Marco Grimaldi

Marco Grimaldi

L2 Managed Services Engineer @ NTT DATA · Language Teacher

🏅 Cert Review: DP-900 – Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Fundamentals

5 minute read

🔐 DP-900 Overview: Azure Data Fundamentals

❗ Just a heads-up: This review reflects my personal experience only. It is not sponsored or endorsed in any way.

ℹ️ Introduction

My goal with the DP-900: Azure Data Fundamentals certification was to deepen my overall data literacy and see how Microsoft’s approach compares with what I learned during the Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate. DP-900 covers the fundamentals of data storage, data processing, analytics, and visualization within Azure, including core data concepts, relational and non-relational services, and common data workloads. Together, these topics offer a clear view of how Microsoft structures its data platform and how these services are applied in real-world solutions. It’s an excellent way to build a well-rounded understanding of modern data principles.

🛢️ Why DP-900 Matters

Data is the backbone of modern business, and knowing how to manage, store, and interpret it effectively is essential. The DP-900 certification offers a strong foundation in core data concepts and the Azure services that support them, making it an ideal starting point for anyone pursuing data-related roles within the Microsoft ecosystem.

Beyond Azure, much of the knowledge covered in DP-900 — from database fundamentals to analytics workloads — also applies across other cloud platforms and industry tools. This makes it a versatile, vendor-agnostic certification that complements both Microsoft’s offerings and broader data career paths.

📊 Skills Measured (Updated on November 1, 2024)

The skills measured for the DP-900 exam fall into four main knowledge domains. Each carries a different weight in the overall exam:

  • Describe core data concepts (25–30%)
    • Describe types of core data workloads (transactional, analytical)
    • Describe data roles and services
    • Describe concepts of data processing (batch, streaming, real-time)
    • Describe concepts of data storage (structured, semi-structured, unstructured)
  • Identify considerations for relational data on Azure (20–25%)
    • Describe relational data structures (tables, columns, rows, indexes)
    • Describe relational database services on Azure (Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, SQL Server on Azure VMs)
    • Identify provisioning and deployment options for relational data
    • Describe basic management tasks (security, backup, restore, scaling)
  • Describe considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure (15–20%)
    • Describe non-relational data structures (key-value, document, graph, column-family)
    • Describe non-relational data services on Azure (Azure Cosmos DB, Azure Table Storage, Azure Blob Storage)
    • Identify scenarios for non-relational data solutions
  • Describe an analytics workload on Azure (25–30%)
    • Describe analytics concepts (data warehousing, big data, real-time analytics)
    • Describe analytics services on Azure (Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure Data Lake, Azure Databricks, Azure HDInsight)
    • Identify data visualization tools (Power BI)
    • Describe basic principles of data ingestion, transformation, and visualization

💡 Practical Tips for Passing SC-900

  • Leverage official Microsoft Learn paths: Use Microsoft’s free learning modules, which directly follow the exam outline and are updated regularly.
  • Use practice exams strategically: Microsoft’s practice assessments are closely aligned with the test and highlight areas needing improvement.
  • Track weak areas: Practice assessments provide a breakdown of your performance, making it easier to focus revision where it’s most needed.
  • Know the exam mechanics:
    • Expect ~40–60 questions in multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, or true/false formats.
    • You’ll have ~45 minutes to complete the test, need a score of 700/1000 to pass, and can choose between online proctoring or an in-person Pearson VUE center.

🗂️ Study Strategy

For this certification — and other Fundamentals ones I achieved — I generally sticked to this approach:

  • Gather and organize all relevant resources and keep them handy. Feel free to discover new content on your own, but should you feel overwhelmed, focus on what you know and trust your instincts, that gut feeling of yours is often right - and the resources below should be more than enough to ace the exam.
  • Watch John Savill’s Study Cram video. Same old with any other Azure-related exam: John Savill’s videos are a fantastic way to distill the essentials in an engaging and practical manner.
  • Complete Microsoft’s official DP-900 course. It’s comprehensive, free, and updated consistently.
  • Re-watch John Savill’s Study Cram session after completing the learning paths. It may help you reinforce key points and shore up any weak areas.
  • Be confident and give your best shot on exam day. By the time you sit for the test, you’ll have built a solid foundation by going through these materials.

🎟️ Exam Vouchers and Discounts

When I first took the DP-900 at the beginning of 2023, I was fortunate enough to obtain a free exam voucher through a Microsoft Virtual Training Day focused on Azure Data Fundametals and covering the content of this cert, similarly as done with other cert-related trainings and certificates. You can read more about my experience with the SC-900, PL-900, AZ-900 and AI-900 by clicking on them.

As of 2025 and to the best of my knowledge, Microsoft still offers such opportunities periodically, although they are usually tied to specific events or promotions.So if you’re considering DP-900, I strongly recommend keeping an eye on Microsoft Events or subscribing to newsletters that may alert you to upcoming training days or similar initiatives. These events can be a great way to deepen your understanding of Azure services while also potentially earning a free exam voucher.

📦 Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways

The DP-900 certification gave me a solid foundation in Azure data services and concepts. It gives a clearer picture to anyone looking to build a career in data, especially within the Microsoft ecosystem. The exam is well-structured, and the available resources make it accessible for self-learners as already seen with other Microsoft Fundamentals certifications covered in previous articles, such as the SC-900, the PL-900, the AZ-900, or the AI-900.

🚨 Disclaimer: This article is solely based on my personal account. I have not received any endorsement or compensation from Microsoft or any related party. I aim to share insights that may help others assess whether the DP-900 aligns with their own goals and needs. Whenever possible, I also encourage you to look into available discounts, vouchers or community resources that may help cover the costs of such exams.

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