DP-203 Practice Question: Secure, monitor, and optimize data storage and data processing
You have an Azure Data Factory pipeline that uses a Self-Hosted Integration Runtime (SHIR) to copy data from an on-premises Oracle database to Azure Blob Storage. The pipeline is failing with a connectivity error. You have verified that the SHIR is running and the network firewall allows outbound traffic to Azure. What is the most likely cause of the failure?
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
✓
The SHIR cannot reach the Oracle database due to a network firewall.
The most likely cause is that the SHIR cannot reach the on-premises Oracle database due to a network firewall. While the SHIR can connect to Azure outbound, the connection from the SHIR to the Oracle database must also be allowed through any on-premises firewalls. Option A is incorrect because if the SHIR were not registered, you would see a different error. Option C is incorrect because the SHIR only requires outbound connectivity to Azure, not inbound. Option D is incorrect because Azure Key Vault is not required for basic connectivity; it is used for storing credentials.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The SHIR is not registered with Azure Data Factory.
Why it's wrong here
A registered, running SHIR already proves registration succeeded, so this cannot explain a connectivity error. Registration is the tempting answer because an unregistered runtime genuinely cannot execute any activity, and it would be the correct diagnosis if the runtime were absent from the data factory's integration runtime list.
- ✓
The SHIR cannot reach the Oracle database due to a network firewall.
Why this is correct
The SHIR already reaches Azure, so outbound cloud connectivity is proven. The remaining hop is the SHIR host to the on-premises Oracle listener, which a firewall blocking that inbound database port would prevent, producing the connectivity failure.
- ✗
The SHIR requires inbound port 443 from Azure to on-premises.
Why it's wrong here
Inbound port 443 from Azure is not part of the SHIR connectivity model; the runtime initiates all traffic outbound to Azure, so no inbound rule is needed. It tempts because inbound HTTPS rules are commonly required for reverse-proxy or hybrid web scenarios, but a SHIR reaching Azure services never depends on them.
- ✗
The SHIR does not have access to Azure Key Vault.
Why it's wrong here
Key Vault access governs secret retrieval, not network connectivity, so it cannot produce the reported error once the SHIR is running and outbound traffic is permitted. It is tempting because storing Oracle credentials in Key Vault is standard practise; that would be the answer if the pipeline failed with an authentication or linked-service secret error instead.
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 |
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Implement Azure Data Factory Pipelines
Key term
Data Transformation Pipelines
Data transformation pipelines are automated sequences of steps that take raw data from a source, clean and reshape it into a usable format, and then load it into a destination for analysis or storage.
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.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.