- A
Map the share on Windows by using the built-in SMB client.
Windows can mount Azure Files shares through SMB using File Explorer, net use, or PowerShell. This is the normal Windows client approach.
- B
Mount the share on Linux by using an SMB/CIFS client such as mount.cifs.
Linux can access Azure Files through SMB by using a CIFS or SMB mount. This lets Linux workloads use the same shared files.
- C
Mount the share on Linux by using the Azure Blob service endpoint.
Why wrong: Azure Files is not accessed through the Blob service endpoint. Blob storage and file shares are different services with different endpoints.
- D
Use an Azure VPN gateway to make the file share mount possible.
Why wrong: A VPN gateway is not required for a normal Azure Files mount. The client mounts the share directly over the supported file protocol.
- E
Use an Azure load balancer to present the share to both VMs.
Why wrong: A load balancer does not provide file-share access. Azure Files is mounted through a storage protocol, not through network load balancing.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to mount the share on Windows using the built-in SMB client and on Linux using an SMB/CIFS client such as mount.cifs. This works because Azure Files shares are exposed over the SMB 3.0 protocol, which Windows supports natively via a UNC path like \\storageaccount.file.core.windows.net\sharename, while Linux requires the cifs-utils package to mount the same share with encryption enabled over the public internet. On the AZ-104 exam, this question tests your understanding of cross-platform file sharing and the fact that no VPN or gateway is needed when SMB 3.0 is used, though older SMB versions would require one. A common trap is assuming Linux cannot use SMB at all, but the key is that both OSes can mount the same share using SMB 3.0. Remember the memory tip: “SMB 3.0 works everywhere—Windows maps it, Linux mounts it with cifs.”
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 team wants one Azure Files share to be used by both Windows and Linux virtual machines. Which two mounting approaches are valid? 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
Map the share on Windows by using the built-in SMB client.
Option A is correct because Windows includes a built-in SMB client that can directly map an Azure Files share using its UNC path (e.g., \\storageaccount.file.core.windows.net\sharename). This leverages the SMB 3.0 protocol, which Azure Files supports over the public internet with encryption, requiring no additional gateway or VPN.
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.
- ✓
Map the share on Windows by using the built-in SMB client.
Why this is correct
Windows can mount Azure Files shares through SMB using File Explorer, net use, or PowerShell. This is the normal Windows client approach.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Mount the share on Linux by using an SMB/CIFS client such as mount.cifs.
Why this is correct
Linux can access Azure Files through SMB by using a CIFS or SMB mount. This lets Linux workloads use the same shared files.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Mount the share on Linux by using the Azure Blob service endpoint.
Why it's wrong here
Azure Files is not accessed through the Blob service endpoint. Blob storage and file shares are different services with different endpoints.
- ✗
Use an Azure VPN gateway to make the file share mount possible.
- ✗
Use an Azure load balancer to present the share to both VMs.
Why it's wrong here
A load balancer does not provide file-share access. Azure Files is mounted through a storage protocol, not through network load balancing.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume Azure Files requires a VPN or ExpressRoute for secure mounting, but Azure Files SMB 3.0 with encryption works securely over the public internet, making options like D unnecessary.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure Files uses the SMB 3.0 protocol, which includes mandatory encryption (SMB over TCP/445) and supports both Windows and Linux via the cifs-utils package (mount.cifs). For Linux, the mount command must specify the 'vers=3.0' option and the 'sec=ntlmssp' or 'sec=krb5' authentication method, and the client must have TCP port 445 outbound open. A common real-world scenario is hybrid cloud file sharing where both Windows and Linux VMs in the same VNet or across the internet can access the same share without additional infrastructure.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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: Map the share on Windows by using the built-in SMB client. — Option A is correct because Windows includes a built-in SMB client that can directly map an Azure Files share using its UNC path (e.g., \\storageaccount.file.core.windows.net\sharename). This leverages the SMB 3.0 protocol, which Azure Files supports over the public internet with encryption, requiring no additional gateway or VPN.
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
1 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 Windows VM and a Linux VM in Azure must use the same shared working folder for application files. The team does not want to run a separate file server, and both VMs must be able to mount the share by using native operating system tools. What should the administrator deploy?
medium- A.An Azure Blob container mounted as a local NTFS volume on both VMs
- ✓ B.An Azure Files share mounted from Windows by using SMB and from Linux by using SMB or the Azure Files mount command
- C.A managed disk attached to both VMs in read-write mode
- D.An Azure Queue storage account with application-level file synchronization
Why B: Option B is correct because Azure Files provides fully managed SMB (Server Message Block) file shares that can be mounted natively from both Windows (using SMB) and Linux (using SMB or the dedicated Azure Files mount command). This meets the requirement of a shared working folder without needing a separate file server, and both operating systems can use their native tools to access the share.
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.
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