- A
Create a clustered columnstore index on the table
Improves compression and scan performance for aggregations
- B
Redistribute the table on TransactionDate using hash distribution
Why wrong: Causes data skew, not optimal for partitioning
- C
Change distribution to round-robin to evenly distribute data
Why wrong: Loses join collocation with DimAccount
- D
Use table replication for the Transactions table
Why wrong: Replication is for small dimension tables, not large fact tables
Question 546 of 851
DP-203 Practice Question: Secure, monitor, and optimize data storage and data processing
This DP-203 practice question tests your understanding of secure, monitor, and optimize data storage and data processing. 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.
You are a data engineer at a financial services company. Your Azure Synapse Analytics dedicated SQL pool contains a fact table named 'Transactions' with 10 billion rows. The table is hash-distributed on 'AccountID' and partitioned by month. You notice that queries filtering on 'TransactionDate' (a date column) are performing slowly despite partition elimination. You also observe that the 'Transactions' table is frequently joined with a 'DimAccount' dimension table on 'AccountID'. You need to optimize query performance for the most common workload: monthly reports that aggregate transaction amounts by account for the last 12 months. Additionally, you need to ensure that the solution minimizes maintenance overhead. What should you do?
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
✓
Create a clustered columnstore index on the table
Option A is correct because creating a clustered columnstore index on the 'Transactions' fact table provides column-level compression and significantly improves scan performance for aggregation queries, which is ideal for monthly reports aggregating transaction amounts. Option B is wrong because redistributing on TransactionDate using hash distribution would not improve join performance with DimAccount (which joins on AccountID) and may cause data skew if many rows share the same date. Option C is wrong because changing distribution to round-robin would eliminate collocation benefits for joins on AccountID, hurting query performance. Option D is wrong because table replication is designed for small dimension tables, not large fact tables like 'Transactions' with billions of rows.
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.
- ✓
Create a clustered columnstore index on the table
Why this is correct
Improves compression and scan performance for aggregations
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Redistribute the table on TransactionDate using hash distribution
Why it's wrong here
Causes data skew, not optimal for partitioning
- ✗
Change distribution to round-robin to evenly distribute data
Why it's wrong here
Loses join collocation with DimAccount
- ✗
Use table replication for the Transactions table
Why it's wrong here
Replication is for small dimension tables, not large fact tables
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which DP-203 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DP-203 question test?
Secure, monitor, and optimize data storage and data processing — This question tests Secure, monitor, and optimize data storage and data processing — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a clustered columnstore index on the table — Option A is correct because creating a clustered columnstore index on the 'Transactions' fact table provides column-level compression and significantly improves scan performance for aggregation queries, which is ideal for monthly reports aggregating transaction amounts. Option B is wrong because redistributing on TransactionDate using hash distribution would not improve join performance with DimAccount (which joins on AccountID) and may cause data skew if many rows share the same date. Option C is wrong because changing distribution to round-robin would eliminate collocation benefits for joins on AccountID, hurting query performance. Option D is wrong because table replication is designed for small dimension tables, not large fact tables like 'Transactions' with billions of rows.
What should I do if I get this DP-203 question wrong?
Identify which DP-203 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
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