The answer is Azure Files (Premium tier) with zone-redundant storage (ZRS) and Azure NetApp Files. Both solutions provide shared storage that supports concurrent read/write access from multiple stateful VMs, which is essential for clustered or distributed applications, while also offering zone-level redundancy to survive an entire Azure datacenter failure. Azure Files premium shares use SMB multichannel for high throughput and concurrent access, and ZRS replicates data across three availability zones; Azure NetApp Files similarly supports NFS or SMB with cross-zone replication. On the AZ-305 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between shared file protocols and block storage limitations—a common trap is choosing Azure Managed Disks or shared disks, which are not zone-redundant and have strict node limits. Memory tip: think “SMB + ZRS” for Azure Files, and “NFS/SMB + cross-zone” for NetApp; avoid any disk-based option when the requirement is concurrent access across zones.
AZ-305 Design infrastructure solutions Practice Question
This AZ-305 practice question tests your understanding of design infrastructure solutions. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 are designing a highly available architecture for a stateful application running on Azure Virtual Machines. The application requires a shared storage solution that supports concurrent read/write access from multiple VMs, and must be resilient to zone failures. Which TWO Azure solutions meet these requirements? (Choose TWO.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Azure NetApp Files with cross-zone replication
Option A (Azure Files premium shares) supports SMB multichannel and concurrent access, and can be zone-redundant. Option C (Azure NetApp Files) supports NFS/SMB and cross-zone replication. Option B (Azure Blob Storage) does not support concurrent access as a file share. Option D (Azure Managed Disks) cannot be shared without special clustering. Option E (Azure Disk Storage with shared disks) is limited to 2-3 nodes and not zone-redundant.
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 Disk Storage with shared disks enabled
Why it's wrong here
Shared disks support limited nodes and not zone-redundant.
✓
Azure NetApp Files with cross-zone replication
Why this is correct
Supports concurrent access and zone resilience.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Azure Files (Premium tier) with zone-redundant storage (ZRS)
Why this is correct
Supports concurrent access and ZRS for zone resilience.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Azure Managed Disks with Standard SSD
Why it's wrong here
Cannot be attached to multiple VMs for concurrent access.
✗
Azure Blob Storage with hot access tier and geo-redundant storage (GRS)
Why it's wrong here
Not designed for concurrent file sharing from multiple VMs.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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.
Identify which AZ-305 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Design infrastructure solutions — This question tests Design infrastructure solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Azure NetApp Files with cross-zone replication — Option A (Azure Files premium shares) supports SMB multichannel and concurrent access, and can be zone-redundant. Option C (Azure NetApp Files) supports NFS/SMB and cross-zone replication. Option B (Azure Blob Storage) does not support concurrent access as a file share. Option D (Azure Managed Disks) cannot be shared without special clustering. Option E (Azure Disk Storage with shared disks) is limited to 2-3 nodes and not zone-redundant.
What should I do if I get this AZ-305 question wrong?
Identify which AZ-305 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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