- A
A. Workload A: Azure SQL Database; Workload B: Azure Cosmos DB
Why wrong: Azure SQL Database is excellent for OLTP, but Workload B is analytics which Cosmos DB is not optimized for; Cosmos DB is a transactional NoSQL database.
- B
B. Workload A: Azure Cosmos DB; Workload B: Azure Synapse Analytics
Cosmos DB provides low-latency transactions (OLTP) and Synapse Analytics is built for large-scale analytics (OLAP), matching the workloads correctly.
- C
C. Workload A: Azure Synapse Analytics; Workload B: Azure SQL Database
Why wrong: Synapse Analytics is not designed for high-volume, low-latency transactions; it is optimized for batch analytics. Azure SQL Database is OLTP, not suited for petabyte-scale aggregations.
- D
D. Workload A: Azure Cosmos DB; Workload B: Azure Cosmos DB
Why wrong: While Cosmos DB can handle some analytics with its analytical store, it is not the best choice for complex aggregations on terabytes of data compared to a dedicated data warehouse like Synapse Analytics.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is Azure Cosmos DB for Workload A and Azure Synapse Analytics for Workload B. This pairing is correct because Cosmos DB is a NoSQL database engineered for single-digit millisecond latency and horizontal scaling, making it ideal for high-volume, low-latency transactions like order entry and payment processing where each update touches only a few rows. In contrast, Synapse Analytics uses massively parallel processing (MPP) to run complex aggregations on terabytes of historical data, which is exactly what Workload B requires for monthly business intelligence reports. On the DP-900 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between OLTP (online transaction processing) and OLAP (online analytical processing) workloads, a core concept in the Azure Data Fundamentals. A common trap is choosing Azure SQL Database for Workload A or Azure Data Lake for Workload B, but remember: Cosmos DB is the go-to for global-scale, low-latency transactions, while Synapse is built for petabyte-scale analytics. Memory tip: think “Cosmos for clicks” (fast transactions) and “Synapse for summaries” (big analytics).
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 company is evaluating Azure database services for two different workloads. Workload A processes high-volume, low-latency transactions such as order entry and payment processing, where each transaction updates a few rows. Workload B involves running complex aggregations on terabytes of historical sales data to generate monthly business intelligence reports. Which Azure service is best suited for each workload?
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
B. Workload A: Azure Cosmos DB; Workload B: Azure Synapse Analytics
Workload A requires a low-latency, high-throughput transactional database capable of handling many small, row-level updates. Azure Cosmos DB is a NoSQL database designed for single-digit millisecond latency and horizontal scaling, making it ideal for order entry and payment processing. Workload B involves complex aggregations on terabytes of historical data, which is best handled by Azure Synapse Analytics, a distributed analytics service that uses massively parallel processing (MPP) to run large-scale queries efficiently.
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.
- ✗
A. Workload A: Azure SQL Database; Workload B: Azure Cosmos DB
Why it's wrong here
Azure SQL Database is excellent for OLTP, but Workload B is analytics which Cosmos DB is not optimized for; Cosmos DB is a transactional NoSQL database.
- ✓
B. Workload A: Azure Cosmos DB; Workload B: Azure Synapse Analytics
Why this is correct
Cosmos DB provides low-latency transactions (OLTP) and Synapse Analytics is built for large-scale analytics (OLAP), matching the workloads correctly.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
C. Workload A: Azure Synapse Analytics; Workload B: Azure SQL Database
Why it's wrong here
Synapse Analytics is not designed for high-volume, low-latency transactions; it is optimized for batch analytics. Azure SQL Database is OLTP, not suited for petabyte-scale aggregations.
- ✗
D. Workload A: Azure Cosmos DB; Workload B: Azure Cosmos DB
Why it's wrong here
While Cosmos DB can handle some analytics with its analytical store, it is not the best choice for complex aggregations on terabytes of data compared to a dedicated data warehouse like Synapse Analytics.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Azure SQL Database as the default for all transactional workloads, overlooking that Cosmos DB is specifically designed for ultra-low-latency, globally distributed transactions, and they may also assume Azure Synapse Analytics is only for data warehousing without recognizing its role in complex aggregations on historical data.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure Cosmos DB uses a multi-model, globally distributed architecture with automatic indexing and configurable consistency levels (e.g., eventual, strong) to achieve single-digit millisecond latency for point reads and writes. Azure Synapse Analytics separates compute from storage and uses a control node to distribute queries across compute nodes, leveraging columnar storage and MPP to scan terabytes of data in seconds. In practice, a payment system might use Cosmos DB with session consistency to ensure user-level read-your-writes, while a BI team would use Synapse with PolyBase to query data from Azure Data Lake Storage.
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
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
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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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: B. Workload A: Azure Cosmos DB; Workload B: Azure Synapse Analytics — Workload A requires a low-latency, high-throughput transactional database capable of handling many small, row-level updates. Azure Cosmos DB is a NoSQL database designed for single-digit millisecond latency and horizontal scaling, making it ideal for order entry and payment processing. Workload B involves complex aggregations on terabytes of historical data, which is best handled by Azure Synapse Analytics, a distributed analytics service that uses massively parallel processing (MPP) to run large-scale queries efficiently.
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 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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