Courseiva

DP-203 Practice Question: Secure, monitor, and optimize data storage and data processing

Exhibit

Refer to the exhibit.

{
  "identity": {
    "type": "UserAssigned",
    "userAssignedIdentities": {
      "/subscriptions/.../resourceGroups/rg1/providers/Microsoft.ManagedIdentity/userAssignedIdentities/mi-etl": {}
    }
  },
  "properties": {
    "linkedServices": [
      {
        "name": "ls_storage",
        "type": "AzureStorage",
        "typeProperties": {
          "connectionString": "DefaultEndpointsProtocol=https;AccountName=mystorage;AccountKey=mykey"
        }
      }
    ]
  }
}

Refer to the exhibit. You are reviewing a Data Factory JSON definition. The factory has a user-assigned managed identity configured. However, the linked service to Azure Storage uses an account key. What security improvement should you recommend?

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

Modify the linked service to use the managed identity for authentication

The recommended security improvement is to modify the linked service to use the managed identity for authentication (option B). The user-assigned managed identity is already configured but not being used; instead, the linked service is using an account key, which requires storing a secret. Using the managed identity eliminates the need for secrets and leverages Azure AD authentication, which is more secure and easier to manage. Option A (firewall rule) addresses network access but not authentication. Option C (remove managed identity and use service principal) would replace one identity-based approach with another, but the managed identity is already in place and should be utilized. Option D (store key in Key Vault) still involves storing a secret, which is less secure than using the managed identity directly when possible.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

  • Add a firewall rule to limit access to the storage account

    Why it's wrong here

    Firewall does not address the use of account key.

  • Modify the linked service to use the managed identity for authentication

    Why this is correct

    Managed identity eliminates the need for account key.

  • Remove the managed identity and use a service principal

    Why it's wrong here

    Managed identity is already more secure than service principal (no credential management).

  • Keep the account key but store it in Azure Key Vault

    Why it's wrong here

    Key Vault is better than hardcoding, but managed identity is even more secure.

About these practice questions

This DP-203 question is part of Courseiva's 760-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →

How Courseiva writes practice questions · Editorial policy

JA

Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security

Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva

This DP-203 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 DP-203 exam.