- A
Store storage account keys in Azure Key Vault and retrieve them in notebooks.
Why wrong: Keys still provide broad access.
- B
Use shared access keys and restrict their usage.
Why wrong: Shared keys provide full access and are less secure.
- C
Use Azure RBAC to grant specific storage account permissions to the Azure Databricks managed identity.
RBAC provides fine-grained access control using managed identities.
- D
Disable public network access on storage accounts.
Why wrong: This doesn't differentiate between jobs.
Question 404 of 851
DP-203 Practice Question: Secure, monitor, and optimize data storage and data processing
This DP-203 practice question tests your understanding of secure, monitor, and optimize data storage and data processing. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
Your company uses Azure Databricks for data processing. You need to ensure that spark jobs cannot access certain storage accounts. What is the most secure approach?
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
✓
Use Azure RBAC to grant specific storage account permissions to the Azure Databricks managed identity.
The most secure approach is to use Azure RBAC to grant specific storage account permissions to the Azure Databricks managed identity. This follows the principle of least privilege by granting only the required permissions to the identity used by the spark jobs. Option A is less secure because storing keys in Key Vault still requires managing secrets and the keys provide broad access. Option B (shared access keys) also provides broad access and is not recommended. Option D (disabling public network access) controls network-level access but does not prevent access from authorized networks or services that are allowed; it does not specifically restrict spark job access within Databricks. Therefore, option C is the most secure and best practice.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
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 storage account keys in Azure Key Vault and retrieve them in notebooks.
Why it's wrong here
Keys still provide broad access.
- ✗
Use shared access keys and restrict their usage.
Why it's wrong here
Shared keys provide full access and are less secure.
- ✓
Use Azure RBAC to grant specific storage account permissions to the Azure Databricks managed identity.
Why this is correct
RBAC provides fine-grained access control using managed identities.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
- ✗
Disable public network access on storage accounts.
Why it's wrong here
This doesn't differentiate between jobs.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Authentication checks who the user is.
- Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
- Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
- AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
- Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
- Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
- Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
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.
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related DP-203 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DP-203 question test?
Secure, monitor, and optimize data storage and data processing — This question tests Secure, monitor, and optimize data storage and data processing — Authentication checks who the user is..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use Azure RBAC to grant specific storage account permissions to the Azure Databricks managed identity. — The most secure approach is to use Azure RBAC to grant specific storage account permissions to the Azure Databricks managed identity. This follows the principle of least privilege by granting only the required permissions to the identity used by the spark jobs. Option A is less secure because storing keys in Key Vault still requires managing secrets and the keys provide broad access. Option B (shared access keys) also provides broad access and is not recommended. Option D (disabling public network access) controls network-level access but does not prevent access from authorized networks or services that are allowed; it does not specifically restrict spark job access within Databricks. Therefore, option C is the most secure and best practice.
What should I do if I get this DP-203 question wrong?
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related DP-203 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Authentication checks who the user is.
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Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
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