- A
Assign the user the Storage Blob Data Reader role on the container or storage account.
A 403 in this scenario usually means the identity lacks data-plane permissions. The user needs an Azure RBAC role such as Storage Blob Data Reader at the appropriate scope so the app can read blob content through Azure AD authorization.
- B
Assign the user the Reader role on the subscription.
Why wrong: Reader allows management-plane visibility, but it does not grant permission to read blob data. Blob access requires a storage data role.
- C
Enable shared key access so the app can bypass Azure AD permissions.
Why wrong: Enabling shared key access would weaken the security model and is not the correct fix when Azure AD authorization is already intended for the storage account.
- D
Move the container to the Hot tier so Azure AD authentication can succeed.
Why wrong: Access tier does not control authentication or authorization. Hot, Cool, and Archive affect storage economics and availability, not whether the identity is allowed to read the blob.
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 developer can access an Azure Blob container from the portal using Microsoft Entra sign-in, but their custom app gets a 403 error when reading the same blob. The storage account is configured to use Azure AD authorization. What is the most likely fix?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
Assign the user the Storage Blob Data Reader role on the container or storage account.
The developer can authenticate via the portal because the portal uses the user's own Microsoft Entra identity, which may have implicit permissions (e.g., via group membership or subscription-level Reader). However, the custom app must explicitly be granted the Storage Blob Data Reader role on the container or storage account to authorize data plane operations (reading blobs). Without this role assignment, the app's identity lacks the RBAC permission to perform blob read operations, resulting in a 403 error.
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.
- ✓
Assign the user the Storage Blob Data Reader role on the container or storage account.
Why this is correct
A 403 in this scenario usually means the identity lacks data-plane permissions. The user needs an Azure RBAC role such as Storage Blob Data Reader at the appropriate scope so the app can read blob content through Azure AD authorization.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Assign the user the Reader role on the subscription.
Why it's wrong here
Reader allows management-plane visibility, but it does not grant permission to read blob data. Blob access requires a storage data role.
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct in a scenario where the question asks: 'A user can see the storage account in the portal but cannot view its configuration settings. What role should be assigned?' The Reader role on the subscription provides read-only access to Azure resources, enabling the user to view storage account properties.
- ✗
Enable shared key access so the app can bypass Azure AD permissions.
Why it's wrong here
Enabling shared key access would weaken the security model and is not the correct fix when Azure AD authorization is already intended for the storage account.
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct if the question stated that the storage account requires shared key access for legacy applications that cannot use Azure AD, and the developer's app needs to access blobs without Azure AD integration.
- ✗
Move the container to the Hot tier so Azure AD authentication can succeed.
Why it's wrong here
Access tier does not control authentication or authorization. Hot, Cool, and Archive affect storage economics and availability, not whether the identity is allowed to read the blob.
When this WOULD be correct
A question where a blob storage container is in the Cool or Archive tier and an application needs to read blobs, but the app fails because the container is offline (Archive) or has higher latency. Moving to Hot would resolve access latency or restore online status.
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.
✓Assign the user the Storage Blob Data Reader role on the container or storage account.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
A 403 in this scenario usually means the identity lacks data-plane permissions. The user needs an Azure RBAC role such as Storage Blob Data Reader at the appropriate scope so the app can read blob content through Azure AD authorization.
✗Assign the user the Reader role on the subscription.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The Reader role on the subscription grants read access to Azure Resource Manager resources (e.g., VM, storage account metadata) but does not grant data-level permissions to blob containers. The 403 error occurs because the app lacks data-plane authorization, which requires a role like Storage Blob Data Reader.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct in a scenario where the question asks: 'A user can see the storage account in the portal but cannot view its configuration settings. What role should be assigned?' The Reader role on the subscription provides read-only access to Azure resources, enabling the user to view storage account properties.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse Azure RBAC roles with Azure AD data-plane roles, assuming that any 'Reader' role grants access to data. They might also think subscription-level access cascades to all data, which is incorrect for Azure Storage.
✗Enable shared key access so the app can bypass Azure AD permissions.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Enabling shared key access would allow the app to bypass Azure AD authorization, but the storage account is configured to use Azure AD authorization, and the issue is that the app is not using Azure AD tokens. The correct fix is to assign the appropriate RBAC role, not to enable a less secure authentication method.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct if the question stated that the storage account requires shared key access for legacy applications that cannot use Azure AD, and the developer's app needs to access blobs without Azure AD integration.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think enabling shared key access is a quick workaround to bypass permission errors, without understanding that Azure AD authorization is the intended and more secure method, and that the real issue is missing role assignment.
✗Move the container to the Hot tier so Azure AD authentication can succeed.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Moving a container to the Hot tier does not affect Azure AD authentication; tier changes impact cost and performance, not authorization. The 403 error is due to missing RBAC role assignment, not storage tier.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question where a blob storage container is in the Cool or Archive tier and an application needs to read blobs, but the app fails because the container is offline (Archive) or has higher latency. Moving to Hot would resolve access latency or restore online status.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse storage tier properties with authentication mechanisms, thinking that certain tiers restrict Azure AD access, or they may recall that Archive tier blobs must be rehydrated before reading, leading them to incorrectly assume a tier change fixes authorization errors.
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 confuse the management plane Reader role (which allows viewing the storage account in the portal) with the data plane Storage Blob Data Reader role (which is required to actually read blob content), leading them to incorrectly select Option B.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure RBAC for Blob storage uses separate roles for management plane (e.g., Reader, Contributor) and data plane (e.g., Storage Blob Data Reader, Storage Blob Data Contributor). The 403 error occurs because the app's service principal or managed identity lacks a data plane role assignment at the appropriate scope (container, storage account, or resource group). Under the hood, Azure AD tokens for data plane operations must include the 'https://storage.azure.com' audience, and the authorization check evaluates RBAC assignments against the storage resource provider's data plane endpoint.
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: Assign the user the Storage Blob Data Reader role on the container or storage account. — The developer can authenticate via the portal because the portal uses the user's own Microsoft Entra identity, which may have implicit permissions (e.g., via group membership or subscription-level Reader). However, the custom app must explicitly be granted the Storage Blob Data Reader role on the container or storage account to authorize data plane operations (reading blobs). Without this role assignment, the app's identity lacks the RBAC permission to perform blob read operations, resulting in a 403 error.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
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