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 data engineer needs to load data from an on-premises SQL Server database to Azure Synapse Analytics every hour with minimal latency. Which Azure service should they use?
Azure Databricks
Why wrong: Primarily for big data analytics and processing, not low-latency data ingestion.
Azure Data Factory
Cloud-based ETL service that can run pipelines every hour with low latency.
Azure SQL Database
Why wrong: Destination, not a tool for moving data from on-premises.
Azure HDInsight
Why wrong: Managed Hadoop service, not optimized for frequent data movement.
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 Data Factory
Azure Data Factory (ADF) is the correct choice because it provides a fully managed, code-free ETL service that can connect to on-premises SQL Server via self-hosted integration runtime, and load data into Azure Synapse Analytics with low latency using a scheduled trigger (e.g., every hour). ADF supports incremental data loading and parallel copy activities, minimizing latency while handling the required frequency.
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 Databricks
Why it's wrong here
Primarily for big data analytics and processing, not low-latency data ingestion.
Azure Data Factory
Why this is correct
Cloud-based ETL service that can run pipelines every hour with low latency.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Azure SQL Database
Why it's wrong here
Destination, not a tool for moving data from on-premises.
Azure HDInsight
Why it's wrong here
Managed Hadoop service, not optimized for frequent data movement.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Azure Data Factory with Azure Databricks or HDInsight, assuming any big data or analytics service can handle scheduled data ingestion, but only ADF is purpose-built for orchestration and low-latency data movement from on-premises sources.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, ADF uses a self-hosted integration runtime (IR) to establish a secure connection to on-premises SQL Server via port 443 or 3343, enabling data transfer without opening firewall ports. The Copy Activity leverages PolyBase or COPY INTO for high-throughput ingestion into Synapse, and incremental loads can be implemented using watermark columns or change data capture (CDC) to minimize data movement. In a real-world scenario, ADF can handle millions of rows per second with parallel copy and staging, ensuring the hourly latency requirement is met even with large datasets.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
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 Data Factory — Azure Data Factory (ADF) is the correct choice because it provides a fully managed, code-free ETL service that can connect to on-premises SQL Server via self-hosted integration runtime, and load data into Azure Synapse Analytics with low latency using a scheduled trigger (e.g., every hour). ADF supports incremental data loading and parallel copy activities, minimizing latency while handling the required frequency.
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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