- A
Set the pipeline's retry property to 3 and retry interval to 60 seconds.
Why wrong: Incorrect because pipelines in Azure Data Factory do not have a retry property; retry is configured at the activity level.
- B
Set the activity's retry property to 3 and enable exponential backoff.
Why wrong: Incorrect because Azure Data Factory activity retry does not support enabling exponential backoff; the retry interval is fixed. The option describes a non-existent configuration.
- C
Set the activity's retry property to 3 and retry secs to 60.
Correct because this sets the activity's retry count to 3 and the fixed retry interval to 60 seconds, which is the available retry mechanism in Azure Data Factory.
- D
Set the trigger's retry policy to 3 with exponential backoff.
Why wrong: Incorrect because triggers do not have a retry policy; retry must be set on the activity itself.
DP-203 Activity Retry Practice Question
This DP-203 practice question tests your understanding of secure, monitor, and optimize data storage and data processing. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. A key principle to apply: activity Retry. 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.
An Azure Data Factory pipeline runs multiple times daily, loading data from an on-premises SQL Server to Azure Blob Storage. You notice that the pipeline sometimes fails due to transient network errors. You need to implement a retry policy with exponential backoff. Which configuration should you apply?
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
Set the activity's retry property to 3 and retry secs to 60.
Option C is correct because Azure Data Factory activities support retry with a fixed interval, but do not have a built-in exponential backoff feature. Setting the activity's retry property to 3 and retry secs to 60 configures 3 retries with a 60-second fixed delay between each attempt. Option B is incorrect because there is no 'enable exponential backoff' setting on activities; the retry interval is always fixed. Option A is incorrect because pipeline-level retry is not supported. Option D is incorrect because triggers do not have a retry policy for activities.
Key principle: Activity Retry
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Set the pipeline's retry property to 3 and retry interval to 60 seconds.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because pipelines in Azure Data Factory do not have a retry property; retry is configured at the activity level.
- ✗
Set the activity's retry property to 3 and enable exponential backoff.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because Azure Data Factory activity retry does not support enabling exponential backoff; the retry interval is fixed. The option describes a non-existent configuration.
- ✓
Set the activity's retry property to 3 and retry secs to 60.
Why this is correct
Correct because this sets the activity's retry count to 3 and the fixed retry interval to 60 seconds, which is the available retry mechanism in Azure Data Factory.
Related concept
Activity Retry
- ✗
Set the trigger's retry policy to 3 with exponential backoff.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because triggers do not have a retry policy; retry must be set on the activity itself.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Candidates may assume that Azure Data Factory activities support exponential backoff natively, but the retry interval is fixed. The option that mentions 'enable exponential backoff' is a distractor.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Treat this as a scenario question. Identify the problem, the constraint, and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Activity Retry
- Retry Interval
- Exponential Backoff
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
Activity Retry
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.
Quick reference
Azure Blob Storage Tier Comparison
| Tier | Storage Cost | Retrieval Cost | Latency | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hot | Highest | Lowest | Immediate | Active data, frequent reads |
| Cool | Lower | Higher | Immediate | Data accessed < once / month |
| Cold | Lower still | Higher | Immediate | Data accessed < once / quarter |
| Archive | Lowest | Highest + rehydration delay | Hours | Long-term compliance retention |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review activity Retry, then practise related DP-203 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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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 — Activity Retry.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Set the activity's retry property to 3 and retry secs to 60. — Option C is correct because Azure Data Factory activities support retry with a fixed interval, but do not have a built-in exponential backoff feature. Setting the activity's retry property to 3 and retry secs to 60 configures 3 retries with a 60-second fixed delay between each attempt. Option B is incorrect because there is no 'enable exponential backoff' setting on activities; the retry interval is always fixed. Option A is incorrect because pipeline-level retry is not supported. Option D is incorrect because triggers do not have a retry policy for activities.
What should I do if I get this DP-203 question wrong?
Review activity Retry, then practise related DP-203 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Activity Retry
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Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
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