- A
Store the Key Vault name and secret names in a secure file in the repository.
Why wrong: Secret names can be stored in pipeline variables, but not in repository for security.
- B
Define secrets as pipeline variables and mark them as secret.
Why wrong: Secrets should be retrieved from Key Vault, not defined as pipeline variables.
- C
Grant the Azure DevOps service principal 'Get' and 'List' permissions on the Key Vault.
Necessary for the pipeline to access secrets.
- D
Use the 'Azure CLI' task to run 'az keyvault secret show' for each secret.
Why wrong: Inefficient; the Key Vault task is designed for this purpose.
- E
Use the 'Azure Key Vault' task to download secrets as pipeline variables.
This task retrieves secrets and makes them available as variables.
Question 697 of 928
Using Azure Key Vault to Securely Store Secrets in Azure Pipelines
This AZ-400 practice question tests your understanding of design and implement build and release pipelines. 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.
Which TWO actions should you take to implement a secure build pipeline that uses Azure Key Vault to store secrets? (Choose two.)
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
✓
Grant the Azure DevOps service principal 'Get' and 'List' permissions on the Key Vault.
Option C is correct because the Azure DevOps service principal (the identity used by Azure Pipelines) must be granted 'Get' and 'List' permissions on the Key Vault's access policy. This allows the pipeline to retrieve secret values securely without storing credentials in the repository or pipeline configuration. Without these permissions, any attempt to read secrets from the vault will fail with an authorization error.
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.
- ✗
Store the Key Vault name and secret names in a secure file in the repository.
Why it's wrong here
Secret names can be stored in pipeline variables, but not in repository for security.
- ✗
Define secrets as pipeline variables and mark them as secret.
Why it's wrong here
Secrets should be retrieved from Key Vault, not defined as pipeline variables.
- ✓
Grant the Azure DevOps service principal 'Get' and 'List' permissions on the Key Vault.
Why this is correct
Necessary for the pipeline to access secrets.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use the 'Azure CLI' task to run 'az keyvault secret show' for each secret.
Why it's wrong here
Inefficient; the Key Vault task is designed for this purpose.
- ✓
Use the 'Azure Key Vault' task to download secrets as pipeline variables.
Why this is correct
This task retrieves secrets and makes them available as variables.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often think storing secrets as pipeline variables (Option B) is sufficient, but the question specifically requires using Azure Key Vault, so the correct approach is to retrieve secrets from Key Vault at runtime using the dedicated task, not to hardcode them as pipeline variables.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The 'Azure Key Vault' task uses the Azure DevOps service principal to authenticate to Key Vault via Azure AD OAuth 2.0. It retrieves all specified secrets in a single API call and maps them as pipeline variables, which are automatically masked in logs. Under the hood, the task calls the Key Vault REST API (e.g., GET /secrets/{secret-name}/?api-version=7.0) and stores the secret values in the pipeline's variable scope, ensuring they are never written to disk or exposed in build artifacts.
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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Design and implement build and release pipelines — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-400 question test?
Design and implement build and release pipelines — This question tests Design and implement build and release pipelines — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Grant the Azure DevOps service principal 'Get' and 'List' permissions on the Key Vault. — Option C is correct because the Azure DevOps service principal (the identity used by Azure Pipelines) must be granted 'Get' and 'List' permissions on the Key Vault's access policy. This allows the pipeline to retrieve secret values securely without storing credentials in the repository or pipeline configuration. Without these permissions, any attempt to read secrets from the vault will fail with an authorization error.
What should I do if I get this AZ-400 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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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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