- A
A system-assigned managed identity with Blob Data Contributor permissions on the container.
A system-assigned managed identity is tied directly to the App Service instance and disappears when the app is deleted, which satisfies the automatic cleanup requirement. Because shared key access is disabled and secrets are not allowed in configuration, the app should authenticate through Microsoft Entra ID using the managed identity. Assigning Blob Data Contributor at the appropriate scope allows upload access without storing credentials.
- B
A user-assigned managed identity with Blob Data Reader permissions on the storage account.
Why wrong: A user-assigned identity can be reused, but it does not disappear when the App Service is deleted, and Reader does not allow uploads.
- C
A shared access signature generated from the storage account key.
Why wrong: A SAS derived from the account key still depends on shared key access and introduces a secret that must be managed.
- D
A storage account access key stored in an application setting.
Why wrong: An access key is a long-lived secret and directly violates the no-secrets requirement in the scenario.
AZ-104 Deploy and Manage Azure Compute Practice Question
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of deploy and manage azure compute. 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 web application runs in Azure App Service and uploads files to Azure Blob Storage. The storage account has shared key access disabled, and the app must not store secrets in configuration. If the App Service is deleted and recreated later, the storage access should be removed automatically with the app. What should you 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
A system-assigned managed identity with Blob Data Contributor permissions on the container.
A system-assigned managed identity is tied to the App Service lifecycle, so when the app is deleted, the identity is automatically removed, revoking access to Blob Storage. Granting Blob Data Contributor permissions on the container allows the app to upload files without storing any secrets, satisfying the requirement that shared key access is disabled and no secrets are stored in configuration.
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.
- ✓
A system-assigned managed identity with Blob Data Contributor permissions on the container.
Why this is correct
A system-assigned managed identity is tied directly to the App Service instance and disappears when the app is deleted, which satisfies the automatic cleanup requirement. Because shared key access is disabled and secrets are not allowed in configuration, the app should authenticate through Microsoft Entra ID using the managed identity. Assigning Blob Data Contributor at the appropriate scope allows upload access without storing credentials.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
A user-assigned managed identity with Blob Data Reader permissions on the storage account.
Why it's wrong here
A user-assigned identity can be reused, but it does not disappear when the App Service is deleted, and Reader does not allow uploads.
When this WOULD be correct
A user-assigned managed identity with Blob Data Reader permissions would be correct in a scenario where the app only needs to read blobs (e.g., a reporting tool that reads files) and the identity must be shared across multiple Azure resources (e.g., multiple App Services and a Function App) to avoid managing separate identities.
- ✗
A shared access signature generated from the storage account key.
Why it's wrong here
A SAS derived from the account key still depends on shared key access and introduces a secret that must be managed.
When this WOULD be correct
A question where the app needs to grant time-limited, delegated access to specific blobs or containers without using managed identities, and the app can securely generate SAS tokens at runtime using a stored access policy or user delegation key (e.g., from Azure AD). The scenario would not prohibit secret storage and would require granular, temporary access.
- ✗
A storage account access key stored in an application setting.
Why it's wrong here
An access key is a long-lived secret and directly violates the no-secrets requirement in the scenario.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question stated that shared key access is enabled and the app can securely store secrets (e.g., in Key Vault), then using a storage account access key in an application setting could be a valid approach for authentication.
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 system-assigned managed identity with Blob Data Contributor permissions on the container.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
A system-assigned managed identity is tied directly to the App Service instance and disappears when the app is deleted, which satisfies the automatic cleanup requirement. Because shared key access is disabled and secrets are not allowed in configuration, the app should authenticate through Microsoft Entra ID using the managed identity. Assigning Blob Data Contributor at the appropriate scope allows upload access without storing credentials.
✗A user-assigned managed identity with Blob Data Reader permissions on the storage account.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The question requires the app to upload files (write access), but Blob Data Reader only allows read access. Also, a user-assigned managed identity persists independently of the App Service lifecycle, so deleting the App Service would not automatically remove storage access.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A user-assigned managed identity with Blob Data Reader permissions would be correct in a scenario where the app only needs to read blobs (e.g., a reporting tool that reads files) and the identity must be shared across multiple Azure resources (e.g., multiple App Services and a Function App) to avoid managing separate identities.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse user-assigned with system-assigned managed identities, or think that any managed identity automatically ties to the resource lifecycle, not realizing that user-assigned identities are separate resources.
✗A shared access signature generated from the storage account key.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Shared access signatures (SAS) require a secret (the storage account key or user delegation key) to generate, and the question states the app must not store secrets in configuration. Additionally, SAS tokens do not automatically revoke when the App Service is deleted unless a stored access policy is used, which still requires secret management.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question where the app needs to grant time-limited, delegated access to specific blobs or containers without using managed identities, and the app can securely generate SAS tokens at runtime using a stored access policy or user delegation key (e.g., from Azure AD). The scenario would not prohibit secret storage and would require granular, temporary access.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think SAS tokens are a secure, secret-free way to grant access because they can be generated without storing the account key in the app, but they still require a secret to generate and do not automatically revoke upon resource deletion.
✗A storage account access key stored in an application setting.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Shared key access is disabled, so storage account access keys cannot be used. Additionally, storing the key in an application setting violates the requirement to not store secrets in configuration.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question stated that shared key access is enabled and the app can securely store secrets (e.g., in Key Vault), then using a storage account access key in an application setting could be a valid approach for authentication.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may be familiar with using access keys for storage authentication and think storing them in app settings is a standard practice, overlooking the constraints of disabled shared key access and the no-secrets requirement.
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?”
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates might choose a user-assigned managed identity (Option B) because it also avoids secrets, but they overlook the requirement that access must be automatically removed when the app is deleted, which only a system-assigned identity guarantees.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
An access key is a long-lived secret and directly violates the no-secrets requirement in the scenario.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
System-assigned managed identities are created as a service principal in Azure AD, tied to the resource's lifecycle. When the App Service is deleted, Azure automatically cleans up the service principal, ensuring that any role assignments (like Blob Data Contributor) are also removed. This approach uses OAuth 2.0 tokens obtained from Azure AD to authenticate against Blob Storage, eliminating the need for any shared keys or secrets.
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.
Quick reference
Azure Blob Storage Tier Comparison
| Tier | Storage Cost | Retrieval Cost | Latency | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hot | Highest | Lowest | Immediate | Active data, frequent reads |
| Cool | Lower | Higher | Immediate | Data accessed < once / month |
| Cold | Lower still | Higher | Immediate | Data accessed < once / quarter |
| Archive | Lowest | Highest + rehydration delay | Hours | Long-term compliance retention |
What to study next
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-104 question test?
Deploy and Manage Azure Compute — This question tests Deploy and Manage Azure Compute — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: A system-assigned managed identity with Blob Data Contributor permissions on the container. — A system-assigned managed identity is tied to the App Service lifecycle, so when the app is deleted, the identity is automatically removed, revoking access to Blob Storage. Granting Blob Data Contributor permissions on the container allows the app to upload files without storing any secrets, satisfying the requirement that shared key access is disabled and no secrets are stored in configuration.
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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Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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