diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/java/org/apache/asterix/test/external_dataset/ExternalDatasetTestUtils.java b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/java/org/apache/asterix/test/external_dataset/ExternalDatasetTestUtils.java
index 3c129b4..c064281 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/java/org/apache/asterix/test/external_dataset/ExternalDatasetTestUtils.java
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/java/org/apache/asterix/test/external_dataset/ExternalDatasetTestUtils.java
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
  */
 package org.apache.asterix.test.external_dataset;
 
-import static org.apache.asterix.test.external_dataset.aws.AwsS3ExternalDatasetTest.*;
+import static org.apache.asterix.test.external_dataset.aws.AwsS3ExternalDatasetTest.FIXED_DATA_CONTAINER;
 
 import java.io.BufferedWriter;
 import java.io.FileWriter;
@@ -344,4 +344,4 @@
         mixedDataLoader.upload(MIXED_DEFINITION + "json/NO-EXTENSION/" + "goodbye-world-2019", "{\"id\":" + 5 + "}");
         mixedDataLoader.upload(MIXED_DEFINITION + "json/NO-EXTENSION/" + "goodbye-world-2020", "{\"id\":" + 6 + "}");
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/java/org/apache/asterix/test/external_dataset/microsoft/AzureBlobStorageExternalDatasetTest.java b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/java/org/apache/asterix/test/external_dataset/microsoft/AzureBlobStorageExternalDatasetTest.java
index 8372d87..2d41686 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/java/org/apache/asterix/test/external_dataset/microsoft/AzureBlobStorageExternalDatasetTest.java
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/java/org/apache/asterix/test/external_dataset/microsoft/AzureBlobStorageExternalDatasetTest.java
@@ -66,11 +66,13 @@
 import com.azure.storage.blob.BlobContainerClient;
 import com.azure.storage.blob.BlobServiceClient;
 import com.azure.storage.blob.BlobServiceClientBuilder;
+import com.azure.storage.blob.models.PublicAccessType;
 import com.azure.storage.common.sas.AccountSasPermission;
 import com.azure.storage.common.sas.AccountSasResourceType;
 import com.azure.storage.common.sas.AccountSasService;
 import com.azure.storage.common.sas.AccountSasSignatureValues;
 
+// TODO(Hussain): Need to run the test manually to ensure new tests (anonymous access) are working fine
 @Ignore
 @RunWith(Parameterized.class)
 @FixMethodOrder(MethodSorters.NAME_ASCENDING)
@@ -100,6 +102,7 @@
     private static final String PLAYGROUND_CONTAINER = "playground";
     private static final String FIXED_DATA_CONTAINER = "fixed-data"; // Do not use, has fixed data
     private static final String INCLUDE_EXCLUDE_CONTAINER = "include-exclude";
+    private static final String PUBLIC_ACCESS_CONTAINER = "public-access-container"; // requires no authentication
     private static final String JSON_DEFINITION = "json-data/reviews/";
     private static final String CSV_DEFINITION = "csv-data/reviews/";
     private static final String TSV_DEFINITION = "tsv-data/reviews/";
@@ -116,6 +119,7 @@
             + "BlobEndpoint=" + BLOB_SERVICE_ENDPOINT + "/devstoreaccount1;";
     private static BlobServiceClient blobServiceClient;
     private static BlobContainerClient playgroundContainer;
+    private static BlobContainerClient publicAccessContainer;
 
     protected TestCaseContext tcCtx;
 
@@ -195,6 +199,8 @@
 
         LOGGER.info("creating container " + PLAYGROUND_CONTAINER);
         playgroundContainer = blobServiceClient.createBlobContainer(PLAYGROUND_CONTAINER);
+        publicAccessContainer = blobServiceClient.createBlobContainer(PUBLIC_ACCESS_CONTAINER);
+        publicAccessContainer.setAccessPolicy(PublicAccessType.CONTAINER, null);
         LOGGER.info("container " + PLAYGROUND_CONTAINER + " created successfully");
 
         LOGGER.info("Adding JSON files");
@@ -342,6 +348,7 @@
 
         // Load the data
         playgroundContainer.getBlobClient(basePath + finalFileName).uploadFromFile(filePath.toString());
+        publicAccessContainer.getBlobClient(basePath + finalFileName).uploadFromFile(filePath.toString());
         if (copyToSubLevels) {
             playgroundContainer.getBlobClient(basePath + "level1a/" + finalFileName)
                     .uploadFromFile(filePath.toString());
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/external-dataset/azure_blob_storage/auth-methods/anonymous-no-auth-no-endpoint/test.000.ddl.sqlpp b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/external-dataset/azure_blob_storage/auth-methods/anonymous-no-auth-no-endpoint/test.000.ddl.sqlpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d6bc862
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/external-dataset/azure_blob_storage/auth-methods/anonymous-no-auth-no-endpoint/test.000.ddl.sqlpp
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+/*
+ * Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements.  See the NOTICE file
+ * distributed with this work for additional information
+ * regarding copyright ownership.  The ASF licenses this file
+ * to you under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the
+ * "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance
+ * with the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *   http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing,
+ * software distributed under the License is distributed on an
+ * "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY
+ * KIND, either express or implied.  See the License for the
+ * specific language governing permissions and limitations
+ * under the License.
+ */
+
+drop dataverse test if exists;
+create dataverse test;
+use test;
+
+drop type test if exists;
+create type test as open {
+};
+
+// bad case: no auth method and no endpoint provided
+drop dataset test if exists;
+CREATE EXTERNAL DATASET test(test) USING AZUREBLOB (
+("container"="playground"),
+("definition"="json-data/reviews/single-line/json"),
+("format"="json")
+);
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/external-dataset/azure_blob_storage/auth-methods/invalid-no-auth/test.099.ddl.sqlpp b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/external-dataset/azure_blob_storage/auth-methods/anonymous-no-auth-no-endpoint/test.099.ddl.sqlpp
similarity index 100%
rename from asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/external-dataset/azure_blob_storage/auth-methods/invalid-no-auth/test.099.ddl.sqlpp
rename to asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/external-dataset/azure_blob_storage/auth-methods/anonymous-no-auth-no-endpoint/test.099.ddl.sqlpp
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/external-dataset/azure_blob_storage/auth-methods/anonymous-no-auth-public-access-allowed/test.000.ddl.sqlpp b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/external-dataset/azure_blob_storage/auth-methods/anonymous-no-auth-public-access-allowed/test.000.ddl.sqlpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..598831e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/external-dataset/azure_blob_storage/auth-methods/anonymous-no-auth-public-access-allowed/test.000.ddl.sqlpp
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+/*
+ * Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements.  See the NOTICE file
+ * distributed with this work for additional information
+ * regarding copyright ownership.  The ASF licenses this file
+ * to you under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the
+ * "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance
+ * with the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *   http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing,
+ * software distributed under the License is distributed on an
+ * "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY
+ * KIND, either express or implied.  See the License for the
+ * specific language governing permissions and limitations
+ * under the License.
+ */
+
+drop dataverse test if exists;
+create dataverse test;
+use test;
+
+drop type test if exists;
+create type test as open {
+};
+
+drop dataset test if exists;
+CREATE EXTERNAL DATASET test(test) USING AZUREBLOB (
+("blobEndpoint"="%azureblob-endpoint%"),
+("container"="public-access"),
+("definition"="json-data/reviews/single-line/json"),
+("format"="json")
+);
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/external-dataset/azure_blob_storage/auth-methods/anonymous-no-auth-public-access-allowed/test.001.query.sqlpp b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/external-dataset/azure_blob_storage/auth-methods/anonymous-no-auth-public-access-allowed/test.001.query.sqlpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8ec9cc0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/external-dataset/azure_blob_storage/auth-methods/anonymous-no-auth-public-access-allowed/test.001.query.sqlpp
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+/*
+ * Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements.  See the NOTICE file
+ * distributed with this work for additional information
+ * regarding copyright ownership.  The ASF licenses this file
+ * to you under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the
+ * "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance
+ * with the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *   http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing,
+ * software distributed under the License is distributed on an
+ * "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY
+ * KIND, either express or implied.  See the License for the
+ * specific language governing permissions and limitations
+ * under the License.
+ */
+
+use test;
+select count(*) `count` from test;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/external-dataset/azure_blob_storage/auth-methods/invalid-no-auth/test.099.ddl.sqlpp b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/external-dataset/azure_blob_storage/auth-methods/anonymous-no-auth-public-access-allowed/test.099.ddl.sqlpp
similarity index 100%
copy from asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/external-dataset/azure_blob_storage/auth-methods/invalid-no-auth/test.099.ddl.sqlpp
copy to asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/external-dataset/azure_blob_storage/auth-methods/anonymous-no-auth-public-access-allowed/test.099.ddl.sqlpp
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/external-dataset/azure_blob_storage/auth-methods/invalid-no-auth/test.000.ddl.sqlpp b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/external-dataset/azure_blob_storage/auth-methods/anonymous-no-auth-public-access-not-allowed/test.000.ddl.sqlpp
similarity index 100%
rename from asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/external-dataset/azure_blob_storage/auth-methods/invalid-no-auth/test.000.ddl.sqlpp
rename to asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/external-dataset/azure_blob_storage/auth-methods/anonymous-no-auth-public-access-not-allowed/test.000.ddl.sqlpp
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/external-dataset/azure_blob_storage/auth-methods/anonymous-no-auth-public-access-not-allowed/test.001.query.sqlpp b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/external-dataset/azure_blob_storage/auth-methods/anonymous-no-auth-public-access-not-allowed/test.001.query.sqlpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8ec9cc0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/external-dataset/azure_blob_storage/auth-methods/anonymous-no-auth-public-access-not-allowed/test.001.query.sqlpp
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+/*
+ * Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements.  See the NOTICE file
+ * distributed with this work for additional information
+ * regarding copyright ownership.  The ASF licenses this file
+ * to you under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the
+ * "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance
+ * with the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *   http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing,
+ * software distributed under the License is distributed on an
+ * "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY
+ * KIND, either express or implied.  See the License for the
+ * specific language governing permissions and limitations
+ * under the License.
+ */
+
+use test;
+select count(*) `count` from test;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/external-dataset/azure_blob_storage/auth-methods/invalid-no-auth/test.099.ddl.sqlpp b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/external-dataset/azure_blob_storage/auth-methods/anonymous-no-auth-public-access-not-allowed/test.099.ddl.sqlpp
similarity index 100%
copy from asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/external-dataset/azure_blob_storage/auth-methods/invalid-no-auth/test.099.ddl.sqlpp
copy to asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/external-dataset/azure_blob_storage/auth-methods/anonymous-no-auth-public-access-not-allowed/test.099.ddl.sqlpp
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/external-dataset/azure_blob_storage/auth-methods/anonymous-no-auth-public-access-allowed/result.001.adm b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/external-dataset/azure_blob_storage/auth-methods/anonymous-no-auth-public-access-allowed/result.001.adm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..187a8cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/external-dataset/azure_blob_storage/auth-methods/anonymous-no-auth-public-access-allowed/result.001.adm
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{ "count": 100 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/testsuite_external_dataset_azure_blob_storage.xml b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/testsuite_external_dataset_azure_blob_storage.xml
index 1e302da..27ba148 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/testsuite_external_dataset_azure_blob_storage.xml
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/testsuite_external_dataset_azure_blob_storage.xml
@@ -68,9 +68,20 @@
       </compilation-unit>
     </test-case>
     <test-case FilePath="external-dataset/azure_blob_storage/auth-methods">
-      <compilation-unit name="invalid-no-auth">
-        <output-dir compare="Text">invalid-no-auth</output-dir>
-        <expected-error>ASX1134: No authentication parameters provided</expected-error>
+      <compilation-unit name="anonymous-no-auth-public-access-allowed">
+        <output-dir compare="Text">anonymous-no-auth-public-access-allowed</output-dir>
+      </compilation-unit>
+    </test-case>
+    <test-case FilePath="external-dataset/azure_blob_storage/auth-methods">
+      <compilation-unit name="anonymous-no-auth-public-access-not-allowed">
+        <output-dir compare="Text">anonymous-no-auth-public-access-not-allowed</output-dir>
+        <expected-error>Server failed to authenticate the request. Make sure the value of the Authorization header is formed correctly including the signature.</expected-error>
+      </compilation-unit>
+    </test-case>
+    <test-case FilePath="external-dataset/azure_blob_storage/auth-methods">
+      <compilation-unit name="anonymous-no-auth-no-endpoint">
+        <output-dir compare="Text">anonymous-no-auth-no-endpoint</output-dir>
+        <expected-error>ASX1151: No authentication credentials provided, 'blobEndpoint' field is required for anonymous access</expected-error>
       </compilation-unit>
     </test-case>
   </test-group>
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-common/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/common/exceptions/ErrorCode.java b/asterixdb/asterix-common/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/common/exceptions/ErrorCode.java
index 4078ea2..e80dbfb 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-common/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/common/exceptions/ErrorCode.java
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-common/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/common/exceptions/ErrorCode.java
@@ -235,6 +235,7 @@
     CANNOT_DROP_OBJECT_DEPENDENT_EXISTS(1148),
     ILLEGAL_FUNCTION_RECURSION(1149),
     ILLEGAL_FUNCTION_USE(1150),
+    NO_AUTH_PROVIDED_ENDPOINT_REQUIRED_FOR_ANONYMOUS_ACCESS(1151),
 
     // Feed errors
     DATAFLOW_ILLEGAL_STATE(3001),
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-common/src/main/resources/asx_errormsg/en.properties b/asterixdb/asterix-common/src/main/resources/asx_errormsg/en.properties
index 18898bb..cd4a289 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-common/src/main/resources/asx_errormsg/en.properties
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-common/src/main/resources/asx_errormsg/en.properties
@@ -237,6 +237,7 @@
 1148 = Cannot drop %1$s %2$s being used by %3$s %4$s
 1149 = Illegal function recursion
 1150 = Illegal use of function %1$s
+1151 = No authentication credentials provided, '%1$s' field is required for anonymous access
 
 # Feed Errors
 3001 = Illegal state.
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-external-data/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/external/util/ExternalDataUtils.java b/asterixdb/asterix-external-data/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/external/util/ExternalDataUtils.java
index 8e94263..7872cef 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-external-data/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/external/util/ExternalDataUtils.java
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-external-data/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/external/util/ExternalDataUtils.java
@@ -899,7 +899,7 @@
             String blobEndpoint = configuration.get(BLOB_ENDPOINT_FIELD_NAME);
             String endpointSuffix = configuration.get(ENDPOINT_SUFFIX_FIELD_NAME);
 
-            // Constructor the connection string
+            // Construct the connection string
             // Connection string format: name1=value1;name2=value2;....
             StringBuilder connectionStringBuilder = new StringBuilder();
             BlobServiceClientBuilder builder = new BlobServiceClientBuilder();
@@ -926,17 +926,12 @@
                 if (authMethodFound) {
                     throw new CompilationException(ErrorCode.ONLY_SINGLE_AUTHENTICATION_IS_ALLOWED);
                 }
-                authMethodFound = true;
                 // account name + shared access token
                 connectionStringBuilder.append(CONNECTION_STRING_ACCOUNT_NAME).append("=").append(accountName)
                         .append(";").append(CONNECTION_STRING_SHARED_ACCESS_SIGNATURE).append("=")
                         .append(sharedAccessSignature).append(";");
             }
 
-            if (!authMethodFound) {
-                throw new CompilationException(ErrorCode.NO_AUTH_METHOD_PROVIDED);
-            }
-
             // Add blobEndpoint and endpointSuffix if present, adjust any '/' as needed
             if (blobEndpoint != null) {
                 connectionStringBuilder.append(CONNECTION_STRING_BLOB_ENDPOINT).append("=").append(blobEndpoint)
@@ -954,6 +949,12 @@
                 }
             }
 
+            // No credentials or endpoint provided
+            if (connectionStringBuilder.length() == 0) {
+                throw new CompilationException(ErrorCode.NO_AUTH_PROVIDED_ENDPOINT_REQUIRED_FOR_ANONYMOUS_ACCESS,
+                        BLOB_ENDPOINT_FIELD_NAME);
+            }
+
             try {
                 return builder.connectionString(connectionStringBuilder.toString()).buildClient();
             } catch (Exception ex) {