The answer is Azure Data Lake Storage, Azure Synapse Analytics, and Microsoft Purview. This combination directly addresses the need for a scalable raw data lake, low-latency real-time querying, and complex batch analytics with Spark, while the unified data governance layer from Purview provides automated cataloging and lineage tracking across the entire platform. On the AZ-305 exam, this scenario tests your ability to select services that minimize operational overhead by leveraging native integrations rather than stitching together disparate tools; a common trap is choosing HDInsight or Databricks without recognizing that Synapse already provides both serverless and dedicated SQL pools plus Spark pools under one managed service. Remember the memory tip: “Lake, Synapse, Purview” — think of a lake with a synapse (brain) that keeps everything pure and visible.
AZ-305 Design infrastructure solutions Practice Question
This AZ-305 practice question tests your understanding of design infrastructure solutions. 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.
A large enterprise is designing a data analytics platform in Azure that will ingest terabytes of data daily from multiple sources, including IoT devices, social media feeds, and internal databases. The data must be stored in a raw format for future processing, and then transformed and aggregated for reporting. The company requires low-latency querying for real-time dashboards and the ability to run complex batch analytics using Spark. The solution must also provide a unified data governance layer for cataloging and lineage tracking. Which combination of Azure services should the company choose to meet all these requirements with minimal operational overhead?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Azure Data Lake Storage, Azure Synapse Analytics, and Microsoft Purview
Option A (Azure Data Lake Storage + Azure Synapse Analytics + Azure Purview) provides a scalable data lake, unified analytics, and data governance. Option B (Azure Blob Storage + Azure HDInsight + Azure Data Factory) requires more management. Option C (Azure Cosmos DB + Azure Stream Analytics + Azure Analysis Services) is not suitable for batch analytics with Spark. Option D (Azure SQL Database + Azure Databricks + Azure Data Catalog) lacks a data lake for raw storage. The best answer is A because it includes ADLS for raw storage, Synapse for both real-time and batch analytics, and Purview for governance.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Azure Cosmos DB, Azure Stream Analytics, and Azure Analysis Services
Why it's wrong here
Cosmos DB is not designed for raw storage of terabytes of data; Stream Analytics is for streaming, not batch analytics.
✗
Azure Blob Storage, Azure HDInsight, and Azure Data Factory
Why it's wrong here
HDInsight requires more management overhead and lacks native real-time querying.
✗
Azure SQL Database, Azure Databricks, and Azure Data Catalog
Why it's wrong here
SQL Database is not suitable for storing raw data at scale; Data Catalog is less feature-rich than Purview.
✓
Azure Data Lake Storage, Azure Synapse Analytics, and Microsoft Purview
Why this is correct
ADLS stores raw data, Synapse provides real-time querying and Spark-based batch analytics, and Purview provides data cataloging and lineage.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this AZ-305 question in full detail.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related AZ-305 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Design infrastructure solutions — This question tests Design infrastructure solutions — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Azure Data Lake Storage, Azure Synapse Analytics, and Microsoft Purview — Option A (Azure Data Lake Storage + Azure Synapse Analytics + Azure Purview) provides a scalable data lake, unified analytics, and data governance. Option B (Azure Blob Storage + Azure HDInsight + Azure Data Factory) requires more management. Option C (Azure Cosmos DB + Azure Stream Analytics + Azure Analysis Services) is not suitable for batch analytics with Spark. Option D (Azure SQL Database + Azure Databricks + Azure Data Catalog) lacks a data lake for raw storage. The best answer is A because it includes ADLS for raw storage, Synapse for both real-time and batch analytics, and Purview for governance.
What should I do if I get this AZ-305 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related AZ-305 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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