The correct answer is that the blobs being requested do not exist, as a 404 GetBlob error in Azure Storage logs directly indicates the requested blob resource is missing from the specified URI. This happens because HTTP 404 is the standard response when a client attempts to access a blob that has been deleted, was never created, or is referenced with an incorrect path or container name—distinct from a 403 authorization failure or a 503 throttling response. On the Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert AZ-305 exam, this question tests your ability to interpret Azure Storage diagnostic logs and KQL queries, a common scenario in monitoring and troubleshooting storage solutions. A frequent trap is confusing 404 with 403, but remember: 403 means “I know who you are, but you can’t get in,” while 404 means “that blob doesn’t exist here.” For a quick memory tip, think “404 = Four-Oh-Four, File or Folder not Found.”
AZ-305 Design data storage solutions Practice Question
This AZ-305 practice question tests your understanding of design data storage 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
```sql
SELECT
OperationName,
COUNT(*) AS OperationCount
FROM
StorageBlobLogs
WHERE
TimeGenerated > ago(1h)
AND StatusCode == 404
GROUP BY
OperationName
ORDER BY
OperationCount DESC
```
Refer to the exhibit. A KQL query is run against Azure Storage logs. The result shows a high number of 404 errors for 'GetBlob' operations. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Refer to the exhibit.
```sql
SELECT
OperationName,
COUNT(*) AS OperationCount
FROM
StorageBlobLogs
WHERE
TimeGenerated > ago(1h)
AND StatusCode == 404
GROUP BY
OperationName
ORDER BY
OperationCount DESC
```
A
The client does not have permission to access the blobs
Why wrong: Permission issues return 403.
B
The storage account is throttling requests
Why wrong: Throttling returns 429 status codes.
C
The blobs being requested do not exist
404 indicates resource not found.
D
The client is using an incorrect authentication method
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The blobs being requested do not exist
A 404 (Not Found) error for 'GetBlob' operations in Azure Storage logs specifically indicates that the requested blob resource does not exist at the specified URI. This is distinct from authorization failures (which return 403) or throttling (which returns 503). The high number of 404 errors suggests the client is attempting to retrieve blobs that have been deleted, never created, or are referenced with an incorrect path.
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.
✗
The client does not have permission to access the blobs
Why it's wrong here
Permission issues return 403.
✗
The storage account is throttling requests
Why it's wrong here
Throttling returns 429 status codes.
✓
The blobs being requested do not exist
Why this is correct
404 indicates resource not found.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The client is using an incorrect authentication method
Why it's wrong here
Authentication issues return 403.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse 404 (Not Found) with 403 (Forbidden), assuming that a missing blob is caused by a permissions problem, but Azure strictly differentiates these status codes based on whether the resource exists versus whether access is denied.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure Blob Storage uses HTTP status codes as defined in RFC 7231. A 404 error for a GET operation on a blob means the blob's container may exist but the specific blob name is not found, or the container itself does not exist. In practice, this often occurs when an application hardcodes blob paths that change over time (e.g., versioned filenames) or when a cleanup process deletes blobs while clients still reference them. The storage logs capture the 'GetBlob' operation name and the 'StatusCode' field, allowing precise diagnosis.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this AZ-305 question in full detail.
Design data storage solutions — This question tests Design data storage solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The blobs being requested do not exist — A 404 (Not Found) error for 'GetBlob' operations in Azure Storage logs specifically indicates that the requested blob resource does not exist at the specified URI. This is distinct from authorization failures (which return 403) or throttling (which returns 503). The high number of 404 errors suggests the client is attempting to retrieve blobs that have been deleted, never created, or are referenced with an incorrect path.
What should I do if I get this AZ-305 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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