Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Exhibit
Application requirement: - A web API runs on a single Azure VM - The API must read blobs from Azure Storage without any stored password, key, or connection string - The identity must be tied to the VM and removed automatically when the VM is deleted
Based on the exhibit, which identity should be enabled on the VM so the application can access Azure Blob Storage and the identity disappears when the VM is deleted?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Best answer
System-assigned managed identity
A system-assigned managed identity is tied directly to one Azure resource, such as a VM. It is created and removed with the VM, which matches the requirement that the identity disappear automatically when the VM is deleted. The application can use the identity to request tokens for Blob Storage without storing secrets in code or configuration.
B
Distractor review
User-assigned managed identity
A user-assigned identity is reusable and persists independently of the VM, so it does not disappear when the VM is deleted.
C
Distractor review
Storage account shared key
A shared key is a long-lived secret and directly contradicts the no-secret requirement.
D
Distractor review
SAS token stored in a startup script
A SAS token is still a secret and must be stored or rotated, which is not the requested model.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A route table contains these entries: 10.0.0.0/8 with next hop Virtual appliance, and 10.1.1.0/24 with next hop Virtual network gateway. Which next hop will Azure use for traffic to 10.1.1.5?
Question 2
You are deploying a stateless web application on Azure virtual machines. The solution must automatically add and remove instances based on CPU demand and allow all instances to be managed as one logical group. Which Azure compute feature should you deploy?
Question 3
You are deploying a Windows Server VM for an internal app. The VM must support Secure Boot and vTPM later, its OS disk must survive host moves, and the team wants the lowest-cost managed disk tier that still behaves like a normal writable OS disk. Which two choices should you make? Select two.
Question 4
You need to deploy several identical virtual machines and ensure that the failure of a single Azure host does not affect all of them. Which feature should you use?
Question 5
You need to connect VNet-Hub and VNet-Spoke so that resources in both virtual networks can communicate privately over the Microsoft backbone. Both virtual networks are in the same region. What should you configure?
Question 6
You need to create a storage account that provides the lowest-cost redundant storage for non-critical data and only needs protection against local disk or server failure within a single datacenter. Which redundancy option should you choose?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-104 question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: System-assigned managed identity — The correct choice is a system-assigned managed identity because it is lifecycle-bound to the VM. That means Azure creates the identity for the VM and automatically deletes it when the VM is deleted. This is exactly what the exhibit requires for a single VM that must authenticate to Blob Storage without passwords, keys, or connection strings. It is the most direct and secure identity model for one resource. Why others are wrong: A user-assigned managed identity survives independently of the VM, which conflicts with the deletion requirement. Shared keys and SAS tokens are secrets, so they violate the no-secret authentication goal and add rotation overhead.
What should I do if I get this AZ-104 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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