Question 572 of 982

Describe an analytics workload on Azure →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The answer is Azure Synapse Serverless SQL pool, because it enables ad-hoc queries on data lake files in Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 using T-SQL without requiring any provisioned compute resources, charging only for the data processed per query. This serverless model perfectly matches the need to pay per terabyte scanned, and it supports creating external tables and views for Power BI, making it ideal for highly selective queries on partitioned Parquet files. On the DP-900 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the difference between serverless and dedicated SQL pools—a common trap is choosing a provisioned service like Azure SQL Database or Synapse Dedicated Pool, which incur fixed costs. Remember the key phrase: “no provisioning, pay per query” points directly to serverless. For a memory tip, think “Serverless = Scan and Go, no compute to sow.”

DP-900 Describe an analytics workload on Azure Practice Question

This DP-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe an analytics workload 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 services company stores transaction data in Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 as Parquet files, partitioned by date. The data volume is 5 TB per day. The analytics team runs ad-hoc SQL queries to detect fraudulent patterns. Queries are highly selective (filtering on AccountID and date range). The team also needs to create external tables and views for use in Power BI. They want to pay only for the data processed by each query and avoid provisioning any compute resources. Which Azure service should they use?

Question 1hardmultiple choice

Read the full NAT/PAT explanation →

A
Azure Synapse Serverless SQL pool
Synapse Serverless SQL pool allows querying data directly from ADLS Gen2 with T-SQL. It is serverless, charges per data scanned, and supports creating external tables and views for tools like Power BI.
B
Azure Databricks with interactive clusters
Why wrong: Azure Databricks requires a running cluster (even if auto-terminating, it still provisions compute) and charges per cluster hour, not per query. It is not a pay-per-query model.
C
Azure Stream Analytics
Why wrong: Stream Analytics is designed for real-time stream processing, not for ad-hoc SQL queries on historical data stored in files.
D
Azure HDInsight with Spark
Why wrong: HDInsight requires provisioning and managing clusters, and costs are incurred for the cluster uptime, not per query. It does not offer a serverless pay-per-query option.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

Azure Synapse Serverless SQL pool

Azure Synapse Serverless SQL pool is the correct choice because it allows querying data directly from Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 using T-SQL without provisioning any compute resources. It charges per terabyte of data processed, aligning with the requirement to pay only for data scanned by each query. It also supports creating external tables and views for Power BI, making it ideal for ad-hoc, selective queries on partitioned Parquet files.

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.

✓
Azure Synapse Serverless SQL pool
Why this is correct
Synapse Serverless SQL pool allows querying data directly from ADLS Gen2 with T-SQL. It is serverless, charges per data scanned, and supports creating external tables and views for tools like Power BI.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Azure Databricks with interactive clusters
Why it's wrong here
Azure Databricks requires a running cluster (even if auto-terminating, it still provisions compute) and charges per cluster hour, not per query. It is not a pay-per-query model.
✗
Azure Stream Analytics
Why it's wrong here
Stream Analytics is designed for real-time stream processing, not for ad-hoc SQL queries on historical data stored in files.
✗
Azure HDInsight with Spark
Why it's wrong here
HDInsight requires provisioning and managing clusters, and costs are incurred for the cluster uptime, not per query. It does not offer a serverless pay-per-query option.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates may confuse Azure Synapse Serverless SQL pool with Azure Synapse Dedicated SQL pool (which requires provisioning compute) or assume that any Spark-based service (like Databricks or HDInsight) is serverless, but only the serverless SQL pool offers true pay-per-query without compute provisioning.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Azure Synapse Serverless SQL pool uses a distributed query engine that reads data directly from the storage layer (Data Lake Storage Gen2) via the 'OPENROWSET' function or external tables, leveraging predicate pushdown to filter on partitioned columns like date and AccountID, minimizing data scanned. It supports T-SQL syntax for creating views and external tables, which can be queried by Power BI DirectQuery or import mode. The pricing model is $5 per TB of data processed (for standard tier), with no minimum charge, making it cost-effective for selective queries.

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 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

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.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this DP-900 question test?

Describe an analytics workload on Azure — This question tests Describe an analytics workload on Azure — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Azure Synapse Serverless SQL pool — Azure Synapse Serverless SQL pool is the correct choice because it allows querying data directly from Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 using T-SQL without provisioning any compute resources. It charges per terabyte of data processed, aligning with the requirement to pay only for data scanned by each query. It also supports creating external tables and views for Power BI, making it ideal for ad-hoc, selective queries on partitioned Parquet files.

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

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Same concept, more angles

1 more ways this is tested on DP-900

These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.

Variation 1. A company stores terabytes of web server log data in CSV files in Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2. Data analysts need to run ad-hoc SQL queries on this data to analyze user behavior patterns. The queries are complex, involve joins across multiple files, and the analysts prefer not to move the data into a separate store. Which Azure service should they use?

medium

A.Azure Data Factory
✓ B.Azure Synapse Serverless SQL pool
C.Azure SQL Database
D.Azure HDInsight

Why B: Azure Synapse Serverless SQL pool is the correct choice because it allows analysts to run T-SQL queries directly against CSV files stored in Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 without moving the data. It uses a distributed query engine to process complex joins across multiple files, making it ideal for ad-hoc analytics on large-scale log data.

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Question Discussion

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