- A
BlobStorage because it is optimized for blobs and supports lifecycle management.
Why wrong: BlobStorage supports blobs, but it does not provide the full general-purpose feature set needed for Azure Files shares and broader storage scenarios.
- B
StorageV2 because it supports blobs, Azure Files, lifecycle management, and access tiers.
StorageV2 is the correct choice because it is the general-purpose v2 account type. It supports blob containers, Azure Files shares, blob access tiers, lifecycle management rules, and the standard capabilities used in most Azure administration scenarios. It is also the recommended account type when a team wants one storage account for multiple storage services and operational features.
- C
FileStorage because it is designed for file shares and can also host blob lifecycle rules.
Why wrong: FileStorage is specialized for premium Azure Files and does not provide the blob-oriented lifecycle features or broad service mix required in this scenario.
- D
BlockBlobStorage because it provides the best performance for lifecycle policies and file shares.
Why wrong: BlockBlobStorage is intended for high-performance block blob workloads. It does not support Azure Files shares, so it cannot satisfy the requirement for one account that hosts both services.
General-Purpose v2 Storage Account — Supports Blobs, Files, and Lifecycle Management
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 development team needs a single Azure Storage account for blob containers, Azure Files shares, and blob lifecycle rules. The account must support standard performance and allow future use of access tiers. Which account kind should you create?
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
StorageV2 because it supports blobs, Azure Files, lifecycle management, and access tiers.
StorageV2 (general-purpose v2) is the only account kind that supports blobs, Azure Files shares, lifecycle management policies, and all access tiers (hot, cool, archive) with standard performance. BlobStorage lacks Azure Files support, FileStorage is premium-only and does not support lifecycle rules, and BlockBlobStorage is premium-only and does not support Azure Files or lifecycle management.
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.
- ✗
BlobStorage because it is optimized for blobs and supports lifecycle management.
Why it's wrong here
BlobStorage supports blobs, but it does not provide the full general-purpose feature set needed for Azure Files shares and broader storage scenarios.
When this WOULD be correct
A question that asks for an account optimized for blob storage only, with lifecycle management and access tiers, but no requirement for Azure Files or other services.
- ✓
StorageV2 because it supports blobs, Azure Files, lifecycle management, and access tiers.
Why this is correct
StorageV2 is the correct choice because it is the general-purpose v2 account type. It supports blob containers, Azure Files shares, blob access tiers, lifecycle management rules, and the standard capabilities used in most Azure administration scenarios. It is also the recommended account type when a team wants one storage account for multiple storage services and operational features.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
FileStorage because it is designed for file shares and can also host blob lifecycle rules.
Why it's wrong here
FileStorage is specialized for premium Azure Files and does not provide the blob-oriented lifecycle features or broad service mix required in this scenario.
When this WOULD be correct
When the question specifies a need for premium performance for Azure Files shares only, with no requirement for blobs or lifecycle management, and access tiers are not needed.
- ✗
BlockBlobStorage because it provides the best performance for lifecycle policies and file shares.
Why it's wrong here
BlockBlobStorage is intended for high-performance block blob workloads. It does not support Azure Files shares, so it cannot satisfy the requirement for one account that hosts both services.
When this WOULD be correct
You would choose BlockBlobStorage when the requirement is for a premium block blob storage account with high transaction rates and low latency, and there is no need for Azure Files, lifecycle management, or access tiers.
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.
✓StorageV2 because it supports blobs, Azure Files, lifecycle management, and access tiers.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
StorageV2 is the correct choice because it is the general-purpose v2 account type. It supports blob containers, Azure Files shares, blob access tiers, lifecycle management rules, and the standard capabilities used in most Azure administration scenarios. It is also the recommended account type when a team wants one storage account for multiple storage services and operational features.
✗BlobStorage because it is optimized for blobs and supports lifecycle management.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
BlobStorage does not support Azure Files shares, which are required by the development team.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question that asks for an account optimized for blob storage only, with lifecycle management and access tiers, but no requirement for Azure Files or other services.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates see 'blob containers' and 'lifecycle rules' and assume BlobStorage is sufficient, overlooking the need for Azure Files support.
✗FileStorage because it is designed for file shares and can also host blob lifecycle rules.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
FileStorage is a premium-only account kind designed for high-performance file shares and does not support blob containers, lifecycle management, or access tiers.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
When the question specifies a need for premium performance for Azure Files shares only, with no requirement for blobs or lifecycle management, and access tiers are not needed.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may assume that because FileStorage is specialized for files, it can also handle blobs and lifecycle rules, or they confuse it with StorageV2's capabilities.
✗BlockBlobStorage because it provides the best performance for lifecycle policies and file shares.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
BlockBlobStorage is a premium account kind optimized for block blobs with low latency, but it does not support Azure Files shares or standard performance tiers, and it lacks lifecycle management features.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
You would choose BlockBlobStorage when the requirement is for a premium block blob storage account with high transaction rates and low latency, and there is no need for Azure Files, lifecycle management, or access tiers.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think 'BlockBlobStorage' implies block blobs and performance, but they overlook that it does not support Azure Files, lifecycle rules, or standard performance tiers required in the question.
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
Microsoft often tests the misconception that BlobStorage accounts are sufficient for mixed workloads, but they intentionally omit that BlobStorage cannot host Azure Files shares, making StorageV2 the only viable choice when both blob and file storage are required with lifecycle management.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
BlobStorage supports blobs, but it does not provide the full general-purpose feature set needed for Azure Files shares and broader storage scenarios.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, StorageV2 accounts unify the Blob Service and File Service under a single REST endpoint, enabling lifecycle policies to apply to both blob containers and file shares via the same management plane. Access tiers (hot, cool, archive) are implemented at the blob level using the x-ms-access-tier header, and lifecycle rules are evaluated by the Azure Storage Analytics service every 24 hours. In a real-world scenario, a development team might need to store build artifacts as blobs in hot tier and share configuration files via Azure Files, then automatically move old blobs to cool tier after 30 days — only StorageV2 supports this combination.
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
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: StorageV2 because it supports blobs, Azure Files, lifecycle management, and access tiers. — StorageV2 (general-purpose v2) is the only account kind that supports blobs, Azure Files shares, lifecycle management policies, and all access tiers (hot, cool, archive) with standard performance. BlobStorage lacks Azure Files support, FileStorage is premium-only and does not support lifecycle rules, and BlockBlobStorage is premium-only and does not support Azure Files or lifecycle management.
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 →
Same concept, more angles
3 more ways this is tested on AZ-104
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company wants a single storage account for blob containers, Azure Files shares, and blob lifecycle management rules. Which two statements about the required account are true? Select two.
easy- ✓ A.It should be a general-purpose v2 storage account.
- ✓ B.It can host both blob containers and Azure Files shares.
- C.It must be a premium block blob account.
- D.It cannot use lifecycle management on blobs.
- E.It can store only one type of Azure Storage data service at a time.
Why A: A general-purpose v2 (GPv2) storage account is required because it is the only account type that supports all Azure Storage data services—including blob containers and Azure Files—and also provides full support for blob lifecycle management policies. GPv2 accounts offer the lowest per-gigabyte storage prices for blobs and enable you to define rules to automatically tier or delete blobs based on age or other conditions.
Variation 2. An organization wants a single Azure storage account that can host blob containers, Azure Files shares, and lifecycle management rules for blob data. Which storage account kind should the administrator create?
medium- A.BlobStorage
- B.FileStorage
- ✓ C.General-purpose v2 (StorageV2)
- D.BlockBlobStorage
Why C: General-purpose v2 (StorageV2) is the only storage account kind that supports blobs, Azure Files, and lifecycle management rules for blob data. It provides a unified account for all Azure Storage data services, including blobs, files, queues, and tables, and it natively supports lifecycle management policies to automatically tier or delete blob data based on age or other conditions.
Variation 3. A development team needs one storage account to host blob containers, Azure Files shares, and blob lifecycle management rules. Which two statements about the account are correct? Select two.
easy- ✓ A.It should be a General-purpose v2 storage account.
- B.It must be a BlobStorage account.
- ✓ C.It can host both blob containers and Azure Files shares.
- D.It must use only zone-redundant storage to use lifecycle rules.
- E.It cannot use lifecycle management for blobs.
Why A: A General-purpose v2 (GPv2) storage account is required because it supports the latest storage features, including blob lifecycle management rules, blob containers, and Azure Files shares. GPv2 accounts provide the necessary REST API endpoints and management capabilities for lifecycle policies, which are not available in older account types like BlobStorage or General-purpose v1.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
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