- A
Azure Files with Active Directory authentication and Azure File Sync.
Azure Files supports SMB protocol, can be domain-joined to on-premises AD DS for identity-based access, and is fully managed. Azure File Sync can optionally cache files on-premises but is not required for the migration.
- B
Azure NetApp Files with SMB volumes.
Why wrong: Azure NetApp Files is a fully managed high-performance file storage service that supports SMB, but it is more expensive and complex than Azure Files for a simple file server migration.
- C
Azure Blob Storage with NFS 3.0 support.
Why wrong: Azure Blob Storage with NFS does not support SMB protocol. The application requires SMB access.
- D
Azure Managed Disk with a file server VM.
Why wrong: This creates an IaaS file server, which is not fully managed. The company wants a fully managed solution to reduce administrative overhead.
Quick Answer
The answer is Azure Files with Active Directory authentication and Azure File Sync. This solution is correct because it delivers a fully managed SMB file share that integrates identity-based access directly with on-premises Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS), allowing users to authenticate using their existing domain credentials without any additional identity infrastructure. Azure File Sync then provides a caching layer that keeps frequently accessed files local to users in the same region, ensuring low latency while maintaining a unified namespace across on-premises and cloud. On the AZ-305 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish between fully managed PaaS services and IaaS-based file servers; a common trap is selecting Azure NetApp Files or a simple Storage Account without Sync, which either lacks native AD DS integration or fails to optimize latency for regional users. Remember the key pairing: identity-based access requires AD DS authentication on the share, and low latency for regional users demands Azure File Sync as a cache layer—think of it as “AD DS for identity, Sync for speed.”
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.
A company wants to migrate its on-premises file server to Azure. The application accesses files using the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol and requires identity-based access integrated with on-premises Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS). The solution must be fully managed and provide low latency for users within the same region. Which Azure solution should they choose?
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
Azure Files with Active Directory authentication and Azure File Sync.
Azure Files with Active Directory authentication and Azure File Sync is the correct choice because it provides a fully managed SMB file share that supports identity-based access using on-premises AD DS. Azure File Sync enables caching of frequently accessed files on-premises or in Azure, reducing latency for users in the same region while maintaining a single namespace. This solution meets all requirements: SMB protocol, identity-based access, fully managed service, and low latency.
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.
- ✓
Azure Files with Active Directory authentication and Azure File Sync.
Why this is correct
Azure Files supports SMB protocol, can be domain-joined to on-premises AD DS for identity-based access, and is fully managed. Azure File Sync can optionally cache files on-premises but is not required for the migration.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Azure NetApp Files with SMB volumes.
Why it's wrong here
Azure NetApp Files is a fully managed high-performance file storage service that supports SMB, but it is more expensive and complex than Azure Files for a simple file server migration.
- ✗
Azure Blob Storage with NFS 3.0 support.
Why it's wrong here
Azure Blob Storage with NFS does not support SMB protocol. The application requires SMB access.
- ✗
Azure Managed Disk with a file server VM.
Why it's wrong here
This creates an IaaS file server, which is not fully managed. The company wants a fully managed solution to reduce administrative overhead.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose Azure NetApp Files (Option B) because it supports SMB and AD DS, but they overlook that it is not fully managed and is more complex to deploy, whereas Azure Files with File Sync is the fully managed, lower-cost alternative that meets all stated requirements.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure Files uses the SMB 3.0 protocol and supports Kerberos authentication for identity-based access when joined to an on-premises AD DS domain. Azure File Sync uses the File Sync agent to replicate changes between the Azure file share and on-premises Windows Server, enabling cloud tiering to keep frequently accessed files local for low latency. Under the hood, Azure Files leverages Azure Storage's distributed architecture, and File Sync uses change journaling and block-level replication to minimize sync latency.
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.
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Design data storage solutions — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-305 question test?
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: Azure Files with Active Directory authentication and Azure File Sync. — Azure Files with Active Directory authentication and Azure File Sync is the correct choice because it provides a fully managed SMB file share that supports identity-based access using on-premises AD DS. Azure File Sync enables caching of frequently accessed files on-premises or in Azure, reducing latency for users in the same region while maintaining a single namespace. This solution meets all requirements: SMB protocol, identity-based access, fully managed service, and low latency.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This AZ-305 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-305 exam.
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