Study Guide: DP-900 Azure Data Fundamentals
Recently I prepared for the new Microsoft exam, the Exam DP-900: Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals, which is currently in Beta.
Because it’s a Beta exam, there are only a few resources that allow you to prepare the exam, so, that’s why I want to share the information, the findings, and the DP-900 Azure Data Fundamentals study guide with you.
To prepare and learn for the exam I normally use the material on the Microsoft Learn platform, Github (labs and exercises), and Linkedin learning.
DP-900: Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals Study Guide
First thing first, you must get familiar with the exam objectives and skills measured, and this is why it’s recommended to read the exam description.
Candidates for this exam should have a foundational knowledge of core data concepts and how they are implemented using Microsoft Azure data services.
This exam is intended for candidates beginning to work with data in the cloud.
Candidates should be familiar with the concepts of relational and non-relational data, and different types of data workloads such as transactional or analytical.
Azure Data Fundamentals can be used to prepare for other Azure role-based certifications like Azure Database Administrator Associate or Azure Data Engineer Associate, but it’s not a prerequisite for any of them.
Domains Objective and Skills Measured
The DP-900 certification exam is for candidates who want to start working with DATA on the Azure cloud, and the exam would check the fundamental knowledge of core data concepts and their implementation.
It is also finding out the prerequisites for the DP-900 certification exam before starting their preparations. Candidates must have a fluent command over concepts in relational and non-relational data. Besides, candidates must also know various types of data workloads, such as analytical and transactional workloads.
The high-level view of the skills measured in the exam is:
- Describe core data concepts (15-20%)
- Describe how to work with relational data on Azure (25-30%)
- Describe how to work with non-relational data on Azure (25-30%)
- Describe an analytics workload on Azure (25-30%)
Free Online Resources for Microsoft DP-900 Exam
The study guide for the DP-900 exam can become better with an outline of the subtopics covered for each objective. Here is a subtopics you can find in the different objectives for the DP-900 certification exam.
Describe core data concepts (15-20%)
Describe types of core data workloads
- Describe Batch DATA
- Describe Streaming DATA
- Describe the difference between batch and streaming data
- Describe the characteristics of relational data
Describe data analytics core concepts
- Describe data visualization
- Describe basic chart types such as bar charts and pie charts
- Describe analytics techniques
- Describe ELT and ETL processing
- Describe the concepts of data processing
Describe how to work with relational data on Azure (25-30%)
Describe relational data workloads
- Identify the right data offering for a relational workload
- Describe relational data structures (e.g., tables, index, views)
Describe relational Azure data services
- Describe and compare PaaS, IaaS, and SaaS delivery models
- Describe Azure SQL Database
- Describe Azure Synapse Analytics
- Describe SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machine
- describe Azure Database for
- Describe Azure SQL Managed Instance
Identify basic management tasks for relational data
- Describe provisioning and deployment of relational data services
- Describe the method for deployment including ARM templates and Azure Portal
- Identify data security components (e.g., firewall, authentication)
- Identify basic connectivity issues (e.g., accessing from on-premises, access with Azure VNets, access from the Internet, authentication, firewalls)
- Identify query tools (e.g., Azure Data Studio, SQL Server Management Studio, sqlcmd utility, etc.)
Describe query techniques for data using SQL language
Describe how to work with non-relational data on Azure (25-30%)
Describe non-relational data workloads
- Describe the characteristics of non-relational data
- Describe the types of non-relational and NoSQL data
- Recommend the correct datastore
- Determine when to use non-relational data
Describe non-relational data offerings on Azure
- Identify Azure data services for non-relational workloads
- Describe Azure Cosmos DB APIs
- Describe Azure Table storage
- Describe Azure Blob storage
- Describe Azure File storage
Identify basic management tasks for non-relational data
- Describe provisioning and deployment of non-relational data services
- Describe a method for deployment including ARM templates and Azure Portal
- Identify data security components (e.g., firewall, authentication)
- identify basic connectivity issues (e.g., accessing from on-premises, access with Azure VNets, access from the Internet, authentication, firewalls)
- Identify management tools for non-relational data
Describe an analytics workload on Azure (25-30%)
- Describe transactional workloads
- Describe the difference between a transactional and an analytics workload
- Describe the difference between batch and real-time
- Describe data warehousing workloads
- Determine when a data warehouse solution is needed
Describe the components of a modern data warehouse
- Describe Azure data services for modern data warehousings such as Azure Data Lake, Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure Databricks, and Azure HDInsight
- Describe modern data warehousing architecture and workload
Describe data ingestion and processing on Azure
- Describe common practices for data loading
- Describe the components of Azure Data Factory (e.g., pipeline, activities, etc.)
- Describe data processing options (e.g., HDI, Azure Databricks, Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure Data Factory)
Describe data visualization in Microsoft Power BI
- Describe the role of paginated reporting
- Describe the role of interactive reports
- Describe the role of dashboards
- Describe the workflow in Power BI
More Resources
The Exam DP-900: Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals page includes useful resources and learning paths to gain the skills needed to become certified.
Microsoft Learn PATH
Microsoft Learn includes many learning path and modules fo Azure Data with a specific path and more than 20 modules:
- Azure Data Fundamentals: Explore core data concepts
- Azure Data Fundamentals: Explore relational data in Azure
- Azure Data Fundamentals: Explore non-relational data in Azure
- Azure Data Fundamentals: Explore modern data warehouse analytics in Azure
Linkedin Learning
Linkedin Learning includes many courses and videos for Azure Data beginners:
- Azure Data Studio Essential Training
- Azure for Developers: Cosmos DB
- Learning Azure SQL Querying
- Azure Data Studio Essential Training
- Azure Data Topics on LinkedIn
More Online Resources
- Azure Data path and courses on Pluralsight
- DP-900 Azure Data Fundamentals Exam Prep In One Day on Udemy
- Data Processing with Azure on Coursera
Points to Prepare for Exam
Like any other Microsoft or Azure exam there are important points that allow you to prepare and pass the exam:
Understand the Exam Domains and Subtopics
As evident from the information presented already in this discussion on DP-900 exam preparation, the exam content of DP-900 matters significantly for your preparations. Therefore, candidates should prepare a reliable DP-900 study guide by outlining the different exam domains and subtopics. The content of the study guide should be the foundation on which you develop your preparation schedule.
Recommended Learning Paths by Microsoft
The free learning paths providing the initial boost to start your preparations and cover the fundamentals of exam objectives.
You can dive into your DP-900 exam preparation with official learning resources by Microsoft resources, and especially by Microsoft Learn. After obtaining a thorough impression of the exam content and the focusing on domains and subtopics, you can choose the free Microsoft Azure learning paths for the DP-900 certification exam.
Online Training Courses
Training is a requirement for any exam preparation, and Online certification training courses for DP-900 certification by reputable platforms could help you to prepare for the exam.
Hands-on Experience
Part of the preparation of the DP-900 exam is a hands-on experience. Hands-on experience is a mandatory requirement for all Azure certification exams.
Practice Tests
The most effective tool that can pick up the efficiency of your DP-900 exam preparation is practice. You must practice for the DP-900 exam through exam sets. The different practice test questions test your knowledge of concepts in the DP-900 exam and your ability to implement them in real-time scenarios.
