- A
Create a shared access signature (SAS) token with an expiry time of 24 hours
A service SAS can be generated for the container with read and write permissions and a 24-hour expiry.
- B
Share the storage account access key with the user
Why wrong: Access keys provide full access to the storage account and are not time-limited; sharing keys is a security risk.
- C
Create an account SAS token with read and write permissions
Why wrong: Account SAS applies to all services and containers, not just a specific container.
- D
Generate a user delegation SAS key using Azure AD credentials
User delegation SAS is recommended for external users and can be scoped to a container with an expiry.
- E
Assign the 'Storage Blob Data Contributor' role to the user's Microsoft account
Why wrong: Role assignments are not temporary; they persist until removed, and are not suitable for external users.
Quick Answer
The answer is to generate a user delegation SAS key using Azure AD credentials and then create a service SAS with a stored access policy. This is correct because a shared access signature (SAS) token can be scoped to a specific container with read and write permissions, and its expiry time set to exactly 24 hours, allowing an external user temporary access without exposing the storage account key. On the AZ-204 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of SAS types and their appropriate use cases for external users; a common trap is choosing an account SAS, which grants broader access across all services, or relying on Azure AD authentication alone, which requires the external user to have a managed identity. The key distinction is that a user delegation SAS is signed with Azure AD credentials and is the most secure option for container-level access, while a service SAS with a stored access policy allows you to revoke permissions easily. Memory tip: think “delegate for external, service for internal” to recall that user delegation SAS is built for granting temporary access to users outside your tenant.
AZ-204 Develop for Azure storage Practice Question
This AZ-204 practice question tests your understanding of develop for azure 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.
You need to grant a user access to read and write blobs in a specific container for exactly 24 hours. The user is external to your organization. Which two methods can you use? (Choose 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
Create a shared access signature (SAS) token with an expiry time of 24 hours
Option A is correct because a shared access signature (SAS) token can be scoped to a specific container and granted read and write permissions, with an expiry time set to exactly 24 hours. This allows the external user to access only that container for the specified duration without exposing the storage account key or requiring Azure AD authentication.
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.
- ✓
Create a shared access signature (SAS) token with an expiry time of 24 hours
Why this is correct
A service SAS can be generated for the container with read and write permissions and a 24-hour expiry.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Share the storage account access key with the user
Why it's wrong here
Access keys provide full access to the storage account and are not time-limited; sharing keys is a security risk.
- ✗
Create an account SAS token with read and write permissions
Why it's wrong here
Account SAS applies to all services and containers, not just a specific container.
- ✓
Generate a user delegation SAS key using Azure AD credentials
Why this is correct
User delegation SAS is recommended for external users and can be scoped to a container with an expiry.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Assign the 'Storage Blob Data Contributor' role to the user's Microsoft account
Why it's wrong here
Role assignments are not temporary; they persist until removed, and are not suitable for external users.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse an account SAS with a service SAS, assuming an account SAS can be scoped to a single container, but in reality, an account SAS applies to the entire storage account and cannot be restricted to a specific container.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A user delegation SAS is signed with Azure AD credentials rather than the storage account key, providing finer-grained control and allowing the SAS to be scoped to a container with read/write permissions and a 24-hour expiry. Under the hood, the SAS token includes a signature field computed using HMAC-SHA256 over the string-to-sign, which includes the signed permissions, resource type, and expiry time, ensuring the token cannot be tampered with. In real-world scenarios, user delegation SAS is preferred for external users because it avoids sharing the account key and integrates with Azure RBAC for additional auditing.
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.
- →
Develop for Azure storage — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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Targeted practice on this topic area only
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-204 question test?
Develop for Azure storage — This question tests Develop for Azure storage — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a shared access signature (SAS) token with an expiry time of 24 hours — Option A is correct because a shared access signature (SAS) token can be scoped to a specific container and granted read and write permissions, with an expiry time set to exactly 24 hours. This allows the external user to access only that container for the specified duration without exposing the storage account key or requiring Azure AD authentication.
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
This AZ-204 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-204 exam.
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