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.
You need to run a complex T-SQL query that joins tables from Azure SQL Database and Azure SQL Managed Instance in a single query. Which feature should you use?
Database Mail
Why wrong: Database Mail is for sending emails, not for cross-database queries.
PolyBase
Why wrong: PolyBase is for querying external data like Hadoop or Azure Storage.
Linked server
Why wrong: Linked servers are not supported in Azure SQL Database.
Elastic Query
Elastic Query enables querying multiple databases in Azure SQL Database and Managed Instance.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Elastic Query
Elastic Query (Option D) is the correct feature because it enables running complex T-SQL queries that span multiple databases in Azure SQL Database and Azure SQL Managed Instance, allowing you to join tables across these services in a single query. It uses a logical database as a shard map manager to distribute queries across remote databases, supporting cross-instance and cross-database queries without data movement.
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.
Database Mail
Why it's wrong here
Database Mail is for sending emails, not for cross-database queries.
PolyBase
Why it's wrong here
PolyBase is for querying external data like Hadoop or Azure Storage.
Linked server
Why it's wrong here
Linked servers are not supported in Azure SQL Database.
Elastic Query
Why this is correct
Elastic Query enables querying multiple databases in Azure SQL Database and Managed Instance.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse PolyBase with Elastic Query because both involve querying external data, but PolyBase is for non-relational or file-based sources, while Elastic Query is specifically for cross-database queries within Azure SQL Database and Azure SQL Managed Instance.
Detailed technical explanation
Elastic Query works by creating an external data source and external table definitions that reference remote databases, using a shard map manager to route queries to the correct shard. It leverages the database firewall and credentials for secure cross-instance access, and it supports both horizontal partitioning (sharding) and vertical partitioning (separate databases) scenarios. In practice, you define an external table in the source database that maps to a table in the target Azure SQL Managed Instance, and the query engine transparently pushes down filter and join operations to the remote database.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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..
The correct answer is: Elastic Query — Elastic Query (Option D) is the correct feature because it enables running complex T-SQL queries that span multiple databases in Azure SQL Database and Azure SQL Managed Instance, allowing you to join tables across these services in a single query. It uses a logical database as a shard map manager to distribute queries across remote databases, supporting cross-instance and cross-database queries without data movement.
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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