DP-900 Practice Question: Describe considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure
This DP-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe considerations for working with non-relational data on azure. 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 stores backup files in Azure Blob Storage. The backup files are accessed frequently for the first 30 days, then only rarely for the next six months. After one year, the files must be retained for compliance but are never accessed. The company wants to minimize storage costs. Which solution should they use?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Clue: "never"
Why it matters: Absolute qualifier. True only if the statement has zero exceptions — be cautious of options that seem obvious but break down in edge cases.
Clue: "minimum / minimize"
Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use Azure Blob Storage lifecycle management policies
Azure Blob Storage lifecycle management policies allow you to automatically transition blobs to cooler tiers (e.g., from Hot to Cool after 30 days, then to Archive after one year) and delete blobs after a specified period, all without manual intervention. This directly matches the access pattern: frequent access for 30 days, rare access for six months, and never accessed after one year, minimizing storage costs by using the most cost-effective tier for each phase.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Manually move files between storage accounts
Why it's wrong here
Manual movement is error-prone and does not scale; lifecycle management automates this process.
✓
Use Azure Blob Storage lifecycle management policies
Why this is correct
Lifecycle management policies can automatically move blobs to cooler tiers (Cool, Archive) based on age, optimizing cost.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "first", "never", "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use Azure File Sync
Why it's wrong here
Azure File Sync is for synchronizing file shares across servers, not for blob storage tiering.
✗
Use Azure NetApp Files
Why it's wrong here
Azure NetApp Files is a high-performance file service, not designed for cost-optimized blob storage lifecycle.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse Azure File Sync or Azure NetApp Files as viable storage options for backups, but these services are designed for active file sharing and high-performance workloads, not for cost-optimized, tiered archival of rarely accessed blob data.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Lifecycle management policies are defined as JSON rules that apply to a blob container or storage account, using filters for blob types (block blobs, append blobs) and conditions based on 'days after creation' or 'days after last modification'. The policy can transition blobs from Hot to Cool (30 days), Cool to Archive (365 days), and delete blobs after a set period (e.g., 730 days). Under the hood, Azure Storage uses a background process to evaluate these rules every 24 hours, moving blobs between tiers without any application downtime or manual scripting.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this DP-900 question in full detail.
Describe considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure — This question tests Describe considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use Azure Blob Storage lifecycle management policies — Azure Blob Storage lifecycle management policies allow you to automatically transition blobs to cooler tiers (e.g., from Hot to Cool after 30 days, then to Archive after one year) and delete blobs after a specified period, all without manual intervention. This directly matches the access pattern: frequent access for 30 days, rare access for six months, and never accessed after one year, minimizing storage costs by using the most cost-effective tier for each phase.
What should I do if I get this DP-900 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first", "never", "minimum / minimize". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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