I passed the Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals exam at the beginning of April 2021. To give back to the community, I decided to share my experience and the study resources I used to prepare for the exam.

First, why did I take the exam 🤷‍♂️

I took the DP-900 exam while preparing for the Azure Solutions Architecture exams. Working through the Microsoft Learn modules for AZ-303/304, I found myself reading about database topics. My knowledge on databases is limited (the biggest database I deployed was the time of Access 2007) so I decided to stop preparing for these exams and review data topics.

Microsoft Virtual Training Days 👩‍🏫

After reviewing the role based certification poster by Microsoft, I identified there was a fundamentals exam. I knew from advertisements and posts within the community that Microsoft offers Virtual Training Days to help individuals getting started with the basics. I visited the Virtual Training Days site and found dates I could attend the video course. After completing the training days, I received a free exam voucher for the DP-900 exam.

Microsoft Learn 🏙️

Even though the video content from the Virtual Training Day was beneficial and covered the topics I expected, I decided to further my knowledge by completing the Azure Data Fundamentals MS Learn modules. I have listed each one below.

• 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

Tip: complete any labs they have to offer during these modules. I find doing practicals actually sink in better than just reading.

Was the above enough ⚖️

Personally no, there was language and services described that I personally want to understand more about before going into the exam. I decided to visit the DP-900 certification page and review the exam skill outline document. I created a spreadsheet of each skill measured and used this to look up any information I can find from the Microsoft website. I have provided below a written out copy of the exam skills outline document with links I found and used to help broaden my knowledge (all from Microsoft sources).

1️⃣ Describe core data concepts (15-20%)

1.1. Describe types of core data workloads

1.1.1. describe batch data

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture..

1.1.2. describe streaming data

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture..

1.1.3. describe the difference between batch and streaming data

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture..

1.1.4. describe the characteristics of relational data

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/architectur..

1.2. Describe data analytics core concepts

1.2.1. describe data visualization (e.g., visualization, reporting, business intelligence (BI))

• powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/data-visualizat..

1.2.2. describe basic chart types such as bar charts and pie charts

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/visuals/p..

1.2.3. describe analytics techniques (e.g., descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, prescriptive, cognitive)

• azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/blog/answering-wh..

1.2.4. describe ELT and ETL processing

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture..

1.2.5. describe the concepts of data processing

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture..
• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture..

2️⃣ Describe how to work with relational data on Azure (25-30%)

2.1. Describe relational data workloads

2.1.1. identify the right data offering for a relational workload

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture..

2.1.2. describe relational data structures (e.g., tables, index, views)

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/relational-dat..
• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/relational-dat..
• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/relational-dat..

2.2. Describe relational Azure data services

2.2.1. describe and compare PaaS, IaaS, and SaaS solutions

• azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/overview/what-is-..
• azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/overview/what-is-..
• azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/overview/what-is-..

2.2.2. describe Azure SQL database services including Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/az..
• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/da..

2.3. Managed Instance, and SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machine

2.3.1. describe Azure Synapse Analytics

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/synapse-anal..

2.3.2. describe Azure Database for PostgreSQL, Azure Database for MariaDB, and Azure Database for MySQL

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/mysql/overview
• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/postgresql/o..
• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/mariadb/over..

2.4. Identify basic management tasks for relational data

2.4.1. describe provisioning and deployment of relational data services

• Recommend referring to the MS Learn modules

2.4.2. describe method for deployment including the Azure portal, Azure Resource Manager templates, Azure PowerShell, and the Azure command-line interface (CLI)

• Recommend referring to the MS Learn modules

2.4.3. identify data security components (e.g., firewall, authentication)

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/da..

2.4.4. identify basic connectivity issues (e.g., accessing from on-premises, access with Azure VNets, access from Internet, authentication, firewalls)

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/da..

2.4.5. identify query tools (e.g., Azure Data Studio, SQL Server Management Studio, sqlcmd utility, etc.)

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/azure-data-stu..
• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/ssms/sql-serve..
• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/tools/sqlcmd-u..

2.5. Describe query techniques for data using SQL language

2.5.1. compare Data Definition Language (DDL) versus Data Manipulation Language (DML)

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/t-sql/statemen..

2.5.2. query relational data in Azure SQL Database, Azure Database for PostgreSQL, and Azure Database for MySQL

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/da..
• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/postgresql/h..
• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/mysql/how-to..

3️⃣ Describe how to work with non-relational data on Azure (25-30%)

3.1. Describe non-relational data workloads

3.1.1. describe the characteristics of non-relational data

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture..

3.1.2. describe the types of non-relational and NoSQL data

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture..

3.1.3. recommend the correct data store

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture..

3.1.4. determine when to use non-relational data

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture..

3.2. Describe non-relational data offerings on Azure

3.2.1. identify Azure data services for non-relational workloads

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture..

3.2.2. describe Azure Cosmos DB APIs

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/rest/api/cosmos-db

3.2.3. describe Azure Table storage

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/tabl..

3.2.4. describe Azure Blob storage

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/blob..

3.2.5. describe Azure File storage

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/file..

3.3. Identify basic management tasks for non-relational data

3.3.1. describe provisioning and deployment of non-relational data services

• Recommend referring to the MS Learn modules

3.3.2. describe method for deployment including the Azure portal, Azure Resource Manager templates, Azure PowerShell, and the Azure command-line interface (CLI)

• Recommend referring to the MS Learn modules

3.3.3. identify data security components (e.g., firewall, authentication, encryption)

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/da..

3.3.4. identify basic connectivity issues (e.g., accessing from on-premises, access with Azure VNets, access from Internet, authentication, firewalls)

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/da..

3.3.5. identify management tools for non-relational data

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

4.1. Describe analytics workloads

4.1.1. describe transactional workloads

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture..

4.1.2. describe the difference between a transactional and an analytics workload

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cosmos-db/an..

4.1.3. describe the difference between batch and real time

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture..
• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture..

4.1.4. describe data warehousing workloads

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture..

4.1.5. determine when a data warehouse solution is needed

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture..

4.2. Describe the components of a modern data warehouse

4.2.1. describe Azure data services for modern data warehousing such as Azure Data Lake, Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure Databricks, and Azure HDInsight

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/blob..
• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/synapse-anal..
• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databricks/s..
• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/hdinsight/hd..

4.2.2. describe modern data warehousing architecture and workload

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture..

4.3. Describe data ingestion and processing on Azure

4.3.1. describe common practices for data loading

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/synapse-anal..

4.3.2. describe the components of Azure Data Factory (e.g., pipeline, activities, etc.)

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-factory..

4.3.3. describe data processing options (e.g., Azure HDInsight , Azure Databricks, Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure Data Factory)

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/analysis-services/..

4.4. Describe data visualization in Microsoft Power BI

4.4.1. describe the role of paginated reporting

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/paginated..

4.4.2. describe the role of interactive reports

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/create-re..

4.4.3. describe the role of dashboards

• docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/create-re..

4.4.4. describe the workflow in Power BI

• No content found

Any other resources before I took the exam 📺

My exam was booked for the afternoon so I decided to get some type of morning cram in by watching some video content that would refresh the new information I learnt. The top hit I found on YouTube was from John Savill who provides a one hour and twenty minute whiteboard video covering the information I learnt from all of the above. This really helped so I would recommend watching it (remember to support content creators by liking and subscribing to their channels):

DP-900 Azure Data Fundamentals Exam Cram Whiteboard Video

Other than this, I didn't use any other resource to prepare for the exam.

Conclusion ✍️

This post wasn't to provide tips and tricks to the exam. The idea of this post is to tell you what got me onto the exam, what resources I found on the way and to give back to the community where I have farmed resources for many years. The intention wasn't to get another certification but to skill up in an area where I was lacking information for another certification I was trying to attain. In the end, it was a bonus for me to be able to sit the exam for free and pass.