DP-203 Develop data processing Practice Question
You are designing a data processing solution for an e-commerce company that uses Azure Synapse Analytics. The solution must process clickstream data from a web application. The data arrives in JSON format through Azure Event Hubs. You need to load the data into a dedicated SQL pool every 5 minutes with minimal latency. The data volume is about 100 MB every 5 minutes. You want to use PolyBase for loading. Which approach should you use?
⚠ Common exam trap
DP-203 often tests the misconception that PolyBase can directly connect to Event Hubs, but it requires an intermediate storage layer like ADLS Gen2.
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
✓
Use Azure Data Factory with a Copy activity to copy data from Event Hubs to Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 as JSON files, then use a PolyBase activity to load from ADLS Gen2 to the dedicated SQL pool.
Using Azure Data Factory to copy data from Event Hubs to ADLS Gen2 as JSON files, then using PolyBase to load into the dedicated SQL pool, is the recommended approach. PolyBase can efficiently load large volumes from ADLS Gen2, and Data Factory provides a scalable, low-latency pipeline. This approach leverages PolyBase's parallel loading capabilities and is cost-effective for 100 MB every 5 minutes.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use Azure Stream Analytics to transform the JSON data and output directly to the dedicated SQL pool.
Why it's wrong here
Stream Analytics writes to the dedicated SQL pool via its own output connector, bypassing PolyBase entirely, so it fails the stated PolyBase requirement. It suits continuous low-latency streaming transformations. The scenario needs staged files that PolyBase can read into the pool.
- ✓
Use Azure Data Factory with a Copy activity to copy data from Event Hubs to Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 as JSON files, then use a PolyBase activity to load from ADLS Gen2 to the dedicated SQL pool.
Why this is correct
PolyBase cannot read Event Hubs directly; it queries external tables over ADLS Gen2 or Blob Storage. Landing the JSON via a Copy activity first satisfies the 5-minute, 100 MB latency requirement, then a PolyBase activity loads it into the dedicated SQL pool.
- ✗
Use Azure Databricks to read from Event Hubs, transform the data, and write to the dedicated SQL pool using JDBC.
Why it's wrong here
Databricks JDBC writes bypass PolyBase, contradicting the requirement to use PolyBase for loading. Databricks suits complex transformations on streaming data at scale. The scenario needs JSON staged in Blob or Data Lake Storage for PolyBase to ingest.
- ✗
Use PolyBase directly from Event Hubs to dedicated SQL pool by creating an external data source that points to Event Hubs.
Why it's wrong here
PolyBase external data sources support Azure Blob Storage and Data Lake Storage, not Event Hubs as a queryable source. Event Hubs ingestion suits Stream Analytics or Databricks consumption. PolyBase requires the JSON landed in a supported storage account first.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Implement Azure Stream Analytics
Key term
Azure Data Factory
Azure Data Factory is a cloud-based data integration service that lets you create, schedule, and orchestrate data pipelines to move and transform data from various sources to destinations.
Key term
Azure Synapse Analytics
Azure Synapse Analytics is a cloud-based data integration, warehousing, and analytics service that brings together big data and data warehouse capabilities under one platform.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Microsoft exam blueprint
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.