the request appears as coming from the subnet's public IP, not a rule that permits the subnet. Routes cannot add a subnet to the storage account's 'Virtual Networks' allow-list, so this option fails to provide the desired access restriction.
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct in a scenario where the goal is to force all traffic destined for the storage account through a network virtual appliance (NVA) for inspection or logging, while still allowing access from any subnet. The question would specify that access control is not needed, only traffic routing.
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.
✓Enable a service endpoint on the subnet and restrict the storage firewall to that subnet.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
A service endpoint allows the subnet to access the storage account over the Azure backbone while the storage account still uses its public FQDN and does not require a private IP in the VNet. Because the administrator also wants to avoid private DNS zone management, this is the best fit. The storage firewall can then be restricted to the specific subnet.
✗Create a private endpoint and disable public network access.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A private endpoint uses a private IP address in the VNet, which contradicts the requirement to avoid private IP addresses and manage private DNS zones.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
When the requirement is to ensure the storage account is completely isolated from the public internet and accessible only via a private IP address within the VNet, and the organization is willing to manage private DNS zones.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think private endpoint is the only way to restrict access to a subnet, overlooking that service endpoints can achieve subnet-level access without private IPs.
✗Peer the subnet to a dedicated storage VNet and route traffic through peering.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
VNet peering does not restrict access to a storage account by subnet; it connects VNets but does not provide subnet-level network rules. The storage account would still be publicly accessible unless additional firewall rules are applied, and the scenario requires using the public FQDN without private IPs or DNS zones.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question where two VNets need to communicate privately, and the storage account is in a dedicated VNet with a service endpoint or private endpoint, but the requirement is to route traffic through VNet peering without using the public internet.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think VNet peering can restrict access to a specific subnet, but peering is for connecting VNets, not for subnet-level access control. They might confuse peering with service endpoints or private endpoints.
✗Assign a route table with a host route to the storage account.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Assigning a route table with a host route to the storage account does not restrict access to a specific subnet; it only influences network traffic routing. The storage firewall and service endpoints are required to limit access to a subnet, and a host route alone does not provide access control.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct in a scenario where the goal is to force all traffic destined for the storage account through a network virtual appliance (NVA) for inspection or logging, while still allowing access from any subnet. The question would specify that access control is not needed, only traffic routing.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think that a route table with a host route can restrict access by directing traffic, but they confuse routing with access control. The term 'host route' might be misinterpreted as a way to limit access to a specific host.
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?”
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way 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 must be accessible only from one Azure subnet. The security team does not want a private endpoint or private DNS zone, and they are fine with the storage account continuing to use its public FQDN. Which configuration should you use?
hard- ✓ A.Create a service endpoint on the subnet and allow that subnet in the storage account firewall.
- B.Create a private endpoint for the storage account and disable public network access.
- C.Use an NSG rule to allow only the subnet to reach port 443 on the storage account.
- D.Associate a route table that sends storage traffic to an Azure firewall appliance.
Why A: A service endpoint extends the virtual network identity to the Azure Storage service, allowing the storage account firewall to restrict access to traffic originating from the specific subnet. This meets the requirement of limiting access to one Azure subnet without using a private endpoint or DNS zone, and the storage account continues to use its public FQDN.
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.