The correct configuration is to use Azure RBAC for access control and Azure Monitor logs for auditing, because Azure Storage already provides encryption at rest via Storage Service Encryption (SSE) by default and enforces encryption in transit through HTTPS. This meets all requirements without additional configuration: SSE secures data at the storage platform level, HTTPS ensures data is encrypted during network transfer, RBAC restricts access based on user identity rather than shared keys or tokens, and Azure Monitor logs capture detailed audit trails of who accessed what and when. On the AZ-305 exam, this question tests your understanding that encryption at rest and in transit are baseline features of Azure Storage, not optional add-ons—a common trap is assuming you need customer-managed keys or SAS tokens, but RBAC with auditing is the identity-based solution. Remember the mnemonic: “SSE and HTTPS are free, RBAC and Monitor are the key.”
AZ-305 Design data storage solutions Practice Question
This AZ-305 practice question tests your understanding of design data storage solutions. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
Your company plans to store sensitive customer data in Azure Blob Storage. The data must be encrypted at rest and in transit. Additionally, access must be audited and restricted based on user identity. Which configuration meets these requirements?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use Azure RBAC for access and Azure Monitor logs for auditing.
Option C is correct because Azure Storage provides encryption at rest (SSE) by default, HTTPS ensures encryption in transit, and Azure RBAC with Azure Monitor logs provides identity-based access and auditing. Option A is wrong because SAS tokens do not use user identity. Option B is wrong because customer-managed keys are optional and not required for encryption at rest. Option D is wrong because firewall rules do not provide identity-based access control.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Use shared access signatures (SAS) for access control.
Why it's wrong here
SAS tokens are not tied to user identity.
✓
Use Azure RBAC for access and Azure Monitor logs for auditing.
Why this is correct
RBAC provides identity-based access; logs provide auditing.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
Configure network firewalls and use private endpoints.
Why it's wrong here
Network controls do not provide identity-based access control.
✗
Enable customer-managed keys (CMK) and use SAS.
Why it's wrong here
CMK is for encryption key management, not access control.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related AZ-305 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Design data storage solutions — This question tests Design data storage solutions — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use Azure RBAC for access and Azure Monitor logs for auditing. — Option C is correct because Azure Storage provides encryption at rest (SSE) by default, HTTPS ensures encryption in transit, and Azure RBAC with Azure Monitor logs provides identity-based access and auditing. Option A is wrong because SAS tokens do not use user identity. Option B is wrong because customer-managed keys are optional and not required for encryption at rest. Option D is wrong because firewall rules do not provide identity-based access control.
What should I do if I get this AZ-305 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related AZ-305 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Question Discussion
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