- A
Set the storage account network access to selected networks only.
Why wrong: Network restrictions limit where traffic can come from, but they do not block authentication by shared key. The problem is about authorization method, not source IP.
- B
Disable shared key authorization on the storage account.
Disabling shared key authorization blocks new requests that rely on the account key, while still allowing Microsoft Entra-based authentication paths. This is the correct control when the goal is to stop key-based access without disabling modern identity-based access.
- C
Rotate the account keys and leave all authentication methods enabled.
Why wrong: Key rotation changes the secret value, but it does not prevent applications from continuing to use shared key authorization. The requirement is to block that access pattern entirely.
- D
Enable object replication for the storage account.
Why wrong: Object replication addresses data movement between storage accounts. It does not control whether clients may authenticate with shared keys or Microsoft Entra identities.
Quick Answer
The answer is to disable shared key authorization on the storage account. This setting explicitly blocks all incoming requests that use the storage account key for authentication, while still allowing requests authenticated via Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD). Technically, when you disable shared key authorization, the storage account rejects any request that does not include a valid OAuth 2.0 token, effectively enforcing a zero-trust model for access. On the AZ-104 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the "Allow storage account key access" toggle under the Configuration blade—a common trap is confusing this with firewall rules or network service endpoints, which control network-level access, not authentication methods. Remember that disabling shared key authorization does not affect existing connections; it only blocks new requests using the key. A helpful memory tip: think of it as flipping a switch from "key-based" to "identity-based"—if the request doesn't carry an Entra ID token, it gets denied.
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 web app currently accesses Azure Blob Storage by using the storage account key in a connection string. Security now requires blocking any new requests that use shared key authorization, while Microsoft Entra-based access must continue to work. Which storage account setting should the administrator change?
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 authorization on the storage account.
Option B is correct because disabling shared key authorization on the storage account explicitly blocks all requests that use the storage account key (shared key) for authentication, while still allowing requests authenticated via Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD). This directly meets the security requirement to block new requests using shared key authorization without affecting Entra-based 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.
- ✗
Set the storage account network access to selected networks only.
Why it's wrong here
Network restrictions limit where traffic can come from, but they do not block authentication by shared key. The problem is about authorization method, not source IP.
- ✓
Disable shared key authorization on the storage account.
Why this is correct
Disabling shared key authorization blocks new requests that rely on the account key, while still allowing Microsoft Entra-based authentication paths. This is the correct control when the goal is to stop key-based access without disabling modern identity-based access.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Rotate the account keys and leave all authentication methods enabled.
Why it's wrong here
Key rotation changes the secret value, but it does not prevent applications from continuing to use shared key authorization. The requirement is to block that access pattern entirely.
- ✗
Enable object replication for the storage account.
Why it's wrong here
Object replication addresses data movement between storage accounts. It does not control whether clients may authenticate with shared keys or Microsoft Entra identities.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse network-level restrictions (firewall/VNet) with authentication-level controls, mistakenly thinking that limiting network access (Option A) is equivalent to blocking shared key authorization, when in fact it only controls which IPs or VNets can reach the storage account, not how they authenticate.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Disabling shared key authorization is configured via the `AllowSharedKeyAccess` property on the storage account (set to `false`). Under the hood, this enforces that all REST API requests to Blob, Queue, Table, and File services must use OAuth 2.0 tokens from Microsoft Entra ID; any request with an `Authorization` header containing a shared key signature (e.g., `SharedKey`) is rejected with HTTP 403 (Forbidden). A real-world scenario is a security audit requiring zero-trust access where storage accounts must only accept managed identity or service principal tokens, eliminating risks of leaked account keys.
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: Disable shared key authorization on the storage account. — Option B is correct because disabling shared key authorization on the storage account explicitly blocks all requests that use the storage account key (shared key) for authentication, while still allowing requests authenticated via Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD). This directly meets the security requirement to block new requests using shared key authorization without affecting Entra-based 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
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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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