DP-900 Describe core data concepts Practice Question
A global e-commerce platform uses a combination of relational and NoSQL databases. The order management system requires ACID transactions across multiple tables (Orders, OrderItems, Inventory). The product catalog uses a flexible schema to accommodate varying product attributes and is read-heavy. The session store requires low-latency key-value lookups with eventual consistency. Which of the following pairings of data stores best matches these requirements?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often assume NoSQL databases like Cosmos DB can handle ACID transactions across multiple tables, but in reality, Cosmos DB only guarantees atomicity within a single document or stored procedure, not across separate containers or tables.
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
✓
Order management: Azure SQL Database - Product catalog: Azure Cosmos DB (NoSQL API) - Session store: Azure Cache for Redis
Azure SQL Database provides full ACID transaction support across multiple tables, making it ideal for order management. Azure Cosmos DB (NoSQL API) offers a flexible schema and high read throughput for the product catalog. Azure Cache for Redis delivers sub-millisecond key-value lookups with eventual consistency, perfect for session storage.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Order management: Azure Cosmos DB (NoSQL API) - Product catalog: Azure SQL Database - Session store: Azure Table Storage
Why it's wrong here
Cosmos DB (NoSQL API) does not inherently support multi-table ACID transactions across different containers (unless using transactional batch with limitations). Azure SQL Database is not ideal for a read-heavy, flexible-schema product catalog. Azure Table Storage provides key-value storage but with higher latency than a caching solution.
- ✓
Order management: Azure SQL Database - Product catalog: Azure Cosmos DB (NoSQL API) - Session store: Azure Cache for Redis
Why this is correct
Azure SQL Database provides strong ACID transactions for orders. Cosmos DB with NoSQL API offers flexible schema and low-latency reads for the product catalog. Azure Cache for Redis delivers sub-millisecond key-value lookups ideal for session state with eventual consistency.
- ✗
Order management: Azure Table Storage - Product catalog: Azure SQL Database - Session store: Azure Cosmos DB (NoSQL API)
Why it's wrong here
Azure Table Storage does not support ACID transactions across multiple tables; it is a key-value store with limited consistency. Azure SQL Database is not optimal for a flexible-schema catalog. Cosmos DB can serve as a session store but its latencies are typically higher than a dedicated cache like Redis.
- ✗
Order management: Azure Cosmos DB (Table API) - Product catalog: Azure Cache for Redis - Session store: Azure SQL Database
Why it's wrong here
Cosmos DB Table API is a key-value/table store without multi-table ACID transactions. Azure Cache for Redis is an in-memory cache, not a persistent catalog store. Azure SQL Database is too slow and over-provisioned for a simple session key-value store.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Data Roles and Core Concepts
Key term
Azure SQL Database
Azure SQL Database is a fully managed relational database-as-a-service (DBaaS) in Microsoft Azure, based on the SQL Server engine, that handles scaling, backups, patching, and high availability automatically.
Key term
Schema
A schema is a blueprint or logical structure that defines how data is organized, stored, and accessed in a database or information system.
About these practice questions
One of 820 original DP-900 practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.