- A
Azure SQL Database
Why wrong: Azure SQL Database is a relational database for transactional workloads, not designed to store raw files in multiple formats.
- B
Azure Synapse Analytics
Why wrong: Azure Synapse Analytics provides a unified analytics platform but uses Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 as its underlying storage for lakehouse scenarios. The core storage layer is ADLS Gen2, not Synapse itself.
- C
Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2
ADLS Gen2 offers a hierarchical namespace and can store both raw and curated data in any format, making it the ideal storage layer for a lakehouse architecture.
- D
Azure Cosmos DB
Why wrong: Azure Cosmos DB is a NoSQL database for globally distributed, low-latency transactional workloads, not a data lake for multi-format analytics storage.
Quick Answer
The answer is Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 (ADLS Gen2). This is correct because ADLS Gen2 provides a single, unified storage layer capable of holding raw data in its native format—such as CSV, JSON, or Parquet—within a hierarchical namespace, while also serving as the foundation for curated, transformed datasets used in BI reporting, directly fulfilling the lakehouse architecture’s need for one storage plane. On the DP-900 exam, this question tests your understanding of how ADLS Gen2 combines the scalability of Blob Storage with file system semantics and ACLs, making it the core storage layer for a modern lakehouse. A common trap is confusing it with Azure Synapse Analytics (which is the compute and query engine) or standard Blob Storage (which lacks the hierarchical namespace and analytics optimizations). Remember the memory tip: “ADLS Gen2 is the lake’s foundation—raw and refined, all in one location.”
DP-900 Describe an analytics workload on Azure Practice Question
This DP-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe an analytics workload 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 company wants to build a modern data warehouse using a lakehouse architecture. They need to store raw data in its native format (e.g., CSV, JSON, Parquet) and also support BI reporting on curated, transformed data. They want to use a single storage layer for both raw and curated data. Which Azure service should they use as the core storage layer?
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 Data Lake Storage Gen2
Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 (ADLS Gen2) is the correct choice because it provides a single, unified storage layer that can store raw data in its native format (CSV, JSON, Parquet) in a hierarchical namespace, while also serving as the foundation for curated, transformed data used in BI reporting. It combines the scalability and cost-effectiveness of Azure Blob Storage with the file system semantics and ACLs needed for analytics workloads, making it the ideal core storage layer for a lakehouse architecture.
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 SQL Database
Why it's wrong here
Azure SQL Database is a relational database for transactional workloads, not designed to store raw files in multiple formats.
- ✗
Azure Synapse Analytics
Why it's wrong here
Azure Synapse Analytics provides a unified analytics platform but uses Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 as its underlying storage for lakehouse scenarios. The core storage layer is ADLS Gen2, not Synapse itself.
- ✓
Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2
Why this is correct
ADLS Gen2 offers a hierarchical namespace and can store both raw and curated data in any format, making it the ideal storage layer for a lakehouse architecture.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Azure Cosmos DB
Why it's wrong here
Azure Cosmos DB is a NoSQL database for globally distributed, low-latency transactional workloads, not a data lake for multi-format analytics storage.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse Azure Synapse Analytics (a compute/query service) with a storage layer, when the question explicitly asks for the 'core storage layer' that holds both raw and curated data, which is ADLS Gen2.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
Azure Synapse Analytics provides a unified analytics platform but uses Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 as its underlying storage for lakehouse scenarios. The core storage layer is ADLS Gen2, not Synapse itself.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ADLS Gen2 implements a hierarchical namespace on top of Azure Blob Storage, enabling POSIX-like access control lists (ACLs) and directory operations, which are critical for managing raw and curated data in a lakehouse. It supports multiple protocols including ABFS (Azure Blob File System) driver for Hadoop/Spark, REST APIs, and NFS 3.0, allowing tools like Azure Synapse, Databricks, and Power BI to directly access data without moving it. A real-world scenario is a company ingesting IoT sensor data as raw JSON files into ADLS Gen2, then using Azure Synapse serverless SQL to transform and curate the data into Parquet format for Power BI dashboards, all within the same storage account.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DP-900 question test?
Describe an analytics workload on Azure — This question tests Describe an analytics workload on Azure — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 — Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 (ADLS Gen2) is the correct choice because it provides a single, unified storage layer that can store raw data in its native format (CSV, JSON, Parquet) in a hierarchical namespace, while also serving as the foundation for curated, transformed data used in BI reporting. It combines the scalability and cost-effectiveness of Azure Blob Storage with the file system semantics and ACLs needed for analytics workloads, making it the ideal core storage layer for a lakehouse architecture.
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.
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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