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How to pass the Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals (DP-900) exam?

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Exam DP-900: Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals

Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals (DP-900) exam is a certification exam that tests your foundational knowledge of core data concepts and Azure data services. The exam measures your understanding of core data concepts such as relational, non-relational, and big data solutions, as well as various Azure data services including Azure Cosmos DB, Azure SQL Database, Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure Data Lake Storage, and more.

The DP-900 exam is designed for individuals who are interested in starting a career in data or want to validate their foundational knowledge of Azure data services. The exam is also suitable for professionals who work with data in non-technical roles such as sales, marketing, and finance.

To pass the DP-900 exam, you need to have a basic understanding of data concepts, be familiar with relational and non-relational data models, and understand the basics of data processing, data storage, and data analytics. You should also have a basic understanding of Azure services and how they can be used for data solutions.

Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals (DP-900) Glossary

Here are some key terms and concepts related to Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals (DP-900) that you may encounter:

  • Azure: Microsoft’s cloud computing platform that provides a variety of services and tools for building, deploying, and managing applications and services.
  • Relational database: A type of database that stores data in tables with rows and columns, and enforces relationships between tables using keys.
  • Non-relational database: A type of database that stores data in a flexible, non-tabular format, typically using collections of documents or key-value pairs.
  • Big data: Extremely large datasets that are too complex to process using traditional data processing methods.
  • Data processing: The act of transforming raw data into a usable format for analysis or consumption.
  • Data storage: The act of storing data in a structured or unstructured format for later use.
  • Learning Data analytics: The process of analyzing data to uncover patterns, trends, and insights.
  • Azure SQL Database: A fully managed relational database service that allows you to deploy, manage, and scale relational databases in the cloud.
  • Azure Cosmos DB: A globally distributed, multi-model database service that provides support for NoSQL data structures.
  • Learning Azure Synapse Analytics: An analytics service that provides a unified experience for data ingestion, big data processing, and data warehousing.
  • Azure Data Lake Storage: A scalable and secure data lake service that allows you to store and analyze large amounts of unstructured data.
  • Azure Stream Analytics: A real-time analytics service that allows you to process and analyze streaming data from various sources.

Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals (DP-900) Exam Guide

Here are some official resources and links for the Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals (DP-900) exam:

  • Exam DP-900: Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals – This is the official exam page on Microsoft’s website, which provides a description of the exam, its objectives, and the skills measured.
  • Microsoft Learn DP-900 course – This is a free, self-paced online course provided by Microsoft that covers the topics and skills measured in the DP-900 exam. It includes interactive learning modules, quizzes, and hands-on labs.
  • Microsoft Learn DP-900 certification path – This is a certification path on the Microsoft Learn platform that provides a structured learning path to help you prepare for the DP-900 exam.
  • Understanding Microsoft DP-900 Exam Study Guide – This is a downloadable study guide provided by Microsoft that covers the key topics and concepts you need to know to pass the DP-900 exam.
  • Understanding Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals (DP-900) Certification Training – This is a paid training program offered by various training providers that include instructor-led training, hands-on labs, and exam preparation materials to help you pass the DP-900 exam.

Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals Exam Tips and Tricks

Here are some tips and tricks to help you prepare for the Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals (DP-900) exam:

  • Understand the exam objectives: Make sure you review the exam objectives provided by Microsoft and understand what topics and skills will be covered in the exam.
  • Use official resources: Microsoft provides a variety of official resources for the DP-900 exam, including a free online course, study guide, and practice test. Use these resources to help you prepare for the exam.
  • Practice hands-on: Azure offers a free trial account that allows you to create and use various Azure data services. Try creating some databases, data warehouses, or data lakes, and practice running queries, managing data pipelines, and monitoring data.
  • Review sample questions: Reviewing sample questions can help you get a sense of the types of questions you may encounter on the exam. Microsoft offers a practice test with 45 multiple-choice questions similar to those on the actual exam.
  • Pay attention to key concepts: Make sure you have a solid understanding of key data concepts, such as relational databases, non-relational databases, data processing, data storage, and data analytics. You should also be familiar with Azure services and how they can be used for data solutions.
  • Manage your time: The DP-900 exam consists of 40-60 multiple-choice questions that must be completed within 60 minutes. Make sure you manage your time effectively during the exam and do not spend too much time on any one question.
  • Eliminate incorrect options: When answering multiple-choice questions, try to eliminate incorrect options first to narrow down your choices. This can help you arrive at the correct answer more quickly.

Step-by-step guide for Microsoft Azure DP-900 Exam

The Microsoft DP-900 is the initial examination of a data analyst’s, database administrator’s, or data engineer’s ability to ask and answer the most crucial questions regarding transferring, storing, and putting data to good use in the world of data. However, the Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals (DP-900) Exam is best suitable for those with a solid understanding of key data principles and how Microsoft Azure data services may be used to apply them. This exam is specifically designed to easily start the journey with cloud data. 

For this, it is suggested to have familiarity with the principles of relational and non-relational data, as well as transactional and analytical data workloads. Further, Azure Data Fundamentals can be used for preparing for role-based certifications, such as 

  • Azure Database Administrator Associate
  • Azure Data Engineer Associate

Step 1: Recommended knowledge for DP-900 Exam

The Microsoft DP-900 is a beginner’s exam, and there is no such experience or any prerequisite for the exam. But, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try anything if you aren’t prepared. A successful candidate will have a theoretical grasp of data analytics and workloads, as well as hands-on experience with data on Azure.

You should concentrate on the contrasts between batch, streaming, relational, and non-relational data workloads in the theoretical section. Also, familiarise yourself with data visualization tools, analytics methods, and data processing concepts. Furthermore, you should try to learn about:

  • Firstly, PaaS, IaaS, and SaaS solutions
  • Secondly, relational and non-relational data for different products and services in Azure.
  • Thirdly, analytics workloads and the process of handling them in Azure.

Step 2: Understand the targeted audience for the exam

The Microsoft DP-900 is a data basics exam for beginners. The DP-900 is suitable for junior IT workers who work with data. If you’re looking to establish a portfolio of career-defining certificates, data-related professionals who are further along in their careers are also good candidates. However, to better understand this, let’s check the major suitable role for this exam.

  • Database Administrators
    • For most database administrators with skills for understanding how Microsoft Azure works with data is critical, this exam is the best way to enhance your level. However, the DP-900 ensures that you understand what Azure is capable of so that you can optimize its usefulness for you, whether you’re used to managing your databases according to your own specific methods or you’re interested in introducing new services to your data management.
  • Data Analysts
    • The Azure Data Fundamentals certification is the first in Microsoft’s series of data analysis, administration, and engineering certifications. Earning the DP-900 can help you achieve long-term success and familiarity with the tools of the profession.

Step 3: Exam Format

Microsoft DP-900 exam will have 40-60 questions in the exam. This exam can be taken in English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified), Korean, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Indonesian (Indonesia), Arabic (Saudi Arabia), Chinese (Traditional), and Italian language. And, the exam cost is $99 USD*. Further, candidates have to obtain a score of a minimum of 700 for passing the DP-900 exam. 

Step 4: Scheduling the exam

  • To begin, create a Microsoft Account. To schedule an exam, go to the dashboard page once you’ve created an account.
  • Second, click the schedule new exam. Doing this will take you to the all certifications page, where you may select Azure exams and then choose DP-900. 
  • Lastly, you can view the page and schedule choices below. Create an account and schedule an exam using any of these methods.

Step 5: Exploring the exam objectives

This is a major element of your preparation. Every exam includes a topic portion that is extremely important. It’s also important to go through each section of this section in order to have a better understanding of the subject. The Microsoft Azure DP-900 exam is divided into many sections, each with its own set of parts and subsections. The topics are:

1. Describe core data concepts (25—30%)

Describe ways to represent data

Identify options for data storage

Describe common data workloads

Identify roles and responsibilities for data workloads

  • Describe responsibilities for database administrators
  • Describe responsibilities for data engineers (Microsoft Documentation: Data engineer)
  • Describe responsibilities for data analysts
2. Identify considerations for relational data on Azure (20—25%)

Describe relational concepts

Describe relational Azure data services

3. Describe considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure (15—20%)

Describing capabilities of Azure storage

Describe capabilities and features of Azure Cosmos DB

4. Describe an analytics workload on Azure (25—30%)

Describing common elements of large-scale analytics

Describe consideration for real-time data analytics

  • Describe the difference between batch and streaming data (Microsoft Documentation: Explore fundamentals of real-time analytics)
  • Describe technologies for real-time analytics including Azure Stream Analytics, Azure Synapse Data Explorer, and Spark structured streaming (Microsoft Documentation: Real-time processing)

Describe data visualization in Microsoft Power BI

Moving on to the training course part!

Step 6: Microsoft Learning path

Microsoft has developed new methods for understanding the topic. That is, for each exam, Microsoft provides a variety of study paths, each of which covers the exam’s topics in modules. All important information is included, as well as useful reference links. Some of the learning pathways for the DP-900 exam include:

Path 1: Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals: Explore core data concepts

Learn the principles of database concepts in a cloud context, get a core understanding of cloud data services, and expand your knowledge of cloud data services in Microsoft Azure. You’ll learn how to identify and explain basic data concepts including relational, non-relational, big data, and analytics, as well as how to use Microsoft Azure to apply them. You’ll learn about the many roles, responsibilities, and duties that exist in the data world. However, the modules include:

  • Exploring core data concepts
    • Learn the process of organizing and processing data, as well as steps for using relational and non-relational databases and processing data in batches or streams.
  • Searching roles and responsibilities in the world of data
    • This module will explain the many job responsibilities involved in developing, managing, and using databases. You’ll learn about the essential tasks of these professions as well as the tools they employ.
  • Explaining concepts of relational data
    • Learn about the relational database concept, how tables are organized, how to utilize indexes to speed up searches, and use views to simplify complicated queries.
  • Exploring concepts of non-relational data
    • Discover the differences between relational and non-relational databases. Learn about the many types of non-relational databases that are often used in applications.
  • Exploring concepts of data analytics
    • Learn how to load raw data into a data analytics system and use it to build analytical models that help a company obtain valuable insights into its operations.
Path 2: Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals: Explore relational data in Azure

Learn the principles of database concepts in a cloud context, get a core understanding of cloud data services, and expand your knowledge of cloud data services in Microsoft Azure. Through cloud data solutions with Microsoft Azure, you’ll learn about relational data services, provisioning and installing relational databases, and querying relational data. However, the modules covered in this path are:

  • Exploring relational data services in Azure
    • Examine Azure SQL Database, Azure PostgreSQL Database, Azure MySQL Database, and Azure MariaDB Database. Investigate several possibilities for implementing these database management systems.
  • Searching provisioning and deploying relational database services in Azure
    • Learn how to set up Azure SQL Database, Azure Database for PostgreSQL, and Azure Database for MySQL, as well as how to provision and configure them.
  • Query relational data in Azure
    • Learn how to query, insert, update, and remove data in a relational database using Structured Query Language (SQL).
Path 3: Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals: Searching non-relational data in Azure

Learn the principles of database concepts in a cloud context, get a core understanding of cloud data services, and expand your knowledge of cloud data services in Microsoft Azure. With Microsoft Azure, you’ll learn about:

  • Firstly, non-relational data offers
  • Secondly, provisioning and installing non-relational databases
  • Lastly, non-relational data stores. 

However, the modules covered in this path are:

  • Exploring non-relational data offerings in Azure
    • Learn about Azure Table Storage, Azure Blob Storage, Azure File Storage, and Azure Cosmos DB, as well as how to use them in different scenarios.
  • Searching provisioning and deploying non-relational data services in Azure
    • Learn how to set up Azure Cosmos DB, Azure Data Lake, Azure Blob Storage, and Azure File Storage, as well as how to provision and configure them.
  • Managing non-relational data stores in Azure
    • Learn how to use Azure Cosmos DB, Azure Blob Storage, and Azure File storage to upload and retrieve data.
Path 4: Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals: Explore modern data warehouse analytics in Azure

Learn the principles of database concepts in a cloud context, get a core understanding of cloud data services, and expand your knowledge of cloud data services in Microsoft Azure. You’ll learn about the processing options available in Azure for creating data analytics solutions. Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure Databricks, and Azure HDInsight will all be covered. However, the modules in this path are:

  • Examining components of a modern data warehouse
    • Examine the elements that make up a modern data warehouse. Understand how Azure Databricks, Azure Synapse Analytics, and Azure HDInsight play an important role. Learn how to import and process data with Azure Synapse Analytics.
  • Exploring large-scale data analytics
    • Examine data ingestion choices for creating a data warehouse with Azure, as well as data analytics services and Azure Synapse Analytics capabilities. To ingest and analyze data, create a Synapse Analytics workspace.
  • Building with Power BI
    • Learn about Power BI, including its components and how they work.

Step 7: Using Microsoft Instructor-led Training

Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals

This course will help in mastering the principles of database concepts in a cloud environment as well to obtain an understanding of cloud data services. Moreover, you will learn how to identify and characterize basic data concepts such as relational, non-relational, big data, and analytics, as well as how to use Microsoft Azure to execute this technology. And, you will also learn about relational data offers, how to create and deploy relational databases, and how to query relational data using Microsoft Azure cloud data solutions. Further, this course will help you get knowledge in:

  • Firstly, Microsoft Azure’s non-relational data capabilities, as well as provisioning and installing non-relational databases and non-relational data storage. 
  • Secondly, processing methods in Azure for developing data analytics applications. 
  • Lastly, Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure Databricks, and Azure HDInsight.

Audience Profile

The target audience for this course includes candidates who want to learn:

  • Firstly, the fundamentals of database concepts in a cloud environment
  • Secondly, cloud data services within Microsoft Azure.

Step 8: Assessing using the DP-900 Exam Practice Tests

The most effective strategy to improve your preparation is to start by assessing yourself with practice exams. When you’ve done with the topics, you can take these tests. This will not only help you improve your answering skills, but will also provide you with a quick assessment of your strengths and weak areas. However, there are a few providers that give one-of-a-kind and free practice examinations to help you pass the DP-900 exam.

Things you must know:
  • If applicants cancel their examinations within 24 hours of the planned appointment, Microsoft will temporarily waive the rescheduling and cancellation fees. If you postpone or cancel an appointment at least 6 working days in advance, there will be no charge. However, a fee will be charged if a candidate cancels or reschedules a test within 5 business days of the scheduled exam time. Lastly, if a candidate fails to show up for an exam session or fails to reschedule within 24 hours, the exam money is forfeited on its whole.

Final Words

The Microsoft DP-900 is well worth the investment for beginner and intermediate IT workers that work with data. This exam will demonstrate your ability to navigate Azure’s features if you’re a data analyst, junior data engineer, database administrator, or even an app developer. Moreover, the DP-900 is an excellent place to start if you need to demonstrate your proficiency with Microsoft data management and visualization products. So, go through the above information, get yourself familiar with the exam format, topics, and use the training & study resources to pass the DP-900 exam with a good score.

DP-900 practice tests
Pulkit Dheer
With a background in Engineering and a great enthusiasm for writing, Pulkit focuses on intensive research to create targeted content. He brings his years of learning and experience to his current role. With a zeal towards technological research and powerful use of words dedicated to inspire and help professionals onset their career.
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