Quick Answer
The answer is Azure Storage analytics logs and Azure Monitor diagnostic settings. Storage analytics logs are the native auditing mechanism for Azure Storage, capturing detailed data on every successful and failed request made to blobs, queues, tables, and files, including timestamps and authentication details. Azure Monitor diagnostic settings extend this by allowing you to stream those same logs to a Log Analytics workspace for centralized querying and long-term retention, which is essential for compliance auditing. On the DP-203 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between auditing tools and security or governance controls—a common trap is confusing Azure Policy (which enforces rules) or RBAC (which manages permissions) with actual logging. Remember the memory tip: “Logs for logs, Policy for rules, RBAC for roles”—if you need to see who did what and when, you need storage analytics logs and diagnostic settings.
This DP-203 practice question tests your understanding of secure, monitor, and optimize data storage and data processing. 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.
Which TWO features can be used to audit access to data in Azure Storage? (Choose two.)
Azure Monitor diagnostic settings
Sends logs to Log Analytics for querying
Azure Storage analytics logs
Logs detailed request information
Azure RBAC role assignments
Why wrong: Controls access, does not audit
Azure Policy
Why wrong: Used for governance, not auditing
Microsoft Defender for Cloud
Why wrong: Provides threat detection, not audit logs
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Azure Monitor diagnostic settings
Options A and D are correct. Option A: Storage analytics logs capture successful and failed requests. Option D: Azure Monitor diagnostic settings can send logs to Log Analytics for auditing. Option B is wrong because Azure Policy enforces compliance, not auditing. Option C is wrong because Microsoft Defender for Cloud provides security alerts, not detailed access logs. Option E is wrong because Azure RBAC is for access control, not auditing.
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.
Azure Monitor diagnostic settings
Why this is correct
Sends logs to Log Analytics for querying
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Azure Storage analytics logs
Why this is correct
Logs detailed request information
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Azure RBAC role assignments
Why it's wrong here
Controls access, does not audit
Azure Policy
Why it's wrong here
Used for governance, not auditing
Microsoft Defender for Cloud
Why it's wrong here
Provides threat detection, not audit logs
Common exam traps
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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
Identify which DP-203 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Secure, monitor, and optimize data storage and data processing — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Secure, monitor, and optimize data storage and data processing — This question tests Secure, monitor, and optimize data storage and data processing — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Azure Monitor diagnostic settings — Options A and D are correct. Option A: Storage analytics logs capture successful and failed requests. Option D: Azure Monitor diagnostic settings can send logs to Log Analytics for auditing. Option B is wrong because Azure Policy enforces compliance, not auditing. Option C is wrong because Microsoft Defender for Cloud provides security alerts, not detailed access logs. Option E is wrong because Azure RBAC is for access control, not auditing.
Identify which DP-203 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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
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. Which TWO Azure services can be used to audit data access and changes in Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2? (Choose two.)
easyWhy C: Options B and C are correct. Diagnostic settings in storage accounts capture logs, and Azure Monitor integrates with Microsoft Sentinel for security monitoring. Option A is wrong because Azure Policy is for compliance, not auditing data access. Option D is wrong because Microsoft Entra ID is for identity, not logging. Option E is wrong because Azure Backup is for data protection, not auditing.
Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
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.
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