DP-900 Describe an analytics workload on Azure Practice Question
A data analyst needs to create a Power BI report that combines sales data from Azure SQL Database and marketing data from a CSV file stored in Azure Blob Storage. The report should refresh automatically. What is the recommended approach?
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 Power Query in Power BI Desktop to combine the data and publish with scheduled refresh
Option A is correct because Power Query in Power BI Desktop can natively connect to both Azure SQL Database and Azure Blob Storage CSV files, combine them into a single data model, and then publish to the Power BI Service where scheduled refresh keeps the report current. This is the standard, recommended approach for mixed-source reporting with automatic refresh. Option B is wrong because exporting SQL data to Excel adds manual steps and breaks automatic refresh. Option C is unnecessary overhead since Azure Data Factory is not required just to combine two sources for a Power BI report. Option D is wrong because DirectQuery is not supported for CSV files in Blob Storage and would not provide the required automatic refresh for both sources.
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 Power Query in Power BI Desktop to combine the data and publish with scheduled refresh
Why this is correct
Power Query in Power BI Desktop natively connects to both Azure SQL Database and Azure Blob Storage CSV sources, merging them into one model. Publishing to the Power BI service then enables scheduled refresh, satisfying the automatic-refresh requirement without copying data into a separate store.
- ✗
Export the SQL data to Excel and combine with the CSV in Power BI
Why it's wrong here
Manually exporting SQL data to Excel breaks the automatic refresh requirement, since the exported file becomes a static source disconnected from Azure SQL Database. It is tempting as a quick way to combine sources, and would be correct for a one-off analysis where no scheduled refresh is needed.
- ✗
Use Azure Data Factory to merge the data into a single SQL table
Why it's wrong here
Azure Data Factory merging data into a single SQL table adds an unnecessary pipeline and storage layer, and Power BI can combine both sources directly with scheduled refresh. It is tempting because Data Factory orchestrates data movement, and would be correct for complex ETL across many sources at scale.
- ✗
Use DirectQuery mode from Power BI for both sources
Why it's wrong here
DirectQuery cannot be used for a CSV file in Azure Blob Storage, which supports only Import, so combining both sources this way is impossible. It is tempting because DirectQuery gives near-real-time data, and would be correct when all sources are relational databases requiring live querying.
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
DAX Formulas and Measures in Power BI
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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