- A
Azure Files
Correct. Azure Files provides fully managed SMB file shares that can be accessed by multiple VMs concurrently. This aligns with the requirement to avoid managing a file server.
- B
Azure Blob Storage
Why wrong: Incorrect. Azure Blob Storage is an object storage service for unstructured data (e.g., images, videos, backups). It does not natively support the SMB protocol and is not designed to be mounted as a file system by multiple VMs.
- C
Azure Managed Disks
Why wrong: Incorrect. Azure Managed Disks provide block-level storage volumes for a single virtual machine. They cannot be attached to multiple VMs simultaneously to share files; each disk is exclusive to one VM.
- D
Azure Queue Storage
Why wrong: Incorrect. Azure Queue Storage is a messaging service for asynchronous communication between application components. It does not provide file share capabilities and is not accessed via SMB.
Quick Answer
The answer is Azure Files, because it provides fully managed SMB file shares that multiple Azure virtual machines can mount simultaneously without requiring a file server. This service handles the underlying storage infrastructure, patching, and high availability, making it the ideal choice for migrating legacy applications that rely on the SMB protocol for network file shares. On the AZ-900 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of Azure’s managed storage services versus IaaS-based file servers; a common trap is confusing Azure Files with Azure Blob Storage, which does not support SMB protocol or concurrent VM mounting. Remember that Azure Files is the only fully managed service offering native SMB file shares for multiple VMs. A helpful memory tip: think “Files for SMB, Blobs for objects” — if the question mentions SMB protocol and shared drives, the answer is always Azure Files.
AZ-900 Describe Azure architecture and services Practice Question
This AZ-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe azure architecture and services. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 application to Azure. The application stores data on a network file share that is accessed using the SMB protocol. After migration, multiple Azure virtual machines must be able to mount the same file share simultaneously. The company wants a fully managed service that eliminates the need to maintain a file server. Which Azure storage service should the company use?
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 file shares that use the SMB protocol, allowing multiple Azure VMs to mount the same share simultaneously. It eliminates the need to maintain a file server because Microsoft handles the underlying infrastructure, patching, and high availability. This makes it the ideal choice for migrating legacy applications that rely on SMB-based network file shares.
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 Files
Why this is correct
Correct. Azure Files provides fully managed SMB file shares that can be accessed by multiple VMs concurrently. This aligns with the requirement to avoid managing a file server.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Azure Blob Storage
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Azure Blob Storage is an object storage service for unstructured data (e.g., images, videos, backups). It does not natively support the SMB protocol and is not designed to be mounted as a file system by multiple VMs.
- ✗
Azure Managed Disks
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Azure Managed Disks provide block-level storage volumes for a single virtual machine. They cannot be attached to multiple VMs simultaneously to share files; each disk is exclusive to one VM.
- ✗
Azure Queue Storage
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Azure Queue Storage is a messaging service for asynchronous communication between application components. It does not provide file share capabilities and is not accessed via SMB.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse Azure Blob Storage with file shares because both are 'storage in the cloud,' but Blob Storage does not natively support SMB protocol or simultaneous multi-VM mounting without additional configuration.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure Files supports both SMB 2.1 and SMB 3.0 protocols, with SMB 3.0 enabling encryption in transit and multichannel for improved performance. Under the hood, Azure Files uses a distributed file system layer that provides strong consistency and supports up to 100 TiB per share. In a real-world migration, you can map the Azure file share using the `net use` command on Windows VMs or mount it via `mount.cifs` on Linux VMs, and the service automatically handles failover to a secondary region if geo-redundant storage (GRS) is configured.
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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Describe Azure architecture and services — study guide chapter
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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 file shares that use the SMB protocol, allowing multiple Azure VMs to mount the same share simultaneously. It eliminates the need to maintain a file server because Microsoft handles the underlying infrastructure, patching, and high availability. This makes it the ideal choice for migrating legacy applications that rely on SMB-based network file shares.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on AZ-900
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. 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?
medium- A.Azure Blob Storage
- ✓ B.Azure Files
- C.Azure Disk Storage
- D.Azure NetApp Files
Why B: 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.
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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