- A
Replace the clustered columnstore index with a clustered rowstore index and add a nonclustered columnstore index
Correct. The rowstore index accelerates inserts, and the nonclustered columnstore index enables fast analytical queries.
- B
Use memory-optimized tables for the entire table
Why wrong: Incorrect. Memory-optimized tables optimize OLTP but do not support columnstore indexes, hurting analytical query performance.
- C
Partition the table by date and move older partitions to columnstore
Why wrong: Incorrect. This still requires a columnstore on most data and does not solve the insert performance issue on the active partition.
- D
Keep the clustered columnstore index and use batch inserts
Why wrong: Incorrect. Batch inserts help but columnstore indexes still have overhead for small, frequent operations; the degradation remains.
DP-900 Practice Question: Identify considerations for relational data on Azure
This DP-900 practice question tests your understanding of identify considerations for 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 financial application uses Azure SQL Database. The workload consists of a high volume of small, frequent insert operations (OLTP) and periodic complex analytical queries that scan large portions of the same table (OLAP). The table currently has a clustered columnstore index. The inserts are suffering from performance degradation. What should the company do to improve insert performance while still enabling efficient analytical queries?
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
Replace the clustered columnstore index with a clustered rowstore index and add a nonclustered columnstore index
Option A is correct because a clustered rowstore index is optimized for high-volume OLTP inserts, while adding a nonclustered columnstore index allows the same table to support efficient analytical queries by providing a separate columnar structure. This hybrid approach avoids the insert overhead of columnstore indexes, which are designed for bulk operations and can suffer from small, frequent insert performance degradation due to delta store management and tuple mover processes.
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.
- ✓
Replace the clustered columnstore index with a clustered rowstore index and add a nonclustered columnstore index
Why this is correct
Correct. The rowstore index accelerates inserts, and the nonclustered columnstore index enables fast analytical queries.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use memory-optimized tables for the entire table
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Memory-optimized tables optimize OLTP but do not support columnstore indexes, hurting analytical query performance.
- ✗
Partition the table by date and move older partitions to columnstore
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. This still requires a columnstore on most data and does not solve the insert performance issue on the active partition.
- ✗
Keep the clustered columnstore index and use batch inserts
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Batch inserts help but columnstore indexes still have overhead for small, frequent operations; the degradation remains.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume columnstore indexes are always the best choice for mixed workloads, overlooking the fact that they are optimized for batch operations and can severely degrade under high-frequency singleton inserts, making a hybrid rowstore/columnstore approach the correct solution.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Clustered columnstore indexes store data in compressed column segments, which are efficient for scans but require batch inserts (typically >102,400 rows) to write directly into compressed row groups; smaller inserts go into a delta store (a B-tree structure) that must be periodically merged by the tuple mover, causing fragmentation and performance overhead. In contrast, a clustered rowstore index (e.g., B-tree) handles singleton inserts with minimal overhead, and a nonclustered columnstore index can be created on the same table to provide a separate columnar copy for analytical queries, leveraging the rowstore for writes and the columnstore for reads.
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 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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Identify considerations for relational data on Azure — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Identify considerations for relational data on Azure practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All DP-900 questions
982 questions across all exam domains
- →
Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals DP-900 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
DP-900 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related DP-900 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Describe core data concepts practice questions
Practise DP-900 questions linked to Describe core data concepts.
Describe an analytics workload on Azure practice questions
Practise DP-900 questions linked to Describe an analytics workload on Azure.
Identify considerations for relational data on Azure practice questions
Practise DP-900 questions linked to Identify considerations for relational data on Azure.
Describe considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure practice questions
Practise DP-900 questions linked to Describe considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure.
DP-900 fundamentals practice questions
Practise DP-900 questions linked to DP-900 fundamentals.
DP-900 scenario practice questions
Practise DP-900 questions linked to DP-900 scenario.
DP-900 troubleshooting practice questions
Practise DP-900 questions linked to DP-900 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free DP-900 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DP-900 question test?
Identify considerations for relational data on Azure — This question tests Identify considerations for 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: Replace the clustered columnstore index with a clustered rowstore index and add a nonclustered columnstore index — Option A is correct because a clustered rowstore index is optimized for high-volume OLTP inserts, while adding a nonclustered columnstore index allows the same table to support efficient analytical queries by providing a separate columnar structure. This hybrid approach avoids the insert overhead of columnstore indexes, which are designed for bulk operations and can suffer from small, frequent insert performance degradation due to delta store management and tuple mover processes.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This DP-900 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the DP-900 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.