- A
Azure Synapse Pipelines with mapping data flows
Why wrong: Synapse Pipelines can do CDC but ADF is the more common and flexible choice.
- B
Azure Data Factory with change tracking
ADF can enable change tracking on SQL Server or use custom watermark logic.
- C
Azure Databricks with Auto Loader
Why wrong: Auto Loader requires file-based sources or change data feed.
- D
Azure Stream Analytics
Why wrong: Stream Analytics is for real-time streaming, not batch CDC.
Question 762 of 851
DP-203 Design and implement data storage Practice Question
This DP-203 practice question tests your understanding of design and implement data storage. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
You are designing a change data capture (CDC) solution to incrementally load data from an on-premises SQL Server database to Azure Synapse Analytics. The source tables have no timestamp columns and you cannot modify the schema. Which Azure service should you use?
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
✓
Azure Data Factory with change tracking
Azure Data Factory's change tracking capability is the correct choice because it can capture row-level inserts, updates, and deletes from SQL Server without requiring timestamp columns or schema modifications. It uses SQL Server's built-in change tracking feature, which tracks changes at the table level and provides a reliable incremental load mechanism to Azure Synapse Analytics.
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 Synapse Pipelines with mapping data flows
Why it's wrong here
Synapse Pipelines can do CDC but ADF is the more common and flexible choice.
- ✓
Azure Data Factory with change tracking
Why this is correct
ADF can enable change tracking on SQL Server or use custom watermark logic.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Azure Databricks with Auto Loader
Why it's wrong here
Auto Loader requires file-based sources or change data feed.
- ✗
Azure Stream Analytics
Why it's wrong here
Stream Analytics is for real-time streaming, not batch CDC.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume a timestamp column is mandatory for incremental loads, but Azure Data Factory's change tracking connector bypasses this requirement by using SQL Server's built-in change tracking mechanism, which does not require any schema modifications.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SQL Server change tracking works by logging the primary key and operation type (insert, update, delete) for each changed row in internal change tables, which can be queried using the CHANGETABLE function. Azure Data Factory's change tracking connector automatically manages the synchronization version and retrieves only the changes since the last run, making it ideal for CDC without schema changes. In a real-world scenario, this approach avoids the overhead of triggers or timestamps and works even with tables that have no natural watermark column.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
Visual reference
What to study next
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DP-203 question test?
Design and implement data storage — This question tests Design and implement data storage — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Azure Data Factory with change tracking — Azure Data Factory's change tracking capability is the correct choice because it can capture row-level inserts, updates, and deletes from SQL Server without requiring timestamp columns or schema modifications. It uses SQL Server's built-in change tracking feature, which tracks changes at the table level and provides a reliable incremental load mechanism to Azure Synapse Analytics.
What should I do if I get this DP-203 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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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This DP-203 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft 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 DP-203 exam.
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