DP-203 Design and implement data storage Practice Question
Your company is migrating an on-premises SQL Server database to Azure SQL Database. The database includes a large fact table with hourly updates. You need to minimize downtime during migration. Which Azure service should you use to replicate data continuously?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse Azure Data Factory's copy activity (a batch tool) with continuous replication, or assume Azure SQL Managed Instance inherently supports migration, when in fact DMS online mode is the specific service designed for minimal-downtime migrations.
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 Database Migration Service with online migration mode
Azure Database Migration Service (DMS) with online migration mode uses continuous change data capture (CDC) to replicate ongoing changes from the source SQL Server to Azure SQL Database with minimal downtime. This is the only option that supports near-zero downtime migration by synchronizing data continuously until the final cutover, which is critical for a large fact table with hourly updates.
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 SQL Managed Instance as a target
Why it's wrong here
Azure SQL Managed Instance is a platform-as-a-service offering, but using it as a target does not inherently provide continuous replication during migration. To minimize downtime, you need a migration service that supports online migration, such as Azure Database Migration Service. Thus, option A is incorrect.
- ✗
Use Azure Data Factory with a copy activity
Why it's wrong here
A copy activity performs batch movement, not continuous replication, so it cannot minimise downtime for an hourly-updated fact table. It is tempting because Data Factory orchestrates data movement, but continuous change replication requires Azure SQL Database's transactional replication or Data Sync instead.
- ✓
Use Azure Database Migration Service with online migration mode
Why this is correct
Azure Database Migration Service online migration mode replicates ongoing changes continuously while the source stays live, so cutover downtime is minimised. This directly satisfies the stem's requirement for continuous replication of an hourly-updated fact table.
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Use Azure Synapse Link for SQL Server
Why it's wrong here
Azure Synapse Link for SQL Server is designed for near-real-time analytics from SQL Server to Synapse, not for migrating databases to Azure SQL Database with minimal downtime. It does not serve as a migration tool. Therefore, option D is incorrect.
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