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 THREE data storage considerations are important when choosing between Azure SQL Database and Azure Cosmos DB? (Choose three.)
ACID transaction support
SQL Database provides full ACID compliance.
Global distribution capabilities
Cosmos DB offers turnkey global distribution.
Schema flexibility
Cosmos DB is schema-agnostic, SQL Database requires fixed schema.
Maximum storage capacity
Why wrong: Both can scale to large capacities.
Built-in analytics features
Why wrong: Both have limited built-in analytics; not a key differentiator.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
ACID transaction support
Option A is correct because Azure SQL Database provides full ACID (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability) transaction support, ensuring reliable data operations with commit and rollback capabilities. This is critical for applications requiring strict data integrity, such as financial systems or inventory management.
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.
ACID transaction support
Why this is correct
SQL Database provides full ACID compliance.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Global distribution capabilities
Why this is correct
Cosmos DB offers turnkey global distribution.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Schema flexibility
Why this is correct
Cosmos DB is schema-agnostic, SQL Database requires fixed schema.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Maximum storage capacity
Why it's wrong here
Both can scale to large capacities.
Built-in analytics features
Why it's wrong here
Both have limited built-in analytics; not a key differentiator.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'maximum storage capacity' or 'built-in analytics' as key differentiators, when in fact the core decision hinges on ACID transactions, global distribution, and schema flexibility—the three factors that directly align with the fundamental differences between relational and NoSQL databases.
Detailed technical explanation
Azure SQL Database uses a relational engine with strict ACID compliance via snapshot isolation and write-ahead logging, while Azure Cosmos DB is a NoSQL database that offers multiple consistency models (strong, bounded staleness, session, consistent prefix, eventual) and supports multi-region writes with a 99.999% SLA. In a real-world scenario, a global e-commerce platform might choose Cosmos DB for low-latency reads/writes across regions, but a banking application would require SQL Database's ACID guarantees for transactional accuracy.
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: ACID transaction support — Option A is correct because Azure SQL Database provides full ACID (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability) transaction support, ensuring reliable data operations with commit and rollback capabilities. This is critical for applications requiring strict data integrity, such as financial systems or inventory management.
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
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