- A
A shared access signature stored in a text file on VM-App01.
Why wrong: This still relies on storing a secret outside the identity platform.
- B
The storage account access key hard-coded in the application.
Why wrong: Hard-coded keys are difficult to rotate and are less secure.
- C
A managed identity for VM-App01 and Azure RBAC on the storage account.
This removes secret storage and uses identity-based access.
- D
Anonymous public access for the blob container.
Why wrong: Public access would expose data and does not meet the security requirement.
Question 1,163 of 1,170
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.
You have a storage account named stlogs01. An application running on VM-App01 in Azure must access blobs in the account without storing account keys in code or configuration files. What should you use?
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
✓
A managed identity for VM-App01 and Azure RBAC on the storage account.
Option C is correct because using a managed identity for VM-App01 allows the application to authenticate to Azure Storage without storing any credentials in code or configuration files. The managed identity is automatically managed by Azure AD, and you grant it access to the blob container using Azure RBAC (e.g., the Storage Blob Data Contributor role). This eliminates the need for account keys or shared access signatures.
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.
- ✗
A shared access signature stored in a text file on VM-App01.
Why it's wrong here
This still relies on storing a secret outside the identity platform.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question required granting time-limited, delegated access to specific blobs without using Azure AD authentication, and the application could securely retrieve the SAS from a file (e.g., via Azure Key Vault or a secure configuration management system), then a shared access signature stored in a text file could be correct.
- ✗
The storage account access key hard-coded in the application.
Why it's wrong here
Hard-coded keys are difficult to rotate and are less secure.
When this WOULD be correct
In a scenario where the application runs in a trusted environment, the storage account access key is managed securely (e.g., via Azure Key Vault), and the question does not prohibit storing keys in code, using the access key directly might be acceptable for simplicity.
- ✓
A managed identity for VM-App01 and Azure RBAC on the storage account.
Why this is correct
This removes secret storage and uses identity-based access.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Anonymous public access for the blob container.
Why it's wrong here
Public access would expose data and does not meet the security requirement.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question asked for a method to allow public read access to blobs in a container for a website or public dataset, and security or authentication is not a concern, then enabling anonymous public access on the container would be correct.
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.
✓A managed identity for VM-App01 and Azure RBAC on the storage account.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
This removes secret storage and uses identity-based access.
✗A shared access signature stored in a text file on VM-App01.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Storing a shared access signature in a text file on the VM still exposes credentials in a file, which violates the requirement to avoid storing account keys in code or configuration files. It also does not leverage Azure RBAC or managed identities for secure access.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question required granting time-limited, delegated access to specific blobs without using Azure AD authentication, and the application could securely retrieve the SAS from a file (e.g., via Azure Key Vault or a secure configuration management system), then a shared access signature stored in a text file could be correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think a SAS is a secure way to grant access without exposing the account key, but they overlook that storing it in a file on the VM still constitutes a credential stored in a configuration file, which the question explicitly prohibits.
✗The storage account access key hard-coded in the application.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Hard-coding the storage account access key in the application violates the requirement to avoid storing keys in code or configuration files, and it poses a security risk if the code is exposed.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a scenario where the application runs in a trusted environment, the storage account access key is managed securely (e.g., via Azure Key Vault), and the question does not prohibit storing keys in code, using the access key directly might be acceptable for simplicity.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think that using the access key is straightforward and secure enough, not realizing that managed identities provide a more secure, keyless authentication method recommended by Azure.
✗Anonymous public access for the blob container.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Anonymous public access allows anyone on the internet to read blobs without authentication, which violates the requirement to restrict access to the application without storing keys.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question asked for a method to allow public read access to blobs in a container for a website or public dataset, and security or authentication is not a concern, then enabling anonymous public access on the container would be correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think anonymous access is a simple way to avoid storing keys, but they overlook the security implications and the requirement that only the application should access the blobs.
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 may think a SAS token stored in a file is acceptable because it is not an account key, but the question explicitly prohibits storing any secrets in code or configuration files, and a SAS token is still a secret that must be protected.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, a managed identity for Azure VMs uses the Azure Instance Metadata Service (IMDS) to obtain an access token from Azure AD. The application then uses this token to authenticate to Azure Storage via OAuth 2.0, and RBAC roles like Storage Blob Data Contributor grant fine-grained permissions. This approach also supports automatic credential rotation and avoids the overhead of managing SAS expiration or key regeneration.
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
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
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: A managed identity for VM-App01 and Azure RBAC on the storage account. — Option C is correct because using a managed identity for VM-App01 allows the application to authenticate to Azure Storage without storing any credentials in code or configuration files. The managed identity is automatically managed by Azure AD, and you grant it access to the blob container using Azure RBAC (e.g., the Storage Blob Data Contributor role). This eliminates the need for account keys or shared access signatures.
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 →
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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