- A
Locally redundant storage (LRS)
Why wrong: LRS keeps three copies in one datacenter, but it does not replicate to another region for failover.
- B
Zone-redundant storage (ZRS)
Why wrong: ZRS protects against a zone outage in one region, but it does not provide a readable secondary region.
- C
Geo-redundant storage (GRS)
Why wrong: GRS replicates to a paired region, but the secondary copy is not readable until failover occurs.
- D
Read-access geo-redundant storage (RA-GRS)
RA-GRS replicates data to a secondary region and allows read access from that secondary endpoint.
- E
Read-access geo-zone-redundant storage (RA-GZRS)
RA-GZRS combines zone redundancy in the primary region with a readable secondary region for access continuity.
Question 649 of 1,170
Storage Redundancy with Readable Secondary — RA-GRS and RA-GZRS
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 company wants a storage account that keeps a readable copy in the secondary region and lets read operations continue if the primary region becomes unavailable. Which two redundancy options meet this requirement? Select two.
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"primary"Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
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
✓
Read-access geo-redundant storage (RA-GRS)
Read-access geo-redundant storage (RA-GRS) is correct because it provides geo-redundant replication (GRS) with the added ability to read from the secondary region at all times, even when the primary region is available. If the primary region becomes unavailable, read operations can continue using the readable copy in the secondary region, meeting the requirement for continuous read access.
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.
- ✗
Locally redundant storage (LRS)
Why it's wrong here
LRS keeps three copies in one datacenter, but it does not replicate to another region for failover.
When this WOULD be correct
LRS would be correct for a question that asks for the lowest-cost redundancy option with no need for cross-region or cross-zone durability, such as for non-critical test/dev data where data loss is acceptable.
- ✗
Zone-redundant storage (ZRS)
Why it's wrong here
ZRS protects against a zone outage in one region, but it does not provide a readable secondary region.
When this WOULD be correct
A question that asks for a storage option that protects against datacenter-level failures within a single region, without requiring cross-region replication, and where high availability within the region is the primary goal. For example: 'A company needs a storage account that remains available if a single datacenter fails, but does not require a secondary region. Which redundancy option should they use?'
- ✗
Geo-redundant storage (GRS)
Why it's wrong here
GRS replicates to a paired region, but the secondary copy is not readable until failover occurs.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question asked for a storage account that maintains data durability across regions but does not require immediate read access from the secondary region, and only needs read access after a failover, then GRS would be correct.
- ✓
Read-access geo-redundant storage (RA-GRS)
Why this is correct
RA-GRS replicates data to a secondary region and allows read access from that secondary endpoint.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Read-access geo-zone-redundant storage (RA-GZRS)
Why this is correct
RA-GZRS combines zone redundancy in the primary region with a readable secondary region for access continuity.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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.
✓Read-access geo-redundant storage (RA-GRS)Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
RA-GRS replicates data to a secondary region and allows read access from that secondary endpoint.
✗Locally redundant storage (LRS)Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
LRS only stores three synchronous copies within a single data center in the primary region, providing no secondary region copy or failover capability, so it cannot maintain a readable copy in the secondary region or allow reads if the primary is unavailable.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
LRS would be correct for a question that asks for the lowest-cost redundancy option with no need for cross-region or cross-zone durability, such as for non-critical test/dev data where data loss is acceptable.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse 'locally redundant' with 'geo-redundant' or think that any redundancy automatically provides secondary region access, overlooking the specific requirement for a readable secondary copy.
✗Zone-redundant storage (ZRS)Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Zone-redundant storage (ZRS) replicates data synchronously across three Azure availability zones within a single region, but does not provide a readable copy in a secondary region nor does it allow read operations to continue if the entire primary region becomes unavailable.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question that asks for a storage option that protects against datacenter-level failures within a single region, without requiring cross-region replication, and where high availability within the region is the primary goal. For example: 'A company needs a storage account that remains available if a single datacenter fails, but does not require a secondary region. Which redundancy option should they use?'
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse zone-redundant storage with geo-redundant storage, thinking that 'zone' implies multiple regions, or they may overlook the requirement for a readable copy in a secondary region and focus only on high availability.
✗Geo-redundant storage (GRS)Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
GRS replicates data to a secondary region but does not provide read access to that secondary copy unless a failover occurs. The requirement is for continuous readable copy in the secondary region, which only RA-GRS or RA-GZRS offer.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question asked for a storage account that maintains data durability across regions but does not require immediate read access from the secondary region, and only needs read access after a failover, then GRS would be correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse geo-redundancy with read-access geo-redundancy, assuming that replication to a secondary region automatically allows reads from it, or they may overlook the 'readable copy' requirement.
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 select GRS (Option C) thinking it provides read access to the secondary region, but GRS only allows read access after a failover, not continuously, which is a key distinction tested in the AZ-104 exam.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, RA-GRS uses asynchronous replication to copy data to a paired secondary region, with a Recovery Point Objective (RPO) of typically 15 minutes. The secondary endpoint is accessible via a separate DNS name (e.g., <storageaccount>-secondary.blob.core.windows.net), and read requests to this endpoint are served even when the primary is healthy. In a real-world scenario, if the primary region suffers a prolonged outage, applications can switch read traffic to the secondary endpoint without waiting for a Microsoft-initiated failover, ensuring business continuity for read-heavy workloads.
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: Read-access geo-redundant storage (RA-GRS) — Read-access geo-redundant storage (RA-GRS) is correct because it provides geo-redundant replication (GRS) with the added ability to read from the secondary region at all times, even when the primary region is available. If the primary region becomes unavailable, read operations can continue using the readable copy in the secondary region, meeting the requirement for continuous read access.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
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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