The answer is Azure Data Factory. This is the correct choice because Azure Data Factory is a cloud-based ETL and data integration service purpose-built for automated data ingestion from diverse sources, including SaaS applications like Salesforce and ServiceNow, into Azure data stores such as Azure SQL Database or Azure Data Lake Storage. It provides pre-built connectors that enable scheduled or event-triggered data movement without custom code. On the AZ-900 exam, this tests your understanding of core Azure data integration services, often appearing as a scenario-based question where you must identify the tool for moving data from external SaaS platforms into Azure. A common trap is confusing Azure Data Factory with Azure Logic Apps, which is more for workflow automation rather than large-scale ETL. Remember the memory tip: if the task involves extracting and loading data from a SaaS app into Azure, think “Factory” for building data pipelines.
AZ-900 Describe Azure architecture and services Practice Question
This AZ-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe azure architecture and services. 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 Azure service provides a way to automatically extract and load data from external SaaS applications like Salesforce and ServiceNow into Azure data stores?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Azure Data Factory
Azure Data Factory (ADF) is the correct answer because it is a cloud-based ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) and data integration service specifically designed to ingest data from a wide variety of sources—including SaaS applications like Salesforce and ServiceNow—and load it into Azure data stores such as Azure SQL Database, Azure Data Lake Storage, or Azure Synapse Analytics. ADF provides built-in connectors for these SaaS platforms, enabling automated, scheduled, or event-triggered data movement without requiring custom code.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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 Logic Apps
Why it's wrong here
Logic Apps orchestrates business workflows and can connect to SaaS apps; Data Factory is the dedicated ETL/data integration service.
✓
Azure Data Factory
Why this is correct
Data Factory has 90+ connectors for extracting data from SaaS apps (Salesforce, ServiceNow) into Azure data stores.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Azure Event Grid subscriptions
Why it's wrong here
Event Grid routes events; Data Factory handles scheduled data extraction and loading.
✗
Azure Service Bus
Why it's wrong here
Service Bus handles messaging; Data Factory orchestrates data movement from SaaS sources.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse Azure Logic Apps (a workflow/API integration tool) with Azure Data Factory (a dedicated ETL service), because both use connectors and can automate tasks, but only ADF is purpose-built for large-scale data extraction and loading into data stores.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure Data Factory uses a pipeline-based architecture where you define linked services (connection info for sources like Salesforce), datasets (schema and location), and activities (e.g., Copy Data activity) to move data. Under the hood, ADF leverages the Azure Integration Runtime to execute data movement, which can scale out to handle large volumes via parallel partitions. A real-world scenario is a daily incremental load of Salesforce opportunities into Azure Synapse Analytics for reporting, where ADF’s built-in change tracking and scheduling handle the automation without manual intervention.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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-900 question in full detail.
Describe Azure architecture and services — This question tests Describe Azure architecture and services — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Azure Data Factory — Azure Data Factory (ADF) is the correct answer because it is a cloud-based ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) and data integration service specifically designed to ingest data from a wide variety of sources—including SaaS applications like Salesforce and ServiceNow—and load it into Azure data stores such as Azure SQL Database, Azure Data Lake Storage, or Azure Synapse Analytics. ADF provides built-in connectors for these SaaS platforms, enabling automated, scheduled, or event-triggered data movement without requiring custom code.
What should I do if I get this AZ-900 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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