- A
Create a blob container and mount it as a file system from both virtual machines.
Why wrong: Blob containers are object storage, not a shared file system in the same sense as a file share. They do not provide the typical mounting experience expected for Windows and Linux workloads in this scenario. This option does not meet the requirement for a standard shared folder.
- B
Create an Azure Files share and mount it over SMB from both virtual machines.
Azure Files is the managed file service designed for shared file access. SMB is supported by Windows natively and can also be mounted from Linux using standard tools. This gives both VMs access to the same share without introducing a separate file server VM, which fits the requirement precisely.
- C
Use an Azure managed disk and attach it to both virtual machines.
Why wrong: A managed disk is not intended as a general shared file service for multiple VMs in this way. It is normally attached to one VM, and sharing it does not provide the same simple multi-platform file access model as Azure Files. This would create management and availability problems.
- D
Create an Azure Files share and force the Linux VM to use NFS while the Windows VM uses SMB.
Why wrong: Azure Files can support different protocols in some scenarios, but this split-protocol design is unnecessary here and is not the simplest common approach. The requirement is a standard shared protocol that both systems can mount consistently, which makes SMB the better choice for this workload.
Quick Answer
The answer is to create an Azure Files share and mount it over SMB from both virtual machines. This is correct because Azure Files is a fully managed file service that supports the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol natively on Windows and, with the CIFS-utils package, on Linux, eliminating the need for a separate file server VM. On the AZ-104 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of managed storage solutions versus IaaS file servers, often appearing as a trap where candidates might incorrectly choose a traditional VM-based file server or NFS—but NFS is not natively supported on Windows without additional configuration. The key distinction is that SMB is the universal standard protocol for cross-platform file sharing in Azure, and Azure Files handles redundancy and scaling automatically. Memory tip: think “SMB = Same Mount for Both”—Windows and Linux can both access the same Azure Files share using SMB without extra infrastructure.
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 in Azure need to use the same shared folder for application artifacts. The team wants a managed file service instead of running a separate file server VM, and both operating systems must be able to mount the share using a standard protocol. Which solution should the administrator implement?
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
Create an Azure Files share and mount it over SMB from both virtual machines.
Azure Files provides a fully managed file share that supports both SMB and NFS protocols. Since the question requires a managed file service accessible by both Windows and Linux VMs using a standard protocol, the correct solution is to create an Azure Files share and mount it over SMB from both VMs. Windows natively supports SMB, and Linux can mount SMB shares using the CIFS-utils package, meeting the requirement without running a separate file server VM.
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.
- ✗
Create a blob container and mount it as a file system from both virtual machines.
Why it's wrong here
Blob containers are object storage, not a shared file system in the same sense as a file share. They do not provide the typical mounting experience expected for Windows and Linux workloads in this scenario. This option does not meet the requirement for a standard shared folder.
- ✓
Create an Azure Files share and mount it over SMB from both virtual machines.
Why this is correct
Azure Files is the managed file service designed for shared file access. SMB is supported by Windows natively and can also be mounted from Linux using standard tools. This gives both VMs access to the same share without introducing a separate file server VM, which fits the requirement precisely.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use an Azure managed disk and attach it to both virtual machines.
Why it's wrong here
A managed disk is not intended as a general shared file service for multiple VMs in this way. It is normally attached to one VM, and sharing it does not provide the same simple multi-platform file access model as Azure Files. This would create management and availability problems.
- ✗
Create an Azure Files share and force the Linux VM to use NFS while the Windows VM uses SMB.
Why it's wrong here
Azure Files can support different protocols in some scenarios, but this split-protocol design is unnecessary here and is not the simplest common approach. The requirement is a standard shared protocol that both systems can mount consistently, which makes SMB the better choice for this workload.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may assume Azure Files supports both SMB and NFS on the same share, but in reality each share is protocol-specific, and mixing protocols is not allowed, making Option D a common distractor.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
Blob containers are object storage, not a shared file system in the same sense as a file share. They do not provide the typical mounting experience expected for Windows and Linux workloads in this scenario. This option does not meet the requirement for a standard shared folder.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure Files supports two protocols: SMB (port 445) and NFS (port 2049), but each share is locked to one protocol at creation time. For cross-platform access, SMB is the standard choice because Windows and Linux both have built-in or easily installed SMB clients (e.g., mount.cifs on Linux). NFS is not natively supported on Windows without additional services like Windows Services for NFS, which adds complexity. Additionally, Azure Files uses Azure Storage Account keys or Azure AD for SMB authentication, while NFS relies on network-level security and does not support Azure AD integration.
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: Create an Azure Files share and mount it over SMB from both virtual machines. — Azure Files provides a fully managed file share that supports both SMB and NFS protocols. Since the question requires a managed file service accessible by both Windows and Linux VMs using a standard protocol, the correct solution is to create an Azure Files share and mount it over SMB from both VMs. Windows natively supports SMB, and Linux can mount SMB shares using the CIFS-utils package, meeting the requirement without running a separate file server VM.
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
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.
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