- A
Rotate the storage account keys every 24 hours
Why wrong: Frequent rotation does not stop shared key authorization; it only changes the secrets in use.
- B
Disable shared key access on the storage account
This blocks requests authenticated with account keys while still allowing identity-based access paths.
- C
Require secure transfer for the storage account
Why wrong: HTTPS-only improves transport security, but it does not disable account-key authentication.
- D
Create a private endpoint for the storage account
Why wrong: Private networking changes the path to storage, but it does not stop shared key authentication.
Question 1,044 of 1,170
AZ-104 Implement and Manage Storage Practice Question
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of implement and manage storage. 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 legacy application still authenticates to Azure Blob Storage by using the account key. Security now requires preventing any new requests that use shared key authorization, while leaving the storage account itself and Microsoft Entra-based access unchanged. Which setting should the administrator enable?
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
✓
Disable shared key access on the storage account
Option B is correct because disabling shared key access on the storage account enforces that all incoming requests must use Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) authorization instead of the account key. This directly meets the security requirement to block new requests using shared key authorization while leaving the storage account itself and Entra-based access unchanged. The setting is available under the storage account's Configuration blade as 'Allow storage account key access'.
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.
- ✗
Rotate the storage account keys every 24 hours
Why it's wrong here
Frequent rotation does not stop shared key authorization; it only changes the secrets in use.
When this WOULD be correct
This would be correct in a scenario where the requirement is to periodically update the account key to minimize the risk of key compromise, without disabling shared key access entirely.
- ✓
Disable shared key access on the storage account
Why this is correct
This blocks requests authenticated with account keys while still allowing identity-based access paths.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Require secure transfer for the storage account
Why it's wrong here
HTTPS-only improves transport security, but it does not disable account-key authentication.
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct in a scenario where the question asks: 'An organization needs to ensure that all data transferred to Azure Storage is encrypted over the network. Which setting should be enabled?'
- ✗
Create a private endpoint for the storage account
Why it's wrong here
Private networking changes the path to storage, but it does not stop shared key authentication.
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct in a scenario where the requirement is to ensure that all traffic to the storage account goes through a private network, eliminating exposure to the public internet, while still allowing authorized access via Microsoft Entra ID or shared keys.
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.
✓Disable shared key access on the storage accountCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
This blocks requests authenticated with account keys while still allowing identity-based access paths.
✗Rotate the storage account keys every 24 hoursWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Rotating keys every 24 hours does not prevent new requests using shared key authorization; it only changes the key periodically, allowing continued use of shared key access.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This would be correct in a scenario where the requirement is to periodically update the account key to minimize the risk of key compromise, without disabling shared key access entirely.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think frequent key rotation effectively blocks unauthorized access, but it does not stop legitimate applications from using shared key authorization.
✗Require secure transfer for the storage accountWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Requiring secure transfer enforces HTTPS for all requests but does not block shared key authorization; it only ensures data is encrypted in transit, not that shared key authentication is disabled.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct in a scenario where the question asks: 'An organization needs to ensure that all data transferred to Azure Storage is encrypted over the network. Which setting should be enabled?'
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse 'secure transfer' with disabling shared key access, thinking that enforcing HTTPS somehow prevents shared key usage, or they may misread the requirement as a security encryption need rather than an authentication restriction.
✗Create a private endpoint for the storage accountWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Creating a private endpoint restricts network access to the storage account via a private IP, but it does not prevent requests that use shared key authorization. The requirement is to block shared key access, not network-level access.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct in a scenario where the requirement is to ensure that all traffic to the storage account goes through a private network, eliminating exposure to the public internet, while still allowing authorized access via Microsoft Entra ID or shared keys.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse network security controls with authentication controls, thinking that a private endpoint can block shared key access because it limits network connectivity, but shared key authorization is an authentication method that can still be used over private endpoints.
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 often confuse disabling shared key access with rotating keys or enabling secure transfer, not realizing that only disabling shared key access actually blocks the authorization method itself, while the other options address key freshness or transport encryption, not authorization.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When shared key access is disabled, Azure Blob Storage rejects any request that does not include an OAuth 2.0 token from Microsoft Entra ID, even if the request is signed with a valid account key. This is enforced at the storage account level by setting the 'AllowSharedKeyAccess' property to false via the Azure Resource Manager API or Azure Policy. In real-world scenarios, this setting is critical for organizations migrating to passwordless authentication to meet compliance standards like PCI DSS or SOC 2, as it eliminates the risk of leaked account keys being used for unauthorized access.
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?
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: Disable shared key access on the storage account — Option B is correct because disabling shared key access on the storage account enforces that all incoming requests must use Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) authorization instead of the account key. This directly meets the security requirement to block new requests using shared key authorization while leaving the storage account itself and Entra-based access unchanged. The setting is available under the storage account's Configuration blade as 'Allow storage account key access'.
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
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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