When deploying a multi-tier application with an Azure Resource Manager template, which mechanism prevents the user performing the deployment from viewing account credentials and connection strings used by the application?

Azure Key Vault is the correct mechanism because it is designed to securely store and manage sensitive information like API keys, passwords, certificates, and connection strings. By integrating Key Vault with your ARM templates, you can reference secrets without exposing them directly in the template or source control, preventing unauthorized access during deployment. A Web.config file and an appsettings.json file are configuration files that would store credentials directly within the application's deployment package, making them visible to anyone with access to the package. An Azure Storage table is a data storage service, not a secure credential management solution, and would expose credentials if not properly secured with additional mechanisms. An Azure Resource Manager parameter file is used to pass values to an ARM template, but storing sensitive credentials directly in this file would also expose them.