- A
Configure the storage account firewall to allow access from the specific VNet, and disable 'Allow storage account key access'.
This restricts access to the VNet and disables key-based authorization, enforcing Azure AD authentication as required.
- B
Configure a private endpoint for the storage account and disable 'Allow storage account key access'.
Why wrong: A private endpoint provides connectivity from a VNet, but it also allows key-based access unless 'Allow storage account key access' is disabled. This option does not mention firewall rules; private endpoint alone does not block other VNets or on-premises unless the public endpoint is disabled. The requirement includes limiting access to a specific VNet, which the firewall handles.
- C
Configure the storage account firewall to deny all networks, and set 'Allow storage account key access' to 'Disabled'.
Why wrong: Denying all networks would block all access, including from the specific VNet. The requirement is to allow access from the VNet, so the firewall must include an allow rule for that VNet.
- D
Configure the storage account firewall to allow access from the specific VNet, and enable 'Require secure transfer' (HTTPS only).
Why wrong: Requiring HTTPS enforces encryption in transit, but does not block key or SAS access. The requirement is to use Azure AD authentication and block keys/SAS.
AZ-500 Secure compute, storage, and databases Practice Question
This AZ-500 practice question tests your understanding of secure compute, storage, and databases. 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.
A company uses Azure Blob Storage to store sensitive documents. The security policy requires that the storage account can only be accessed from a specific Azure virtual network (VNet) and that all access must use Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) authentication. They want to block any access that uses storage account keys or shared access signatures (SAS). Which configuration should they implement?
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
Configure the storage account firewall to allow access from the specific VNet, and disable 'Allow storage account key access'.
Option A is correct because it combines two essential controls: the storage account firewall restricts access to only the specified VNet, and disabling 'Allow storage account key access' enforces Azure AD authentication by blocking all requests that use account keys or SAS tokens. This ensures that only authenticated Azure AD identities from the allowed VNet can access the storage account, meeting the security policy requirements.
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.
- ✓
Configure the storage account firewall to allow access from the specific VNet, and disable 'Allow storage account key access'.
Why this is correct
This restricts access to the VNet and disables key-based authorization, enforcing Azure AD authentication as required.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Configure a private endpoint for the storage account and disable 'Allow storage account key access'.
Why it's wrong here
A private endpoint provides connectivity from a VNet, but it also allows key-based access unless 'Allow storage account key access' is disabled. This option does not mention firewall rules; private endpoint alone does not block other VNets or on-premises unless the public endpoint is disabled. The requirement includes limiting access to a specific VNet, which the firewall handles.
- ✗
Configure the storage account firewall to deny all networks, and set 'Allow storage account key access' to 'Disabled'.
Why it's wrong here
Denying all networks would block all access, including from the specific VNet. The requirement is to allow access from the VNet, so the firewall must include an allow rule for that VNet.
- ✗
Configure the storage account firewall to allow access from the specific VNet, and enable 'Require secure transfer' (HTTPS only).
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'Require secure transfer' (which only mandates HTTPS) with authentication enforcement, or assume that a private endpoint alone blocks key-based access, when in fact it only secures network connectivity.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The 'Allow storage account key access' setting is a property on the storage account that, when disabled, rejects any request that uses an account key or SAS token for authorization, forcing all requests to use Azure AD OAuth 2.0 tokens. The firewall rules operate at the network layer, filtering by source IP or VNet/subnet, and are evaluated before authentication; thus, combining VNet firewall rules with key access disabled ensures both network and identity controls are enforced. In practice, this configuration is often used for compliance with standards like PCI DSS or HIPAA, where shared secrets must be eliminated.
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 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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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Secure compute, storage, and databases — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-500 question test?
Secure compute, storage, and databases — This question tests Secure compute, storage, and databases — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure the storage account firewall to allow access from the specific VNet, and disable 'Allow storage account key access'. — Option A is correct because it combines two essential controls: the storage account firewall restricts access to only the specified VNet, and disabling 'Allow storage account key access' enforces Azure AD authentication by blocking all requests that use account keys or SAS tokens. This ensures that only authenticated Azure AD identities from the allowed VNet can access the storage account, meeting the security policy requirements.
What should I do if I get this AZ-500 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: Jun 11, 2026
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