- A
Store raw data in Azure Blob Storage and aggregated data in Azure Cosmos DB
Why wrong: Azure Blob Storage is suitable for unstructured data but lacks the hierarchical namespace and analytics integration of Data Lake Storage. Azure Cosmos DB is a NoSQL database not optimized for relational BI queries.
- B
Store raw data in Azure Data Lake Storage and aggregated data in Azure SQL Database
Azure Data Lake Storage provides a scalable data lake for raw data with schema-on-read, while Azure SQL Database is a relational database ideal for structured transactional data and BI reports.
- C
Store raw data in Azure Table Storage and aggregated data in Azure Data Lake Storage
Why wrong: Azure Table Storage is a key-value store not well-suited for raw JSON clickstream data. Azure Data Lake Storage is not a relational store for aggregated data.
- D
Store raw data in Azure SQL Database and aggregated data in Azure Blob Storage
Why wrong: Azure SQL Database requires a predefined schema, so it's not ideal for raw schema-on-read data. Azure Blob Storage lacks relational query capabilities for aggregated data.
DP-900 Describe core data concepts Practice Question
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 retail company collects raw clickstream data from its website as JSON files. Data scientists need to run exploratory analytics on this raw data without a predefined schema. BI analysts also need to generate weekly sales reports from aggregated transactional data stored in a relational format. Which combination of data storage approaches best meets these needs?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
Store raw data in Azure Data Lake Storage and aggregated data in Azure SQL Database
Azure Data Lake Storage (ADLS) is optimized for storing raw, schema-on-read data like JSON files, enabling data scientists to run exploratory analytics without a predefined schema. Azure SQL Database provides a relational structure with ACID compliance, ideal for BI analysts generating weekly sales reports from aggregated transactional data. This combination directly addresses both unstructured raw data and structured reporting needs.
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.
- ✗
Store raw data in Azure Blob Storage and aggregated data in Azure Cosmos DB
Why it's wrong here
Azure Blob Storage is suitable for unstructured data but lacks the hierarchical namespace and analytics integration of Data Lake Storage. Azure Cosmos DB is a NoSQL database not optimized for relational BI queries.
- ✓
Store raw data in Azure Data Lake Storage and aggregated data in Azure SQL Database
Why this is correct
Azure Data Lake Storage provides a scalable data lake for raw data with schema-on-read, while Azure SQL Database is a relational database ideal for structured transactional data and BI reports.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Store raw data in Azure Table Storage and aggregated data in Azure Data Lake Storage
Why it's wrong here
Azure Table Storage is a key-value store not well-suited for raw JSON clickstream data. Azure Data Lake Storage is not a relational store for aggregated data.
- ✗
Store raw data in Azure SQL Database and aggregated data in Azure Blob Storage
Why it's wrong here
Azure SQL Database requires a predefined schema, so it's not ideal for raw schema-on-read data. Azure Blob Storage lacks relational query capabilities for aggregated data.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Microsoft often tests the distinction between storage for raw, schema-less data (ADLS/Blob) versus structured, relational data (Azure SQL Database), and the trap here is that candidates confuse Azure Cosmos DB or Table Storage as suitable for raw data, overlooking that they are NoSQL databases with fixed schemas or key-value limitations, not optimized for exploratory analytics on JSON files.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 combines blob storage with a hierarchical namespace, supporting POSIX-like access controls and high-throughput analytics via Apache Spark or Azure Synapse. Azure SQL Database uses columnstore indexes to accelerate aggregation queries on large transactional datasets, enabling sub-second response times for weekly sales reports. The schema-on-read paradigm in ADLS allows data scientists to define structures at query time using tools like U-SQL or Spark DataFrames, while Azure SQL Database enforces schema-on-write for consistency.
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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Describe core data concepts — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DP-900 question test?
Describe core data concepts — This question tests Describe core data concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Store raw data in Azure Data Lake Storage and aggregated data in Azure SQL Database — Azure Data Lake Storage (ADLS) is optimized for storing raw, schema-on-read data like JSON files, enabling data scientists to run exploratory analytics without a predefined schema. Azure SQL Database provides a relational structure with ACID compliance, ideal for BI analysts generating weekly sales reports from aggregated transactional data. This combination directly addresses both unstructured raw data and structured reporting needs.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 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.
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