Quick Answer
The answer is a shared access signature (SAS) for temporary blob access. A SAS provides delegated, time-limited access to a specific Azure Storage resource, such as a blob, without exposing the storage account key; by configuring the SAS with an expiration time of 24 hours, you grant the contractor temporary access that automatically revokes after that period, meeting the requirement precisely. On the Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert AZ-305 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of secure, granular access control versus broader methods like storage account keys or managed identities—a common trap is choosing a full account key or a stored access policy without a defined expiry, but the SAS is the only feature that combines resource-specific scope with a built-in expiration. Remember the mnemonic: “SAS is the pass that expires in a flash.”
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.
You need to provide temporary shared access to a specific blob in Azure Storage for a contractor. The access must expire after 24 hours. Which feature should you use?
Managed identity
Why wrong: Managed identity is for Azure resources, not external users.
Azure role-based access control (RBAC)
Why wrong: RBAC roles are not time-limited.
Storage account access key
Why wrong: Account key provides full access without time limit.
Shared access signature (SAS)
SAS provides time-limited, delegated access to a specific blob.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Shared access signature (SAS)
A shared access signature (SAS) provides delegated, time-limited access to a specific Azure Storage resource, such as a blob, without exposing the storage account key. By configuring the SAS with an expiration time of 24 hours, you grant the contractor temporary access that automatically revokes after that period, meeting the requirement precisely.
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.
Managed identity
Why it's wrong here
Managed identity is for Azure resources, not external users.
Azure role-based access control (RBAC)
Why it's wrong here
RBAC roles are not time-limited.
Storage account access key
Why it's wrong here
Account key provides full access without time limit.
Shared access signature (SAS)
Why this is correct
SAS provides time-limited, delegated access to a specific blob.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse managed identities or RBAC as suitable for temporary access, but neither provides time-bound, scoped delegation to a single blob without persistent permissions or full account access.
Detailed technical explanation
A SAS token is generated using the storage account key or a user delegation key, and it includes parameters such as `se` (expiry time), `sp` (permissions), and `spr` (allowed protocols, e.g., HTTPS). For blob-level access, a service SAS is appended to the blob URL, and the token is validated by Azure Storage on each request, checking the expiry time against the server clock. In real-world scenarios, you can also use a stored access policy to centrally manage SAS parameters and revoke tokens before their expiry if needed.
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
Design data storage solutions — This question tests Design data storage solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Shared access signature (SAS) — A shared access signature (SAS) provides delegated, time-limited access to a specific Azure Storage resource, such as a blob, without exposing the storage account key. By configuring the SAS with an expiration time of 24 hours, you grant the contractor temporary access that automatically revokes after that period, meeting the requirement precisely.
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
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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