DP-900 Practice Question: Identify considerations for relational data on Azure
A company needs to migrate a large on-premises SQL Server database to Azure. The migration must have minimal downtime and support ongoing replication. Which Azure service should they use?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse the target service (Azure SQL Database) with the migration tool, or assume Data Factory can handle live replication, when in fact only DMS provides the necessary online migration and ongoing sync capabilities.
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
✓
Azure Database Migration Service
Azure Database Migration Service (DMS) is designed for online migrations with minimal downtime, supporting ongoing replication from SQL Server to Azure SQL Database. It uses the Data Migration Assistant (DMA) for assessment and the Azure DMS for continuous sync, enabling near-zero downtime during cutover.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Azure Data Box
Why it's wrong here
Azure Data Box is a physical offline data transfer appliance designed for bulk movement of terabytes to petabytes of data, not for live database migration. Using Data Box would require a full restore, then manually capturing and applying all changes made after the initial copy, causing significant downtime. It does not support continuous replication or minimal-downtime cutover.
- ✗
Azure Data Factory
Why it's wrong here
Azure Data Factory is a cloud-based ETL and data orchestration service used to move and transform data between various stores, but it is not a specialized database migration tool. It lacks the ability to perform schema conversion, manage log-based incremental replication, or coordinate an online cutover for an on-premises SQL Server. Using Data Factory would require building custom logic to track changes and would still risk downtime.
- ✗
Azure SQL Database
Why it's wrong here
Azure SQL Database is the managed PaaS target you are migrating to, not a tool to perform the migration. It provides the destination database service with features like automated backups and high availability, but it cannot reach back to your on-premises SQL Server and synchronize data. To move the database with minimal downtime, you need a separate service that handles schema and data migration, such as Azure Database Migration Service.
- ✓
Azure Database Migration Service
Why this is correct
Azure Database Migration Service (DMS) is the correct choice because it provides online migration capabilities with minimal downtime for on-premises SQL Server databases. DMS performs an initial data and schema copy, then continuously replicates ongoing changes using transaction log shipping, allowing you to cut over only when you are ready. This near-zero downtime approach satisfies the requirement for migrating a large database without an extended outage.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Data Roles and Core Concepts
Key term
Data
Data is raw, unprocessed information, like numbers, words, or measurements, that can be stored, processed, and analyzed by computers.
Key term
Service
A service is a software component or system that performs a specific function and is available to be used by other programs or users over a network.
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