The correct answer is to create a custom RBAC role that includes read and write DataActions but explicitly excludes the delete DataAction, then assign that custom role to the service principal at the container scope. This is necessary because Azure RBAC built-in roles, like Storage Blob Data Contributor, are all-or-nothing at the permission level—you cannot selectively remove a single DataAction, such as delete, from a built-in role during assignment. The only way to grant write access without delete in ADLS Gen2 is to define a custom role that includes Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts/blobServices/containers/blobs/write while omitting the delete action, ensuring the service principal can write data but never delete blobs. On the DP-203 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of Azure RBAC granularity and the limitations of built-in roles; a common trap is assuming you can modify a built-in role at assignment time. Remember the memory tip: “Built-in is all-or-nothing; custom is pick-and-choose.”
DP-203 Design and implement data storage Practice Question
This DP-203 practice question tests your understanding of design and implement data storage. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
{
"RoleName": "Storage Blob Data Contributor",
"Type": "BuiltInRole",
"Description": "Allows for read, write, and delete access to Azure Storage containers and blobs.",
"Actions": [
"Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts/blobServices/containers/read",
"Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts/blobServices/containers/write",
"Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts/blobServices/containers/delete"
],
"NotActions": [],
"DataActions": [
"Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts/blobServices/containers/blobs/read",
"Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts/blobServices/containers/blobs/write",
"Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts/blobServices/containers/blobs/delete"
],
"NotDataActions": [],
"AssignableScopes": ["/subscriptions/..."]
}
You need to assign permissions to a service principal so that it can write data to a specific container in Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2, but not delete blobs. The above JSON shows the built-in role 'Storage Blob Data Contributor'. The role includes delete permission in DataActions. What should you do?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create a custom role that includes read and write DataActions but excludes the delete DataAction, then assign that custom role.
Option A is correct because Azure RBAC roles are all-or-nothing at the permission level; you cannot selectively remove a single DataAction from a built-in role at assignment time. The only way to grant write access without delete is to create a custom role that explicitly includes the required read and write DataActions (e.g., Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts/blobServices/containers/blobs/write) and omits the delete DataAction (Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts/blobServices/containers/blobs/delete). This custom role is then assigned to the service principal at the container scope, ensuring it can write data but never delete blobs.
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.
✓
Create a custom role that includes read and write DataActions but excludes the delete DataAction, then assign that custom role.
Why this is correct
Custom roles allow fine-grained control over permissions.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Assign the Storage Blob Data Contributor role and create a deny assignment that denies delete.
Why it's wrong here
A deny assignment would deny all delete actions, but it also affects other permissions if not scoped correctly.
✗
Assign the Storage Blob Data Contributor role and use ACLs to deny delete on the container.
Why it's wrong here
ACLs are for file-level permissions; role-based delete permission still applies.
✗
Assign the Storage Blob Data Contributor role and remove the delete permission at the role assignment scope.
Why it's wrong here
Role assignments cannot filter out actions; the role itself must be customized.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates mistakenly believe you can modify a built-in role's permissions at assignment time (Option D) or that ACLs can override RBAC permissions (Option C), when in reality Azure requires a custom role for such granular control.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Azure RBAC evaluates permissions using the union of all role assignments at the effective scope, and built-in roles are immutable JSON definitions. To achieve fine-grained exclusions, you must create a custom role with the exact set of allowed DataActions. In practice, this is critical for scenarios like ETL pipelines where a service principal must write landing-zone data but must never be able to delete source files, preventing accidental data loss.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this DP-203 question in full detail.
Design and implement data storage — This question tests Design and implement data storage — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a custom role that includes read and write DataActions but excludes the delete DataAction, then assign that custom role. — Option A is correct because Azure RBAC roles are all-or-nothing at the permission level; you cannot selectively remove a single DataAction from a built-in role at assignment time. The only way to grant write access without delete is to create a custom role that explicitly includes the required read and write DataActions (e.g., Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts/blobServices/containers/blobs/write) and omits the delete DataAction (Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts/blobServices/containers/blobs/delete). This custom role is then assigned to the service principal at the container scope, ensuring it can write data but never delete blobs.
What should I do if I get this DP-203 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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Question Discussion
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