Quick Answer
The answer is Storage Blob Data Contributor with ACLs at the folder level. This combination works because Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 supports POSIX-like access control lists (ACLs) that can be applied directly to individual directories and files, overriding the broader permissions granted by an RBAC role. While the Storage Blob Data Contributor role at the storage account level provides full data-plane access, ACL entries on a specific folder allow you to restrict read and write permissions to only that folder, leaving other folders in the same container untouched. On the DP-203 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how RBAC and ACLs interact in a hierarchical namespace—a common trap is assuming a role alone can scope to a folder, but RBAC roles only apply at the container or account level. Remember the key distinction: RBAC controls the plane, ACLs control the path. Memory tip: “RBAC for the big map, ACLs for the exact spot.”
This DP-203 practice question tests your understanding of design and implement data storage. 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 uses Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 with a hierarchical namespace. They need to secure access to specific directories using RBAC roles. Which RBAC role should be assigned to a user to grant read and write access to a specific folder without giving access to other folders in the same container?
Storage Account Contributor
Why wrong: Management access, not data access.
Storage Blob Data Contributor with ACLs at folder level
Grants read/write to specific folder.
Storage Blob Data Reader
Why wrong: Read-only access.
Storage Blob Data Owner
Why wrong: Grants full access including ACL management, too broad.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Storage Blob Data Contributor with ACLs at folder level
Option B is correct because Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 supports POSIX-like access control lists (ACLs) at the directory and file level. Assigning the Storage Blob Data Contributor role at the storage account level grants broad data-plane access, but when combined with ACL entries on a specific folder, you can restrict read and write permissions to only that folder. This allows granular security without affecting other folders in the same container.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Storage Account Contributor
Why it's wrong here
Management access, not data access.
Storage Blob Data Contributor with ACLs at folder level
Why this is correct
Grants read/write to specific folder.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Storage Blob Data Reader
Why it's wrong here
Read-only access.
Storage Blob Data Owner
Why it's wrong here
Grants full access including ACL management, too broad.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often assume RBAC roles alone can be scoped to a folder level, but in Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2, RBAC roles apply to the entire storage account or container, and folder-level security requires ACLs.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 uses a two-layer authorization model: Azure RBAC roles control coarse-grained access (e.g., entire storage account or container), while POSIX ACLs (set via the `az storage fs access set` command or REST API) provide fine-grained permissions on directories and files. A common real-world scenario is a data lake with multiple departments sharing one container; by assigning Storage Blob Data Contributor at the account level and then applying ACL entries (e.g., `default:user:<objectId>:rwx`) on a department-specific folder, you ensure users can only access their own data without seeing other folders.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Design and implement data storage — This question tests Design and implement data storage — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Storage Blob Data Contributor with ACLs at folder level — Option B is correct because Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 supports POSIX-like access control lists (ACLs) at the directory and file level. Assigning the Storage Blob Data Contributor role at the storage account level grants broad data-plane access, but when combined with ACL entries on a specific folder, you can restrict read and write permissions to only that folder. This allows granular security without affecting other folders in the same container.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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