Quick Answer
The answer is Azure Disk, the correct volume type for stateful workloads in AKS requiring persistent storage with ReadWriteOnce access. Azure Disk provides a durable block storage device that attaches to a single node, supporting the ReadWriteOnce (RWO) mode, which ensures the disk is mounted as read-write by one pod and survives pod restarts. On the AZ-204 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of Kubernetes volume access modes and Azure storage integration, often appearing in questions about stateful application deployment. A common trap is confusing Azure Disk with Azure Files, which supports ReadWriteMany (RWX) for multi-pod access, but the requirement for single-node read-write access points directly to Disk. Remember the mnemonic: “Disk is for one, Files are for fun” — Disk locks to a single node, Files share across many.
This AZ-204 practice question tests your understanding of develop azure compute solutions. 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.
Your company has an Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) cluster. You need to deploy a containerized application that requires persistent storage across pod restarts. The storage must be backed by Azure Disk and support ReadWriteOnce access mode. Which volume type should you use?
Azure Disk
Azure Disk supports ReadWriteOnce, suitable for persistent storage for one pod.
Azure Blob Storage
Why wrong: Blob Storage is not a native Kubernetes volume type; requires CSI driver and is object storage.
EmptyDir
Why wrong: EmptyDir is ephemeral and does not persist across pod restarts.
Azure Files
Why wrong: Azure Files supports ReadWriteMany, not specifically required for a single pod.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Azure Disk
Azure Disk is the correct volume type because it provides a durable block storage device that can be attached to a pod in an AKS cluster. It supports the ReadWriteOnce (RWO) access mode, meaning the disk can be mounted as read-write by a single node, which aligns with the requirement for persistent storage that survives pod restarts. Azure Disk is ideal for stateful applications that need high-performance, low-latency storage and do not require concurrent access from multiple pods.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Azure Disk
Why this is correct
Azure Disk supports ReadWriteOnce, suitable for persistent storage for one pod.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Azure Blob Storage
Why it's wrong here
Blob Storage is not a native Kubernetes volume type; requires CSI driver and is object storage.
EmptyDir
Why it's wrong here
EmptyDir is ephemeral and does not persist across pod restarts.
Azure Files
Why it's wrong here
Azure Files supports ReadWriteMany, not specifically required for a single pod.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Azure Files (which supports ReadWriteMany) with Azure Disk (which supports ReadWriteOnce), or they mistakenly choose EmptyDir thinking it provides persistence, when in fact it is temporary and tied to the pod's lifecycle.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, Azure Disk in AKS uses the Azure Disk CSI driver to dynamically provision and attach managed disks to nodes, with the disk appearing as a block device (e.g., /dev/sdc) inside the container. The ReadWriteOnce access mode is enforced by Kubernetes through a volume attachment lock on the node, preventing the same disk from being mounted by pods on different nodes simultaneously. A real-world scenario where this matters is a database pod (e.g., PostgreSQL) that requires exclusive access to its data disk to maintain data integrity and performance, and Azure Disk ensures that even if the pod restarts on the same node, the persistent volume claim (PVC) reattaches the same disk.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Develop Azure compute solutions — This question tests Develop Azure compute solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Azure Disk — Azure Disk is the correct volume type because it provides a durable block storage device that can be attached to a pod in an AKS cluster. It supports the ReadWriteOnce (RWO) access mode, meaning the disk can be mounted as read-write by a single node, which aligns with the requirement for persistent storage that survives pod restarts. Azure Disk is ideal for stateful applications that need high-performance, low-latency storage and do not require concurrent access from multiple pods.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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