AZ-204 Develop for Azure storage Practice Question
You need to upload a large file (10 GB) to Azure Blob Storage with the ability to pause and resume the upload. Which approach should you use?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse AzCopy's resume capability with the need for programmatic control, but the question specifically requires the ability to pause and resume programmatically, which only the SDK provides through block-level management.
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
✓
Use the Azure Storage SDK to upload block blobs in parallel
Uploading a large file (10 GB) to Azure Blob Storage with pause/resume capability requires breaking the file into blocks and uploading them in parallel using the Azure Storage SDK. The SDK supports block blob operations, allowing you to track progress, retry failed blocks, and resume from the last committed block. A single Put Blob operation cannot handle files larger than 5 GB, and neither the Azure Portal nor AzCopy with /SyncCopy provides programmatic pause/resume control.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use a single Put Blob operation
Why it's wrong here
A single Put Blob operation is designed for uploading an entire blob up to 5 GB in a single REST API call. For a 10 GB file, this operation would fail because it exceeds the maximum permissible size for a single, atomic upload request. To handle files larger than 5 GB, Azure Blob Storage requires breaking the file into smaller chunks, which is not what a single Put Blob operation facilitates.
- ✗
Use the Azure Portal to upload the file
Why it's wrong here
The Azure Portal's web-based upload interface is convenient for smaller files but has significant limitations for large data. It typically imposes a maximum file size limit of 2 GB per upload, making it unsuitable for a 10 GB file. Furthermore, portal uploads generally lack advanced features like resumable transfers or parallelization, which are crucial for reliably uploading very large files over potentially unstable network connections.
- ✗
Use AzCopy with the /SyncCopy parameter
Why it's wrong here
While AzCopy is a robust command-line utility capable of efficiently transferring large files to Azure Blob Storage, this option is incorrect for two reasons. Firstly, the question implies an SDK-based solution by presenting it as the correct answer, and AzCopy is a standalone tool, not an SDK. Secondly, the /SyncCopy parameter is specifically used for synchronizing source and destination directories, not for the initial upload of a single large file, where AzCopy would automatically handle block blob uploads without this specific parameter.
- ✓
Use the Azure Storage SDK to upload block blobs in parallel
Why this is correct
The Azure Storage SDK provides the most robust and efficient method for uploading large files like 10 GB to block blobs. It automatically handles breaking the large file into smaller blocks, uploading these blocks in parallel using Put Block operations, and then committing them with a Put Block List operation. This approach enables resumable uploads, significantly improves performance by utilizing available bandwidth, and ensures reliability for very large files by managing individual block transfers.
Quick reference
Azure Blob Storage Tier Comparison
| Tier | Storage Cost | Retrieval Cost | Latency | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hot | Highest | Lowest | Immediate | Active data, frequent reads |
| Cool | Lower | Higher | Immediate | Data accessed < once / month |
| Cold | Lower still | Higher | Immediate | Data accessed < once / quarter |
| Archive | Lowest | Highest + rehydration delay | Hours | Long-term compliance retention |
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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