Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
You are developing an ASP.NET Core web API that uses Microsoft Entra ID for authentication via Microsoft.Identity.Web. The application needs to authorize actions based on custom roles such as "Editor" and "Reviewer". These roles are not defined in Microsoft Entra ID app roles or directory roles; instead, they are stored in an application database and can be assigned dynamically by administrators. You need to implement authorization with minimal impact on performance and without modifying the application's authentication flow. Which approach should you use?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Distractor review
Add custom claims to the token via Microsoft Entra ID custom claims policies
Custom claims policies are static and based on directory attributes; they cannot retrieve dynamic roles from an application database.
B
Distractor review
Implement a custom authorization filter that reads the user's roles from the database on each request and caches them
While this works for specific endpoints, it does not add the roles to the User principal globally, making it inconsistent for all authorization checks.
C
Distractor review
Use Microsoft Entra ID app roles and assign them to users or groups
App roles are static and require manual assignment in Microsoft Entra ID, not dynamic from a database.
D
Best answer
Use a custom middleware to modify the User principal after authentication, adding role claims from the database
This adds role claims to the principal early in the pipeline, supports caching, and makes the roles available for all authorization policies without altering the authentication flow.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Authentication checks who the user is.
- Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
- Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
- AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
- Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
- Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
- Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
Related practice questions
Related AZ-204 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
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Question 4
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Question 5
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Question 6
You are monitoring an Azure App Service using Application Insights. You notice that the server response time is high for certain requests. You need to drill down to see which external dependencies (like databases or APIs) are causing the delay. Which Application Insights feature should you use?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-204 question test?
Authentication checks who the user is.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use a custom middleware to modify the User principal after authentication, adding role claims from the database — Using custom middleware to retrieve role claims from the database and add them to the User principal early in the pipeline ensures that all authorization policies (e.g., [Authorize(Roles = "Editor")]) work seamlessly. This approach does not modify the Microsoft Entra ID authentication flow and performs the database lookup once per request with caching to minimize performance impact. The other options either require Microsoft Entra ID configuration changes, do not support dynamic roles, or modify the authentication flow.
What should I do if I get this AZ-204 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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