This DP-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe core data concepts. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A company needs to store JSON documents that require flexible schema and low-latency access globally. Which Azure data service should they use?
Azure Table Storage
Why wrong: Limited querying and global distribution.
Azure SQL Database
Why wrong: Requires fixed schema.
Azure Blob Storage
Why wrong: Not designed for document storage with queries.
Azure Cosmos DB
Cosmos DB supports flexible schema and global distribution.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Azure Cosmos DB
Azure Cosmos DB is the correct choice because it is a globally distributed, multi-model database service that natively supports JSON documents with flexible schema. It offers turnkey global distribution, single-digit-millisecond latency at the 99th percentile, and multiple consistency models, making it ideal for low-latency access worldwide.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Azure Table Storage
Why it's wrong here
Limited querying and global distribution.
Azure SQL Database
Why it's wrong here
Requires fixed schema.
Azure Blob Storage
Why it's wrong here
Not designed for document storage with queries.
Azure Cosmos DB
Why this is correct
Cosmos DB supports flexible schema and global distribution.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Azure Blob Storage's ability to store JSON files as blobs with the need for a database that can query and index JSON documents with low-latency global access, leading them to incorrectly choose Blob Storage instead of Cosmos DB.
Detailed technical explanation
Azure Cosmos DB uses a resource-governed, multi-tenant architecture with automatic indexing of all JSON properties, enabling efficient queries without manual index management. Its global distribution is achieved through a write-region and multiple read-regions, with replication handled via the multi-master protocol. In a real-world scenario, a social media app storing user profiles as JSON documents across continents would benefit from Cosmos DB's ability to serve reads from the nearest region with <10ms latency.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
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FAQ
Describe core data concepts — This question tests Describe core data concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Azure Cosmos DB — Azure Cosmos DB is the correct choice because it is a globally distributed, multi-model database service that natively supports JSON documents with flexible schema. It offers turnkey global distribution, single-digit-millisecond latency at the 99th percentile, and multiple consistency models, making it ideal for low-latency access worldwide.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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