The answer is Azure Files. This is the correct choice because Azure Files provides fully managed SMB file shares with native identity-based access integration for on-premises Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS), allowing the application to authenticate using existing domain credentials over the SMB protocol without requiring code changes. For the AZ-305 exam, this scenario tests your ability to match storage solutions to migration requirements that demand minimal application disruption and low latency; a common trap is selecting Azure NetApp Files for its SMB support, but that service is not fully managed and requires more administrative overhead. Remember that Azure Files is the only Azure storage service offering a fully managed, serverless SMB endpoint with AD DS identity integration, making it ideal for lift-and-shift file server migrations. Memory tip: think “Files for AD DS, no code fuss.”
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 with minimal application changes. The application accesses files over the SMB protocol and requires identity-based access using the existing on-premises Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS). They need the solution to be fully managed with low latency. Which Azure storage solution should they choose?
Azure Files provides fully managed SMB file shares with on-premises AD DS authentication, ideal for lift-and-shift migration.
B
Azure NetApp Files
Why wrong: NetApp Files supports both SMB and NFS but is a more complex, high-performance service often used for specialized workloads; Azure Files is simpler for common file server migration.
C
Azure Blob Storage with NFS 3.0
Why wrong: Blob Storage supports NFS but does not support SMB, so the application would require changes to use NFS instead of SMB.
D
Azure Disk Storage
Why wrong: Disk Storage provides block-level storage for VM disks, not a file share accessible via SMB.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Azure Files
Azure Files is the correct choice because it provides fully managed SMB file shares that can be accessed over the SMB protocol with identity-based authentication using on-premises AD DS via Azure Files AD DS integration. This allows the application to connect with minimal changes, as it continues to use SMB and existing domain credentials, while Azure Files offers low-latency access when deployed in the same region as the application.
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
Why this is correct
Azure Files provides fully managed SMB file shares with on-premises AD DS authentication, ideal for lift-and-shift migration.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Azure NetApp Files
Why it's wrong here
NetApp Files supports both SMB and NFS but is a more complex, high-performance service often used for specialized workloads; Azure Files is simpler for common file server migration.
✗
Azure Blob Storage with NFS 3.0
Why it's wrong here
Blob Storage supports NFS but does not support SMB, so the application would require changes to use NFS instead of SMB.
✗
Azure Disk Storage
Why it's wrong here
Disk Storage provides block-level storage for VM disks, not a file share accessible via SMB.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Azure NetApp Files with Azure Files, assuming that because NetApp Files supports SMB and AD DS, it is the best choice, but they overlook the 'fully managed' requirement and the fact that Azure Files is the simpler, more cost-effective PaaS solution for standard file server migrations.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure Files leverages the SMB 3.0 protocol with encryption in transit and supports Kerberos authentication for on-premises AD DS integration, enabling seamless identity-based access without modifying the application's authentication logic. Under the hood, Azure Files uses a REST API for management but exposes standard SMB endpoints, and when deployed in the same Azure region as the client, it can achieve single-digit millisecond latency, comparable to on-premises file servers. A real-world scenario where this matters is migrating a legacy line-of-business application that hardcodes SMB paths and uses Windows integrated authentication, where Azure Files allows a simple DNS change to redirect traffic to the cloud share.
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: Azure Files — Azure Files is the correct choice because it provides fully managed SMB file shares that can be accessed over the SMB protocol with identity-based authentication using on-premises AD DS via Azure Files AD DS integration. This allows the application to connect with minimal changes, as it continues to use SMB and existing domain credentials, while Azure Files offers low-latency access when deployed in the same region as the application.
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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Question Discussion
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