AZ-305 Design data storage solutions Practice Question
Your organization needs to share large files (up to 100 GB) with external partners securely. The solution must allow partners to access files for a limited time and track who accessed which file. Which Azure solution should you use?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently confuse Azure Blob Storage with public access (anonymous) as a quick sharing method, overlooking that SAS tokens provide the necessary time-limited, auditable access control required for secure external file sharing.
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 Blob Storage with shared access signatures (SAS).
Azure Blob Storage with shared access signatures (SAS) is correct because it allows you to generate time-limited, permission-restricted URIs that grant external partners secure access to large files (up to 100 GB) without exposing the storage account key. SAS tokens can be configured with an expiration time and, when combined with Azure Storage analytics logging, enable tracking of who accessed which file by correlating the SAS identifier with log entries.
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 Data Box.
Why it's wrong here
Azure Data Box is a physical appliance designed for offline bulk data migration (typically terabytes to petabytes) where you ship storage to Microsoft for ingestion, not for ongoing file sharing with partners. It incurs shipping time, manual handling, and is unsuitable for time-bound external collaboration, especially at only 100 GB, where online transfer is far more practical.
- ✓
Azure Blob Storage with shared access signatures (SAS).
Why this is correct
Azure Blob Storage with shared access signatures (SAS) provides granular, time-limited, and permission-scoped access to specific blobs or containers, enabling external partners to upload/download files up to 100 GB without exposing the storage account publicly. SAS tokens can be revoked, support IP restrictions, and integrate with Azure Storage analytics logging to track exactly who accessed what and when, fulfilling both access control and audit requirements.
- ✗
Azure Files with SMB protocol.
Why it's wrong here
Azure Files with SMB protocol relies on traditional Windows file-sharing semantics that typically require domain-joining or Microsoft Entra Domain Services for authentication, making it awkward for external partners. SMB port 445 is frequently blocked by ISPs and corporate firewalls over the internet, so it is not a reliable cross-organization sharing method, even though it works well inside a private network.
- ✗
Azure Blob Storage with public access.
Why it's wrong here
Azure Blob Storage with public access makes blobs accessible to anyone with the URL, offering no time-limited control, no revocation mechanism, and no authentication, so you cannot track who accessed the files or restrict access after sharing. This unprotected exposure is a severe security risk for confidential or large files and fails the requirement for governance and auditable sharing.
Quick reference
Azure Blob Storage Tier Comparison
| Tier | Storage Cost | Retrieval Cost | Latency | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hot | Highest | Lowest | Immediate | Active data, frequent reads |
| Cool | Lower | Higher | Immediate | Data accessed < once / month |
| Cold | Lower still | Higher | Immediate | Data accessed < once / quarter |
| Archive | Lowest | Highest + rehydration delay | Hours | Long-term compliance retention |
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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