- A
Azure Cosmos DB Core (SQL) API
Why wrong: Incorrect. Cosmos DB can store JSON events but is more expensive than blob storage for append-heavy, immutable workloads, and does not have an append-optimized feature.
- B
Azure Table Storage
Why wrong: Incorrect. Table Storage is a key-value store and would require storing each event as a separate entity. Retrieving the full route history would involve multiple queries, and it lacks native append semantics.
- C
Azure Blob Storage with append blobs
Correct. Append blobs are designed for log data, offer low cost, and can be queried using serverless SQL or Azure Data Lake Storage analytics tools for full historical analysis.
- D
Azure SQL Database with a JSON column
Why wrong: Incorrect. Relational storage for high-frequency append operations would be expensive in terms of write capacity and storage cost, and does not provide an append-optimized pattern.
Quick Answer
The answer is Azure Blob Storage with append blobs for the route history. This is correct because the shipment route data is classic write-once, read-many (WORM) data—events are frequently appended but never updated or deleted, and append blobs are specifically optimized for such sequential append operations, providing low-cost storage while allowing fast retrieval of the latest status by reading the last block. On the DP-900 exam, this scenario tests your ability to match data workload patterns to the correct Azure storage solution; a common trap is choosing Azure Table Storage for its key-value speed, but that service lacks the append-only optimization and cost efficiency for large, immutable event logs. Remember the memory tip: “Append blobs for append-only WORM logs”—if the data only grows by adding new blocks and never changes, think append blobs.
DP-900 Practice Question: Describe considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure
This DP-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe considerations for working with non-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.
A logistics company tracks shipments. For each shipment, metadata (ID, weight, destination) is stored in a relational table. The route history is a sequence of events (timestamp, location, status) that is frequently appended but never updated or deleted. The application needs to quickly retrieve the latest status of a shipment and occasionally run analytical queries over the full route history. The company wants to minimize storage cost and use Azure services. Which Azure data store should they choose for the route history?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"never"Why it matters: Absolute qualifier. True only if the statement has zero exceptions — be cautious of options that seem obvious but break down in edge cases.
Clue:
"minimum / minimize"Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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 Blob Storage with append blobs
Azure Blob Storage with append blobs is the correct choice because route history is write-once, read-many (WORM) data that is frequently appended but never modified or deleted. Append blobs are optimized for sequential append operations, offering low-cost storage for large volumes of event data, and they support fast retrieval of the latest status by reading the last block. This minimizes storage cost while allowing occasional analytical queries over the full history via Azure Synapse or other analytics services.
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 Cosmos DB Core (SQL) API
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Cosmos DB can store JSON events but is more expensive than blob storage for append-heavy, immutable workloads, and does not have an append-optimized feature.
- ✗
Azure Table Storage
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Table Storage is a key-value store and would require storing each event as a separate entity. Retrieving the full route history would involve multiple queries, and it lacks native append semantics.
- ✓
Azure Blob Storage with append blobs
Why this is correct
Correct. Append blobs are designed for log data, offer low cost, and can be queried using serverless SQL or Azure Data Lake Storage analytics tools for full historical analysis.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "never", "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Azure SQL Database with a JSON column
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Relational storage for high-frequency append operations would be expensive in terms of write capacity and storage cost, and does not provide an append-optimized pattern.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose Azure Cosmos DB or Azure SQL Database because they associate 'fast retrieval' with transactional databases, overlooking that append blobs provide both low-cost storage and efficient last-block retrieval for append-only event sequences.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Append blobs in Azure Blob Storage consist of blocks that are committed sequentially, and each append operation adds a new block to the end of the blob, with a maximum of 50,000 blocks per blob. The latest status can be retrieved by reading the last block using the Get Block List operation with the 'latest' parameter, which avoids scanning the entire blob. For analytical queries, you can use Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 (built on Blob Storage) with a hierarchical namespace, enabling efficient partition pruning and integration with Apache Spark or Azure Synapse serverless SQL.
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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
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 considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DP-900 question test?
Describe considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure — This question tests Describe considerations for working with non-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: Azure Blob Storage with append blobs — Azure Blob Storage with append blobs is the correct choice because route history is write-once, read-many (WORM) data that is frequently appended but never modified or deleted. Append blobs are optimized for sequential append operations, offering low-cost storage for large volumes of event data, and they support fast retrieval of the latest status by reading the last block. This minimizes storage cost while allowing occasional analytical queries over the full history via Azure Synapse or other analytics services.
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: "never", "minimum / minimize". Absolute qualifier. True only if the statement has zero exceptions — be cautious of options that seem obvious but break down in edge cases.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 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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