Describe considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure →mediumMultiple SelectObjective-mapped
DP-900 Practice Question: Describe considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure
Which TWO scenarios are appropriate for using Azure Blob Storage? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse Azure Blob Storage with other Azure services that handle structured data (like Table Storage or SQL Database) or compute (like Azure Functions), leading them to select options that describe those services instead of focusing on unstructured data storage scenarios.
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
✓
Storing backup files and archival data.
Azure Blob Storage is designed for storing large amounts of unstructured data, such as binary files and text. Backup files and archival data are ideal use cases because Blob Storage supports hot, cool, and cold access tiers optimized for long-term retention and cost-effective storage. Additionally, storing images and videos for a website leverages Blob Storage's ability to serve static assets directly via HTTP/HTTPS, with built-in CDN integration for fast global delivery.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Storing key-value pairs with partition and row keys.
Why it's wrong here
Azure Blob Storage is an object store designed for unstructured data, not for structured key-value records. Partition and row keys are fundamental to Azure Table Storage or the Table API in Cosmos DB, which support efficient point queries and range scans by key. Blobs are identified by container and blob name, not by partition/row key, so this scenario falls outside Blob Storage's purpose.
- ✗
Running SQL queries on structured data.
Why it's wrong here
Blob Storage does not provide a query engine and cannot interpret SQL statements against its contents. Structured data that requires SQL queries should be stored in a relational database like Azure SQL Database or Azure SQL Managed Instance, or queried via Azure Synapse Analytics for data warehousing. While you can place data files in blobs and use PolyBase to read them externally, blob storage itself is not the appropriate service for running SQL queries directly.
- ✗
Storing JavaScript functions for server-side logic.
Why it's wrong here
Blob Storage is a passive data repository for files and binaries; it does not host or execute JavaScript functions. Server-side JavaScript execution is a feature of Cosmos DB stored procedures, which run inside the database engine and can implement transactional logic. Storing a JavaScript function as a blob would only create an inert artifact that no service would automatically run, so this scenario is not appropriate for Blob Storage.
- ✓
Storing backup files and archival data.
Why this is correct
Azure Blob Storage is a prime location for backups and archival data because it provides highly durable, scalable, and cost-effective storage for large volumes of infrequently accessed unstructured data. Its access tiers (hot, cool, cold, and archive) and lifecycle management policies let you automatically move data to cheaper storage as it ages. Redundancy options like LRS, ZRS, GRS, or GZRS protect archived and backup data against infrastructure failures, making it far more practical than local disk or relational databases.
- ✓
Storing images and videos for a website.
Why this is correct
Blob Storage is specially engineered for storing and serving unstructured content such as images, videos, and documents over HTTP(S). It can generate direct object URLs, integrate with Azure CDN for low-latency global delivery, and scale to petabytes of storage without requiring a database schema. This makes it a natural fit for website media assets that are accessed as immutable objects rather than manipulated with SQL or key-value lookups.
Quick reference
Azure Blob Storage Tier Comparison
| Tier | Storage Cost | Retrieval Cost | Latency | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hot | Highest | Lowest | Immediate | Active data, frequent reads |
| Cool | Lower | Higher | Immediate | Data accessed < once / month |
| Cold | Lower still | Higher | Immediate | Data accessed < once / quarter |
| Archive | Lowest | Highest + rehydration delay | Hours | Long-term compliance retention |
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Data Roles and Core Concepts
Key term
Blob storage
Blob storage is a cloud service for storing large amounts of unstructured data, such as text or binary data, like documents, images, and videos.
Key term
Unstructured data
Unstructured data is information that does not have a predefined data model or is not organized in a predefined manner, making it difficult for traditional databases to read and process.
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