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.
You need to choose a data storage solution for a global e-commerce platform that requires single-digit millisecond read and write latencies across multiple regions. The data is semi-structured and includes user profiles and product catalogs. Which Azure service should you use?
Azure Redis Cache
Why wrong: Azure Redis Cache is a cache, not a durable data store.
Azure Cosmos DB
Azure Cosmos DB offers global distribution and low latency for semi-structured data.
Azure Table Storage
Why wrong: Azure Table Storage is a key-value store with higher latency than Cosmos DB.
Azure SQL Database
Why wrong: Azure SQL Database is relational and may not meet single-digit millisecond latency globally.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Azure Cosmos DB
Azure Cosmos DB is the correct choice because it is a globally distributed, multi-model database service that guarantees single-digit millisecond read and write latencies at the 99th percentile, regardless of the number of regions. It supports semi-structured data natively through its document (JSON) API, making it ideal for user profiles and product catalogs that require low-latency access across multiple geographic regions.
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.
Azure Redis Cache
Why it's wrong here
Azure Redis Cache is a cache, not a durable data store.
Azure Cosmos DB
Why this is correct
Azure Cosmos DB offers global distribution and low latency for semi-structured data.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Azure Table Storage
Why it's wrong here
Azure Table Storage is a key-value store with higher latency than Cosmos DB.
Azure SQL Database
Why it's wrong here
Azure SQL Database is relational and may not meet single-digit millisecond latency globally.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Azure Redis Cache's in-memory speed with the need for persistent, globally distributed storage, overlooking that Redis Cache is not designed for durable, multi-region data storage with consistency guarantees.
Detailed technical explanation
Azure Cosmos DB achieves its low latency through a combination of automatic indexing of all data, a write-optimized log-structured merge-tree (LSM) engine, and direct TCP-based connectivity using the Azure Cosmos DB wire protocol. Its multi-region writes capability relies on a conflict-resolution mechanism (e.g., last-writer-wins or custom) to handle concurrent updates, which is critical for a global e-commerce platform where the same product catalog might be updated from different regions simultaneously.
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: Azure Cosmos DB — Azure Cosmos DB is the correct choice because it is a globally distributed, multi-model database service that guarantees single-digit millisecond read and write latencies at the 99th percentile, regardless of the number of regions. It supports semi-structured data natively through its document (JSON) API, making it ideal for user profiles and product catalogs that require low-latency access across multiple geographic regions.
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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