Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Your company uses Azure Key Vault to store secrets. You need to ensure that only a specific Microsoft Entra ID application can read a particular secret, while other applications are denied access. You want to apply the principle of least privilege. Which access control method should you configure?
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
Assign the application to the Key Vault Contributor RBAC role
The Key Vault Contributor role grants management operations (e.g., creating and deleting vaults, managing access policies), which is too broad and includes write permissions, violating least privilege.
B
Best answer
Assign the application to the Key Vault Secrets User RBAC role at the secret scope
This role allows read access to secrets. By assigning it at the individual secret scope (instead of vault scope), you restrict access to only that secret.
C
Distractor review
Use Key Vault access policies
Access policies are applied at the vault level and cannot restrict access to individual secrets. They grant the same permissions to all secrets in the vault.
D
Distractor review
Use managed identity and assign the Key Vault Secrets User role at the vault scope
Assigning the role at the vault scope grants read access to all secrets in the vault, which is not limited to a single secret.
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.
Question 1
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Question 2
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Question 3
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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: Assign the application to the Key Vault Secrets User RBAC role at the secret scope — Azure Key Vault supports two authorization models: legacy access policies (vault-level) and Azure RBAC (role-based access control) with data plane roles. Access policies grant permissions to a user, group, or service principal but apply to all secrets in the vault. For secret-level granularity, you must use Azure RBAC by assigning the Key Vault Secrets User role at the individual secret scope. This allows the specific application to read only that secret. The Key Vault Contributor role grants management-level permissions, not just read access to secrets. Assigning the Secrets User role at the vault scope would grant access to all secrets.
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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