Quick Answer
The answer is a shared access signature (SAS), which is the correct choice because it provides delegated, time-limited, and permission-restricted access to specific Azure Storage resources without exposing the storage account keys. For temporary read-only access to specific blobs, you generate a service-level SAS token scoped to individual blobs with read permissions and an expiration time, ensuring the auditor can only access the required data. On the AZ-104 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of granular access control versus account keys or stored access policies; a common trap is confusing SAS with a stored access policy, but remember that a SAS alone handles ad-hoc temporary access, while a stored access policy is an optional layer for managing multiple SAS tokens. A quick memory tip: SAS stands for “Secure, Access, Short-lived”—it’s the go-to for granting temporary, scoped permissions without handing over the keys.
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.
You need to give a third-party auditor temporary read-only access to specific blobs in a container without sharing the storage account keys. Which feature should you use?
A storage account key
Why wrong: Sharing an account key grants broad access and is not appropriate for limited temporary delegation.
A shared access signature (SAS)
A SAS provides scoped, time-limited access without exposing the account keys.
A resource lock
Why wrong: A lock does not grant access permissions.
Blob versioning
Why wrong: Blob versioning preserves versions but does not delegate access.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
A shared access signature (SAS)
A shared access signature (SAS) is the correct choice because it provides delegated, time-limited, and permission-restricted access to specific Azure Storage resources—in this case, blobs—without exposing the storage account keys. You can generate a service-level SAS token scoped to individual blobs with read-only permissions and an expiration time, allowing the auditor to access only the required blobs. This meets the requirement for temporary, read-only access while maintaining security and granular control.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
A storage account key
Why it's wrong here
Sharing an account key grants broad access and is not appropriate for limited temporary delegation.
A shared access signature (SAS)
Why this is correct
A SAS provides scoped, time-limited access without exposing the account keys.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
A resource lock
Why it's wrong here
A lock does not grant access permissions.
Blob versioning
Why it's wrong here
Blob versioning preserves versions but does not delegate access.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse resource locks (which prevent deletion) with access control mechanisms, or mistakenly think blob versioning provides access delegation, when in fact only SAS tokens offer granular, time-bound, and keyless access to specific blobs.
Detailed technical explanation
A SAS token is generated using the storage account key or a user delegation key (for Azure AD-backed SAS) and includes parameters such as signed permissions (e.g., 'r' for read), signed resource types (e.g., 'b' for blob), signed expiry time, and an optional IP range. The token is appended to the blob URL as a query string, and Azure Storage validates the signature on each request using HMAC-SHA256. In a real-world scenario, you can use a stored access policy on the container to centrally manage SAS tokens and revoke them without regenerating the storage account key, which is critical for compliance audits.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Implement and Manage Storage — This question tests Implement and Manage Storage — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: A shared access signature (SAS) — A shared access signature (SAS) is the correct choice because it provides delegated, time-limited, and permission-restricted access to specific Azure Storage resources—in this case, blobs—without exposing the storage account keys. You can generate a service-level SAS token scoped to individual blobs with read-only permissions and an expiration time, allowing the auditor to access only the required blobs. This meets the requirement for temporary, read-only access while maintaining security and granular control.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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