- A
Mount the Azure Files share using the storage account name and key.
Mount requires key, which can be securely passed via environment variables.
- B
Use a managed identity assigned to the container group to authenticate to the storage account.
Why wrong: Managed identity cannot be used to mount Azure Files; storage account key is required.
- C
Deploy the container group in an Azure virtual network that has a service endpoint to Azure Storage.
Service endpoint allows private access to storage.
- D
Use a shared access signature (SAS) token to mount the file share.
Why wrong: Azure Files mount does not support SAS tokens.
- E
Enable the storage account's firewall to allow access from the container group's public IP.
Why wrong: A public IP would be exposed; using private network is more secure.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to deploy the container group in an Azure virtual network that has a service endpoint to Azure Storage. This secures the mount by ensuring traffic between ACI and Azure Files stays within the Azure backbone, eliminating exposure to a public endpoint. The service endpoint creates a direct, private route from your VNet to the storage service, while the container group configuration uses the storage account name and key to mount the SMB share internally. On the AZ-204 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of hybrid networking and secure data access patterns, often appearing as a distractor against using private endpoints or firewall rules. A common trap is assuming a private endpoint is required, but for ACI, a VNet service endpoint is the simpler, supported method. Memory tip: “Service endpoint for the service, private endpoint for the resource” — here, the service is Azure Files, so use the service endpoint.
AZ-204 Develop Azure compute solutions Practice Question
This AZ-204 practice question tests your understanding of develop azure compute solutions. 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 are developing a solution that uses Azure Container Instances (ACI) to run a batch processing job. The job runs for approximately 30 minutes and requires access to a configuration file stored in Azure Files. You need to ensure the container instance can access the file share securely without using a public endpoint. Which TWO actions should you take?
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
Mount the Azure Files share using the storage account name and key.
Option A is correct because mounting an Azure Files share using the storage account name and key is a supported method in Azure Container Instances. This approach uses the SMB protocol to directly attach the file share to the container, providing access to the configuration file without requiring a public endpoint. The storage account key is passed securely as part of the container group configuration, and the mount is handled internally within the Azure infrastructure.
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.
- ✓
Mount the Azure Files share using the storage account name and key.
Why this is correct
Mount requires key, which can be securely passed via environment variables.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use a managed identity assigned to the container group to authenticate to the storage account.
Why it's wrong here
Managed identity cannot be used to mount Azure Files; storage account key is required.
- ✓
Deploy the container group in an Azure virtual network that has a service endpoint to Azure Storage.
Why this is correct
Service endpoint allows private access to storage.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use a shared access signature (SAS) token to mount the file share.
Why it's wrong here
Azure Files mount does not support SAS tokens.
- ✗
Enable the storage account's firewall to allow access from the container group's public IP.
Why it's wrong here
A public IP would be exposed; using private network is more secure.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume managed identities can be used for any Azure resource authentication, but Azure Container Instances does not support managed identities for Azure Files mounts, and they may overlook that service endpoints provide private connectivity without needing to change the authentication method.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Azure Container Instances mounts Azure Files shares using the SMB 3.0 protocol, which requires either the storage account key or a SAS token for authentication. When deploying the container group in a virtual network with a service endpoint to Azure Storage, traffic to the storage account goes over the Azure backbone network rather than the public internet, ensuring private connectivity. The service endpoint creates a direct, private route from the virtual network to the storage account, bypassing public endpoints entirely.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-204 question test?
Develop Azure compute solutions — This question tests Develop Azure compute solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Mount the Azure Files share using the storage account name and key. — Option A is correct because mounting an Azure Files share using the storage account name and key is a supported method in Azure Container Instances. This approach uses the SMB protocol to directly attach the file share to the container, providing access to the configuration file without requiring a public endpoint. The storage account key is passed securely as part of the container group configuration, and the mount is handled internally within the Azure infrastructure.
What should I do if I get this AZ-204 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.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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