- A
Assign the Storage Blob Data Reader role to the managed identity on the storage account or container.
The data-plane role authorizes blob reads for the managed identity without storing secrets in the application.
- B
Disable shared key access on the storage account.
Disabling shared key access blocks account-key authentication and forces Entra-based data access instead.
- C
Generate a service SAS and place it in an app setting.
Why wrong: A SAS in app settings reintroduces a secret and undermines the goal of a secretless design.
- D
Rotate the storage account keys weekly.
Why wrong: Rotating keys does not eliminate key-based authentication and still leaves secrets in active use.
- E
Grant Reader access to the resource group because it includes the storage account.
Why wrong: Reader is a management-plane role and does not grant blob data access for reading objects.
AZ-104 Implement and Manage Storage Practice Question
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 web app uses a managed identity to read blobs from a storage account. Security now wants to ensure no future requests can authenticate with shared keys and the app should continue to use secretless access. Which two changes should the administrator make? Select two.
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 Storage Blob Data Reader role to the managed identity on the storage account or container.
Option A is correct because assigning the Storage Blob Data Reader role to the managed identity enables Azure RBAC-based, secretless access to blobs. This aligns with the requirement to use managed identities for authentication, eliminating the need for keys or SAS tokens. Option B is correct because disabling shared key access on the storage account enforces the security policy that no future requests can authenticate using shared keys, while the managed identity continues to work via Azure AD authentication.
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 Storage Blob Data Reader role to the managed identity on the storage account or container.
Why this is correct
The data-plane role authorizes blob reads for the managed identity without storing secrets in the application.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Disable shared key access on the storage account.
Why this is correct
Disabling shared key access blocks account-key authentication and forces Entra-based data access instead.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Generate a service SAS and place it in an app setting.
Why it's wrong here
A SAS in app settings reintroduces a secret and undermines the goal of a secretless design.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question required granting temporary, scoped access to a specific blob or container for an external client without using managed identity, and shared key access was still allowed, generating a service SAS would be correct.
- ✗
Rotate the storage account keys weekly.
Why it's wrong here
Rotating keys does not eliminate key-based authentication and still leaves secrets in active use.
When this WOULD be correct
In a scenario where a security policy mandates periodic rotation of storage account keys to limit exposure of compromised keys, and the question asks for a step to comply with key rotation requirements while maintaining existing authentication methods.
- ✗
Grant Reader access to the resource group because it includes the storage account.
Why it's wrong here
Reader is a management-plane role and does not grant blob data access for reading objects.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question asked which role allows a user to view storage account properties and settings but not access blob data, then Reader on the resource group would be correct. For example, an auditor needs to see storage account configuration without reading blobs.
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 Storage Blob Data Reader role to the managed identity on the storage account or container.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
The data-plane role authorizes blob reads for the managed identity without storing secrets in the application.
✗Generate a service SAS and place it in an app setting.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A service SAS uses a shared key to generate the token, which violates the requirement to disable shared key access. The app must use secretless access via managed identity, not a SAS.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question required granting temporary, scoped access to a specific blob or container for an external client without using managed identity, and shared key access was still allowed, generating a service SAS would be correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think a SAS is a secure, time-limited token that avoids hardcoding keys, but they overlook that SAS generation still relies on shared keys, which the question explicitly forbids.
✗Rotate the storage account keys weekly.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Rotating storage account keys does not disable shared key access; it only changes the keys. The requirement is to prevent future requests from authenticating with shared keys, which requires disabling shared key access entirely, not just rotating keys.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a scenario where a security policy mandates periodic rotation of storage account keys to limit exposure of compromised keys, and the question asks for a step to comply with key rotation requirements while maintaining existing authentication methods.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think key rotation is a security best practice that addresses the requirement to prevent shared key access, confusing key rotation with disabling shared key access.
✗Grant Reader access to the resource group because it includes the storage account.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Granting Reader access to the resource group does not grant the managed identity permissions to read blobs; it only allows viewing resource metadata, not data access. The app needs the Storage Blob Data Reader role on the storage account or container.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question asked which role allows a user to view storage account properties and settings but not access blob data, then Reader on the resource group would be correct. For example, an auditor needs to see storage account configuration without reading blobs.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse the Reader role with data access roles, thinking that any reader permission on the storage account or its resource group grants blob read access, but Azure RBAC separates control plane (Reader) from data plane (Storage Blob Data Reader).
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 often confuse disabling shared key access with rotating keys or using SAS tokens, thinking those actions also enforce secretless access, but only disabling shared key access actually blocks key-based authentication while managed identity continues to work seamlessly.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Managed identities use Azure AD tokens for authentication, which are obtained via the Azure Instance Metadata Service (IMDS) endpoint at 169.254.169.254. When shared key access is disabled via the `AllowSharedKeyAccess` property set to false, only Azure AD-based requests (including those from managed identities) are accepted, and any request using the account key or SAS token is rejected with a 403 error. This ensures a zero-trust, secretless architecture where the managed identity's RBAC role assignment is the sole authorization mechanism.
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
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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 Storage Blob Data Reader role to the managed identity on the storage account or container. — Option A is correct because assigning the Storage Blob Data Reader role to the managed identity enables Azure RBAC-based, secretless access to blobs. This aligns with the requirement to use managed identities for authentication, eliminating the need for keys or SAS tokens. Option B is correct because disabling shared key access on the storage account enforces the security policy that no future requests can authenticate using shared keys, while the managed identity continues to work via Azure AD authentication.
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
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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