- A
Table partitioning with partition functions and schemes
Correct. Azure SQL Managed Instance supports the same table partitioning as SQL Server, allowing you to define partitions on a table using a partition function and scheme.
- B
Sharding across multiple Azure SQL Managed Instances
Why wrong: Sharding is a horizontal scaling pattern that distributes data across multiple databases, not the same as table partitioning within a single database.
- C
Index partitioning only
Why wrong: Index partitioning is a part of table partitioning but not sufficient on its own; you need full table partitioning to maintain the existing design.
- D
Federated tables
Why wrong: Federated tables are not a native feature of Azure SQL Managed Instance; they are used in SQL Server with linked servers and are not supported for partitioning.
Quick Answer
The answer is table partitioning with partition functions and partition schemes, as Azure SQL Managed Instance fully supports this native SQL Server feature. This is correct because the same T-SQL syntax—CREATE PARTITION FUNCTION and CREATE PARTITION SCHEME—works identically in both environments, allowing you to define monthly boundary values on a date column and assign partitions to filegroups without altering existing queries or archiving logic. On the DP-900 exam, this tests your understanding that Azure SQL Managed Instance provides near-100% SQL Server engine compatibility, unlike Azure SQL Database which has more restrictive filegroup limitations. A common trap is assuming you must use Azure-specific features like elastic queries or external tables for partitioning, but the exam emphasizes that Managed Instance preserves on-premises partitioning strategies natively. Memory tip: think “Function maps rows, Scheme maps storage”—if you can remember that pair, you’ll recall that both are required for a full partitioning strategy.
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.
A company is migrating an on-premises SQL Server database to Azure SQL Managed Instance. The database has a large fact table that is partitioned by date (monthly partitions) to improve query performance and simplify data archiving. The company wants to maintain the same partitioning strategy in Azure to avoid rewriting queries. Which feature in Azure SQL Managed Instance should they use to achieve this?
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
Table partitioning with partition functions and schemes
Azure SQL Managed Instance supports table partitioning using partition functions and partition schemes, which is the same feature available in SQL Server. This allows you to define monthly partitions on the fact table using a date column, preserving the existing partitioning strategy and query logic without modification. The partition function maps rows to partitions based on the date boundary values, and the partition scheme assigns those partitions to filegroups.
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.
- ✓
Table partitioning with partition functions and schemes
Why this is correct
Correct. Azure SQL Managed Instance supports the same table partitioning as SQL Server, allowing you to define partitions on a table using a partition function and scheme.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Sharding across multiple Azure SQL Managed Instances
Why it's wrong here
Sharding is a horizontal scaling pattern that distributes data across multiple databases, not the same as table partitioning within a single database.
- ✗
Index partitioning only
Why it's wrong here
Index partitioning is a part of table partitioning but not sufficient on its own; you need full table partitioning to maintain the existing design.
- ✗
Federated tables
Why it's wrong here
Federated tables are not a native feature of Azure SQL Managed Instance; they are used in SQL Server with linked servers and are not supported for partitioning.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse table partitioning with sharding or index partitioning, assuming any form of data distribution will work, but only table partitioning with partition functions and schemes preserves the exact same structure and query semantics in Azure SQL Managed Instance.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Table partitioning in Azure SQL Managed Instance uses the same T-SQL syntax as SQL Server: CREATE PARTITION FUNCTION and CREATE PARTITION SCHEME. The partition function defines boundary values (e.g., '2024-01-01', '2024-02-01'), and the partition scheme maps each partition to a filegroup. Under the hood, SQL Server stores each partition as a separate B-tree structure, enabling partition elimination during queries and efficient partition switching for archiving. A real-world scenario is a data warehouse with a 500-million-row sales table where monthly partition switching allows near-instantaneous archival of old data into a separate table without impacting query performance.
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 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.
What to study next
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DP-900 question test?
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: Table partitioning with partition functions and schemes — Azure SQL Managed Instance supports table partitioning using partition functions and partition schemes, which is the same feature available in SQL Server. This allows you to define monthly partitions on the fact table using a date column, preserving the existing partitioning strategy and query logic without modification. The partition function maps rows to partitions based on the date boundary values, and the partition scheme assigns those partitions to filegroups.
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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