DA0-002 Data Acquisition and Preparation Practice Question
A data team needs to extract data from a legacy system that only supports flat file exports. Which data acquisition method is most appropriate?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse 'flat file exports' with a need for real-time or API-based methods, overlooking that SFTP is the standard secure file transfer protocol for batch-oriented legacy systems.
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
✓
File transfer via SFTP
The legacy system only supports flat file exports, meaning it cannot provide direct database or API access. SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) is the most appropriate method because it securely transfers flat files over a network, aligning with the system's export capabilities while ensuring data integrity and encryption during transit.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Database replication
Why it's wrong here
Database replication reads the source's binary log or change stream, which a legacy system exposing only flat file exports cannot provide. It is tempting because replication is the standard low-impact acquisition route, and it is correct when the source is a supported relational database with log access.
- ✗
API call
Why it's wrong here
An API call requires the legacy system to expose an HTTP endpoint returning structured data, which a flat-file-only export interface does not. It is tempting because APIs give incremental, near-real-time extraction, and that is the right method when the source publishes a documented interface.
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Web scraping
Why it's wrong here
Web scraping parses rendered HTML pages, but the legacy system delivers flat files rather than web content, so there is nothing to scrape. It is tempting because scraping handles sources lacking any formal interface, and it is correct when data is only published as web pages.
- ✓
File transfer via SFTP
Why this is correct
SFTP transfers the flat files the legacy system exports, satisfying the constraint that no direct database or API access exists. It preserves file integrity over an encrypted channel, so scheduled batch extraction works reliably without custom connectors.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This DA0-002 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA 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 DA0-002 exam.