DP-900 Practice Question: Identify considerations for relational data on Azure
You are designing a solution to store relational data that requires support for graph relationships and JSON queries. Which Azure service should you choose?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often assume graph and JSON support require a NoSQL database like Cosmos DB, but Azure SQL Database provides both features within a relational model, which is the key distinction tested in DP-900.
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
✓
Azure SQL Database
Azure SQL Database is the correct choice because it natively supports graph relationships through graph tables (NODE and EDGE tables) and JSON queries via built-in JSON functions like JSON_VALUE, JSON_QUERY, and OPENJSON. This makes it ideal for storing relational data that also needs to handle graph traversals and semi-structured JSON data without requiring a separate service.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Azure Cosmos DB
Why it's wrong here
Azure Cosmos DB is a globally distributed, multi-model NoSQL database service that provides document, key-value, graph, and columnar APIs, but it is fundamentally schema-agnostic and does not enforce relational integrity. It lacks first-class support for ACID transactions across multiple items, foreign keys, and SQL joins in the same way a relational engine does. Therefore, it is not the correct choice for storing relational data that relies on strict schema and relationships.
- ✗
Azure Table Storage
Why it's wrong here
Azure Table Storage is a schema-less key-value/entity store designed for massive scale and simple lookups by partition key and row key. It does not provide SQL querying, joins, foreign keys, or any relational integrity constraints. Although it can store tabular data, it is not a relational database and cannot support the structured relationships and query patterns required by a relational data solution.
- ✓
Azure SQL Database
Why this is correct
Azure SQL Database is a fully managed relational database engine built on SQL Server, offering T-SQL, enforced schemas, relationships via primary and foreign keys, and rich querying with joins. It also includes built-in graph table features (node and edge tables) that allow you to model many-to-many relationships, and JSON query support for semi-structured data. This makes it the most appropriate service when you need a relational store that can also handle graph-style relationships and flexible data formats.
- ✗
Azure Database for PostgreSQL
Why it's wrong here
Azure Database for PostgreSQL is a fully managed relational database, but its native support for graph querying is limited compared to Azure SQL Database. To model graph relationships you would need to rely on extensions such as Apache AGE or handle graph traversals manually, which adds complexity and lacks the tight integration of SQL Graph in Azure SQL. Given the requirement to store relational data that must also support graph relationships, this service is less suitable than the built-in graph capabilities of Azure SQL Database.
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Data Roles and Core Concepts
Key term
Data
Data is raw, unprocessed information, like numbers, words, or measurements, that can be stored, processed, and analyzed by computers.
Key term
Azure SQL Database
Azure SQL Database is a fully managed relational database-as-a-service (DBaaS) in Microsoft Azure, based on the SQL Server engine, that handles scaling, backups, patching, and high availability automatically.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.