Quick Answer
The answer is Azure Blob Storage and Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2. These are supported sources for the Synapse Pipeline copy activity because the Copy Activity connects to them via the AzureBlobFS linked service, which leverages the hierarchical namespace of ADLS Gen2 while maintaining full compatibility with Blob Storage APIs, allowing efficient reading of both structured and unstructured data at the file or folder level. On the DP-203 exam, this concept frequently appears in scenario-based questions where you must select valid source connectors, with a common trap being the assumption that only Blob Storage is supported or that ADLS Gen1 is still an option—it is not, as Gen1 lacks the required integration. A helpful memory tip is to remember that both Blob and ADLS Gen2 share the same underlying storage platform, so if you see either listed as a source, they are almost always correct together.
This DP-203 practice question tests your understanding of design and implement data storage. 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 TWO of the following are supported storage options for use as a source in Azure Synapse Pipeline Copy Activity?
Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2
ADLS Gen2 is a supported source.
Azure Analysis Services
Why wrong: Analysis Services is an analytical engine, not a data store for copy.
Azure Cognitive Search
Why wrong: Cognitive Search is a search service, not a source.
Azure Purview
Why wrong: Purview is a data governance service.
Azure Blob Storage
Azure Blob Storage is a supported source.
Answer choices
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 Gen2
Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 is a supported source for Azure Synapse Pipeline Copy Activity because it combines a hierarchical file system with Azure Blob Storage APIs, enabling efficient data ingestion. The Copy Activity can read data from ADLS Gen2 using the AzureBlobFS linked service, which supports both file and folder-level reads for structured and unstructured data.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2
Why this is correct
ADLS Gen2 is a supported source.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Azure Analysis Services
Why it's wrong here
Analysis Services is an analytical engine, not a data store for copy.
Azure Cognitive Search
Why it's wrong here
Cognitive Search is a search service, not a source.
Azure Purview
Why it's wrong here
Purview is a data governance service.
Azure Blob Storage
Why this is correct
Azure Blob Storage is a supported source.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse Azure services that manage or process data (like Analysis Services, Cognitive Search, or Purview) with actual storage services that can serve as a source for the Copy Activity, leading them to select non-storage options.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, the Copy Activity uses a connector-specific protocol (e.g., REST API for ADLS Gen2 or Blob Storage) to read data in parallel partitions, leveraging Azure's distributed architecture. For ADLS Gen2, the hierarchical namespace allows efficient directory-level operations, while Blob Storage uses flat namespace but supports high-throughput reads via the Blob REST API. A real-world scenario is ingesting terabytes of log files from ADLS Gen2 into Azure Synapse Analytics for transformation, where the Copy Activity can automatically detect file formats like Parquet or CSV.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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.
What to study next
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FAQ
Design and implement data storage — This question tests Design and implement data storage — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 — Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 is a supported source for Azure Synapse Pipeline Copy Activity because it combines a hierarchical file system with Azure Blob Storage APIs, enabling efficient data ingestion. The Copy Activity can read data from ADLS Gen2 using the AzureBlobFS linked service, which supports both file and folder-level reads for structured and unstructured data.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 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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