- A
Microsoft Entra ID authorization with an appropriate Azure RBAC role.
Entra ID plus RBAC lets the app authenticate as a user, group, or managed identity without handling a storage key.
- B
A user delegation SAS generated through Microsoft Entra ID.
A user delegation SAS is signed through Entra ID-based authorization and avoids exposing the storage account key to the app.
- C
The storage account access key.
Why wrong: An access key is a long-lived secret and must be stored somewhere the app can read it, which breaks the requirement.
- D
A service SAS generated directly from the account key.
Why wrong: A service SAS still depends on the account key for signing, so the key must be protected and is not eliminated.
- E
Anonymous public access to the container.
Why wrong: Anonymous access exposes data broadly and is not appropriate for a secure application that needs controlled blob access.
Quick Answer
The answer is Microsoft Entra ID authentication and a user delegation SAS. These two methods allow an app to access blob storage without storing the account key on the machine because they both rely on Microsoft Entra ID credentials instead of a shared key. With Entra ID, you assign an Azure RBAC role like Storage Blob Data Contributor to the app’s identity, enabling OAuth 2.0 token-based access. A user delegation SAS is then signed with those same Entra ID credentials, granting time-limited, scoped access to blob data without ever exposing the account key. On the AZ-104 exam, this question tests your understanding of secure authentication alternatives to shared keys, often appearing as a scenario where you must avoid key storage on client machines. A common trap is confusing a service SAS (which requires an account key) with a user delegation SAS. Memory tip: think “Entra ID first, then delegate” — authenticate with Entra ID, then generate a user delegation SAS for granular, keyless access.
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.
Which two authentication methods let an app access blob data without storing the storage account key on the machine? 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
Microsoft Entra ID authorization with an appropriate Azure RBAC role.
Option A is correct because Microsoft Entra ID authorization with an appropriate Azure RBAC role (e.g., Storage Blob Data Contributor) allows an app to authenticate to blob storage using OAuth 2.0 tokens, eliminating the need to store the storage account key on the machine. Option B is correct because a user delegation SAS is signed with Microsoft Entra ID credentials and can be generated without the account key, providing time-limited, scoped access to blob data.
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.
- ✓
Microsoft Entra ID authorization with an appropriate Azure RBAC role.
Why this is correct
Entra ID plus RBAC lets the app authenticate as a user, group, or managed identity without handling a storage key.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
A user delegation SAS generated through Microsoft Entra ID.
Why this is correct
A user delegation SAS is signed through Entra ID-based authorization and avoids exposing the storage account key to the app.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The storage account access key.
Why it's wrong here
An access key is a long-lived secret and must be stored somewhere the app can read it, which breaks the requirement.
- ✗
A service SAS generated directly from the account key.
Why it's wrong here
A service SAS still depends on the account key for signing, so the key must be protected and is not eliminated.
- ✗
Anonymous public access to the container.
Why it's wrong here
Anonymous access exposes data broadly and is not appropriate for a secure application that needs controlled blob access.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse a service SAS (which still requires the account key) with a user delegation SAS (which does not), or they mistakenly think that anonymous access is a valid authentication method for an app.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Microsoft Entra ID authorization uses OAuth 2.0 to issue an access token that the app presents to Azure Storage; the token is validated against Azure RBAC roles, which can be scoped to a specific container or blob. A user delegation SAS is signed with a user delegation key derived from the app's Microsoft Entra ID token, and its permissions are defined by the RBAC role of the requesting identity, offering fine-grained, keyless access. In a real-world scenario, a web app running in Azure App Service can use a managed identity to obtain tokens without storing any secrets, making it ideal for secure, keyless blob access.
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: Microsoft Entra ID authorization with an appropriate Azure RBAC role. — Option A is correct because Microsoft Entra ID authorization with an appropriate Azure RBAC role (e.g., Storage Blob Data Contributor) allows an app to authenticate to blob storage using OAuth 2.0 tokens, eliminating the need to store the storage account key on the machine. Option B is correct because a user delegation SAS is signed with Microsoft Entra ID credentials and can be generated without the account key, providing time-limited, scoped access to blob data.
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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