Quick Answer
The answer is Azure Cosmos DB, which is one of the two Azure NoSQL databases you need to know for the DP-900 exam. Azure Cosmos DB is explicitly designed as a fully managed NoSQL database service, supporting multiple data models like document, key-value, graph, and column-family through APIs such as MongoDB, Cassandra, Gremlin, and Table, making it schema-agnostic and horizontally scalable. On the Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals DP-900 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between relational and non-relational data stores, with a common trap being to confuse Azure SQL Database or Azure Database for PostgreSQL as NoSQL options. To remember, think of Cosmos DB as the "universal" NoSQL choice because it handles diverse data structures without fixed schemas. A helpful memory tip: "Cosmos covers all NoSQL models—documents, keys, graphs, and columns."
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.
Which TWO Azure data services are classified as NoSQL databases? (Choose two.)
Azure SQL Managed Instance
Why wrong: Relational database.
Azure Cosmos DB
NoSQL database.
Azure Table Storage
NoSQL key-value store.
Azure Database for PostgreSQL
Why wrong: Relational database.
Azure SQL Database
Why wrong: Relational database.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Azure Cosmos DB
Azure Cosmos DB is a fully managed NoSQL database service that supports multiple data models, including document, key-value, graph, and column-family, via APIs like SQL, MongoDB, Cassandra, Gremlin, and Table. It is explicitly designed as a NoSQL database with schema-agnostic, horizontally scalable storage.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Azure SQL Managed Instance
Why it's wrong here
Relational database.
Azure Cosmos DB
Why this is correct
NoSQL database.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Azure Table Storage
Why this is correct
NoSQL key-value store.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Azure Database for PostgreSQL
Why it's wrong here
Relational database.
Azure SQL Database
Why it's wrong here
Relational database.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Azure Table Storage (a NoSQL key-value store) with Azure SQL Database or Managed Instance, assuming 'Table' implies a relational table, but it is actually a NoSQL service.
Detailed technical explanation
Azure Cosmos DB uses a distributed, multi-model architecture with automatic indexing of all data and guarantees single-digit millisecond latency at the 99th percentile for reads and writes. Azure Table Storage, now part of Cosmos DB's Table API, is a key-value store that stores semi-structured data as entities with partitions and row keys, supporting schema-less design. Both services avoid fixed schemas and join operations, which distinguishes them from relational databases.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Describe core data concepts — This question tests Describe core data concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Azure Cosmos DB — Azure Cosmos DB is a fully managed NoSQL database service that supports multiple data models, including document, key-value, graph, and column-family, via APIs like SQL, MongoDB, Cassandra, Gremlin, and Table. It is explicitly designed as a NoSQL database with schema-agnostic, horizontally scalable storage.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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