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DP-203 Practice Question: Secure, monitor, and optimize data storage and data processing

You are optimizing an Azure Data Factory pipeline that moves data from Azure Blob Storage to Azure SQL Database. The pipeline currently uses a Copy activity with a staging setting enabled. You notice high DTU consumption on the Azure SQL Database during the copy operation. How can you reduce the impact on the source database?

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

Configure the Copy activity to use staging with Azure Blob Storage and then use a stored procedure to bulk insert.

Staging the copy to Azure Blob Storage and then using a stored procedure for bulk insert reduces the direct load on Azure SQL Database, lowering DTU consumption during the copy. Option B is incorrect because PolyBase is designed for Azure Synapse Analytics, not Azure SQL Database. Option C (parallel copy) can increase throughput but also increases DTU usage, not reducing it. Option D (increasing DTU) is a scaling measure, not a reduction technique.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

  • Configure the Copy activity to use staging with Azure Blob Storage and then use a stored procedure to bulk insert.

    Why this is correct

    Staging allows the copy to offload transformation to Blob Storage, and bulk insert reduces DTU consumption.

  • Use PolyBase to load data directly from Blob Storage to Azure SQL Database.

    Why it's wrong here

    PolyBase is not supported in Azure SQL Database; it is for Azure Synapse.

  • Enable parallel copy in the Copy activity settings.

    Why it's wrong here

    Parallel copy increases throughput but also increases DTU consumption.

  • Increase the DTU of the Azure SQL Database to handle the load.

    Why it's wrong here

    Increasing DTU adds cost but does not reduce impact on the source; it helps the target.

Quick reference

Azure Blob Storage Tier Comparison

TierStorage CostRetrieval CostLatencyUse Case
HotHighestLowestImmediateActive data, frequent reads
CoolLowerHigherImmediateData accessed < once / month
ColdLower stillHigherImmediateData accessed < once / quarter
ArchiveLowestHighest + rehydration delayHoursLong-term compliance retention

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