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.
You need to grant an external partner temporary read access to a single blob in an Azure storage account without giving access to the account key. What should you create?
A storage account access key
Why wrong: An account key grants broad access and should not be shared for this purpose.
A shared access signature (SAS)
A SAS provides scoped, time-limited access to the specific blob.
A resource lock
Why wrong: A lock does not grant read access.
A private endpoint
Why wrong: A private endpoint controls network access, not delegated temporary read permissions.
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 solution because it provides delegated, time-limited access to a specific Azure storage resource (such as a single blob) without exposing the storage account key. You can configure the SAS with read-only permissions, an expiration time, and apply it to a specific blob URL, meeting the requirement for temporary external read access.
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 access key
Why it's wrong here
An account key grants broad access and should not be shared for this purpose.
A shared access signature (SAS)
Why this is correct
A SAS provides scoped, time-limited access to the specific blob.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
A resource lock
Why it's wrong here
A lock does not grant read access.
A private endpoint
Why it's wrong here
A private endpoint controls network access, not delegated temporary read permissions.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse a shared access signature with a storage account access key, mistakenly thinking the key can be shared for temporary access, or they incorrectly assume a resource lock or private endpoint can control data access permissions.
Detailed technical explanation
A SAS token is generated using the storage account key or a user delegation key, and it includes parameters such as signed permissions (e.g., 'r' for read), signed expiry (e.g., 'se=2025-12-31T23:59:59Z'), and signed resource (e.g., 'sr=b' for blob). The token is appended to the blob URL as a query string, and Azure Storage validates the signature and permissions on each request. For external partners, a user delegation SAS (using Azure AD credentials) is recommended for enhanced security, as it avoids embedding the account key in the token.
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
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Implement and Manage Storage — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
Implement and Manage Storage practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
All AZ-104 questions
1,170 questions across all exam domains
AZ-104 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
AZ-104 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to Manage Azure Identities and Governance.
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to Implement and Manage Storage.
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to Deploy and Manage Azure Compute.
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to Implement and Manage Virtual Networking.
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to Monitor and Maintain Azure Resources.
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to AZ-104 Azure RBAC.
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to AZ-104 storage account.
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to AZ-104 virtual network.
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to AZ-104 NSG.
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to AZ-104 Azure Monitor.
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to AZ-104 backup.
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to AZ-104 managed identity.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
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 solution because it provides delegated, time-limited access to a specific Azure storage resource (such as a single blob) without exposing the storage account key. You can configure the SAS with read-only permissions, an expiration time, and apply it to a specific blob URL, meeting the requirement for temporary external read access.
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.
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 →
Keep practising
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.