Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A logistics company uses Azure SQL Database to store millions of shipment records. The table has columns: ShipmentID (primary key), CustomerID, ShipDate, and Destination. Queries frequently filter by CustomerID and ShipDate to retrieve shipments for a specific customer over a date range. Which indexing strategy will most improve query performance?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Best answer
Create a nonclustered index on CustomerID and ShipDate
This composite index covers both filter columns, enabling efficient seek operations for the WHERE clause conditions.
B
Distractor review
Create a clustered index on ShipmentID
A clustered index on the primary key helps for lookups by ShipmentID but does not improve filtering on CustomerID and ShipDate; the query would still require a full scan or separate index.
C
Distractor review
Partition the table by ShipmentID
Partitioning by ShipmentID does not align with the common query filters (CustomerID, ShipDate). Partition elimination would not occur, so performance gains are minimal.
D
Distractor review
Create a full-text index on Destination
Full-text indexes are designed for searching words or phrases in text columns, not for range or equality queries on CustomerID and ShipDate.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
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.
More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DP-900 question test?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a nonclustered index on CustomerID and ShipDate — For queries that filter on multiple columns, a composite nonclustered index on the columns used in the WHERE clause (CustomerID and ShipDate) allows the database engine to quickly locate the relevant rows without scanning the entire table. A clustered index on ShipmentID is good for point lookups by key, but not for range queries on other columns. Partitioning by ShipmentID does not help since filters are on other columns. Full-text indexes are for text-based searches, not this scenario.
What should I do if I get this DP-900 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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