- A
Azure Blob Storage
Why wrong: Azure Blob Storage is designed for unstructured object data (e.g., images, backups, logs) and does not natively support the SMB protocol required for simultaneous mounting by multiple VMs via a file system. While it can be accessed via REST APIs or with third-party tools, it is not the correct choice for a shared SMB file system in this scenario.
- B
Azure Files
Azure Files offers fully managed file shares accessible via the SMB protocol. Multiple VMs can mount the same file share concurrently, and Azure File Sync enables hybrid access by caching files on on-premises servers. This service meets all the requirements while minimizing operational overhead.
- C
Azure Disk Storage
Why wrong: Azure Disk Storage provides persistent block storage for VMs, but each disk can be attached to only one VM at a time (unless using shared disks, which have limitations and are not designed for general-purpose SMB file sharing). It does not support simultaneous mounting by multiple servers as a shared file system.
- D
Azure NetApp Files
Why wrong: Azure NetApp Files is a high-performance, enterprise-grade file service that supports SMB and NFS protocols. While it could technically fulfill the requirement, it introduces greater complexity and cost compared to Azure Files. For a basic shared file system with minimal management overhead, Azure Files is the simpler and more appropriate choice.
AZ-900 Describe Azure architecture and services Practice Question
This AZ-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe azure architecture and services. 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 is migrating a legacy on-premises application to Azure. The application runs on multiple Windows Server virtual machines and requires a shared file system that multiple servers can mount simultaneously using the SMB protocol. The data must also be accessible from on-premises servers in a hybrid configuration. The IT team wants to minimize management overhead and avoid provisioning additional servers solely for file sharing. Which Azure service should they use?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"minimum / minimize"Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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 Files
Azure Files provides fully managed SMB file shares that can be mounted simultaneously by multiple Windows Server VMs, both in Azure and on-premises, without needing to provision or manage a dedicated file server. It supports the SMB 3.0 protocol required for hybrid access and offers low management overhead through a serverless, PaaS-based file share service.
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 Blob Storage
Why it's wrong here
Azure Blob Storage is designed for unstructured object data (e.g., images, backups, logs) and does not natively support the SMB protocol required for simultaneous mounting by multiple VMs via a file system. While it can be accessed via REST APIs or with third-party tools, it is not the correct choice for a shared SMB file system in this scenario.
- ✓
Azure Files
Why this is correct
Azure Files offers fully managed file shares accessible via the SMB protocol. Multiple VMs can mount the same file share concurrently, and Azure File Sync enables hybrid access by caching files on on-premises servers. This service meets all the requirements while minimizing operational overhead.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Azure Disk Storage
Why it's wrong here
Azure Disk Storage provides persistent block storage for VMs, but each disk can be attached to only one VM at a time (unless using shared disks, which have limitations and are not designed for general-purpose SMB file sharing). It does not support simultaneous mounting by multiple servers as a shared file system.
- ✗
Azure NetApp Files
Why it's wrong here
Azure NetApp Files is a high-performance, enterprise-grade file service that supports SMB and NFS protocols. While it could technically fulfill the requirement, it introduces greater complexity and cost compared to Azure Files. For a basic shared file system with minimal management overhead, Azure Files is the simpler and more appropriate choice.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Azure Blob Storage (object storage) with a file share service, overlooking that Blob Storage does not support SMB protocol or simultaneous multi-VM mounting, while Azure Files is the only option that provides a fully managed, SMB-based file share accessible from both Azure and on-premises.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
Azure Blob Storage is designed for unstructured object data (e.g., images, backups, logs) and does not natively support the SMB protocol required for simultaneous mounting by multiple VMs via a file system. While it can be accessed via REST APIs or with third-party tools, it is not the correct choice for a shared SMB file system in this scenario.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure Files uses the SMB 3.0 protocol with encryption in transit, which is required for hybrid scenarios to securely mount shares from on-premises over the internet or VPN. Under the hood, Azure Files is built on Azure Storage accounts and can leverage Azure File Sync to cache frequently accessed files on-premises, reducing latency and bandwidth usage. A real-world scenario is a legacy line-of-business application that expects a UNC path (e.g., \\storageaccount.file.core.windows.net\share) for shared configuration files across web farm VMs.
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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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-900 question test?
Describe Azure architecture and services — This question tests Describe Azure architecture and services — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Azure Files — Azure Files provides fully managed SMB file shares that can be mounted simultaneously by multiple Windows Server VMs, both in Azure and on-premises, without needing to provision or manage a dedicated file server. It supports the SMB 3.0 protocol required for hybrid access and offers low management overhead through a serverless, PaaS-based file share service.
What should I do if I get this AZ-900 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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
This AZ-900 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the AZ-900 exam.
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