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.
An e-commerce application uses Azure SQL Database and stores user session data in a table called Sessions. The table contains millions of rows and queries often filter by UserID and LastActivityTime. The development team wants to improve query performance for these filters. What should they implement?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create a nonclustered index on UserID and LastActivityTime
Option C is correct because an index on (UserID, LastActivityTime) speeds up filters on both columns. Option A is wrong because a clustered index organizes data physically but does not specifically optimize these filters. Option B is wrong because partitioning can help manage large tables but not directly optimize filter queries. Option D is wrong because views are virtual and do not inherently improve performance without indexes.
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.
✗
Create a clustered index on the SessionID column
Why it's wrong here
Clustered index on SessionID may not help filters on UserID and LastActivityTime.
✗
Create a view that filters the data
Why it's wrong here
A view does not improve performance unless it is indexed.
✓
Create a nonclustered index on UserID and LastActivityTime
Why this is correct
Nonclustered index on these columns directly supports the filter queries.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Partition the table by month
Why it's wrong here
Partitioning helps data management but not necessarily query performance for these columns.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this DP-900 question in full detail.
Identify which DP-900 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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: Create a nonclustered index on UserID and LastActivityTime — Option C is correct because an index on (UserID, LastActivityTime) speeds up filters on both columns. Option A is wrong because a clustered index organizes data physically but does not specifically optimize these filters. Option B is wrong because partitioning can help manage large tables but not directly optimize filter queries. Option D is wrong because views are virtual and do not inherently improve performance without indexes.
What should I do if I get this DP-900 question wrong?
Identify which DP-900 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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