Who DP-900 is for
People beginning to work with data in the cloud, especially learners who want Azure context before they move into a role-based data or analytics exam.
DP-900 is Microsoft’s Azure data fundamentals certification for people who want a clean introduction to data concepts in the cloud. It is a beginner exam, but it is still specific: you need to understand relational and non-relational data, transactional versus analytical workloads, and the Azure services that show up in those conversations.
The dotCreds practice page also holds the full-bank unlock and PDF options if you want a larger study loop after the free set.
Take DP-900 when you want a data-first Azure fundamentals exam. Skip it if your immediate target is broad cloud fundamentals with less data depth, where AZ-900 is usually the cleaner fit.
Use this card view when you need the fast version before deciding whether to open the practice page.
People beginning to work with data in the cloud, especially learners who want Azure context before they move into a role-based data or analytics exam.
Core data concepts, relational data, non-relational data, and analytics workloads on Azure rather than admin-heavy cloud operations.
Structured versus semi-structured versus unstructured data, transactional versus analytical workloads, Azure SQL, storage, Cosmos DB, analytics services, and Power BI basics.
Start the DP-900 practice test or open the Microsoft comparison guide.
Microsoft positions Azure Data Fundamentals for candidates beginning to work with data in the cloud. That usually includes career changers, students, junior analysts, junior engineers, and Azure learners who want the data lane without jumping straight into a role-based exam.
You want a beginner Azure data certification, you need cleaner data vocabulary, or you want a bridge into analyst or Azure data work.
You only need broad cloud fundamentals. In that case, AZ-900 may match your near-term goal better.
DP-900 checks whether you can separate common data ideas and Azure service choices. You need to know how data is represented, how relational and non-relational systems differ, and how analytics workloads fit together on Azure.
The DP-900 page gives you the free question set first. That same page also exposes the full-bank unlock and PDF options.
These are the current official domain weights from Microsoft Learn.
| Domain | Weight | What to actually practice |
|---|---|---|
| Describe core data concepts | 25–30% | Structured versus semi-structured versus unstructured data, file formats, database types, and transactional versus analytical workloads. |
| Identify considerations for relational data on Azure | 20–25% | Relational concepts, common SQL ideas, database objects, Azure SQL Database, Managed Instance, SQL Server on Azure VMs, and open-source database options. |
| Describe considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure | 15–20% | Azure Blob, Azure Files, Azure Table storage, and Azure Cosmos DB use cases and APIs. |
| Describe an analytics workload on Azure | 25–30% | Ingestion and processing, analytical stores, batch versus streaming, Azure Databricks, Microsoft Fabric, and Power BI basics. |
AZ-900 is the broader cloud fundamentals option. DP-900 is the narrower data-focused option. If your goal is “understand Azure as a platform,” AZ-900 is broader. If your goal is “understand data workloads on Azure,” DP-900 is the cleaner fit.
DP-900 is fundamentals. PL-300 is role-based and more Power BI and analyst-specific. If you want to learn what relational versus non-relational data means on Azure, start with DP-900. If you already care more about modeling, DAX, visuals, and report design, PL-300 is closer to the real job.
Use the official objectives as your filter. The highest-yield practice areas are:
Use this comparison when you are deciding between Azure data fundamentals and broader Azure cloud fundamentals.
Use this when your path is more reporting, modeling, DAX, and dashboards than Azure data service vocabulary.
Use the side-by-side comparison if you are still choosing between data, Power Platform, Power BI, and Azure AI.
Yes. Microsoft labels it as a beginner certification and targets people beginning to work with data in the cloud.
It is usually more specialized, not automatically harder. The harder-feeling part is that it stays on data topics instead of broad cloud overview topics.
No heavy coding is expected. The bigger requirement is understanding data concepts and what the named Azure services are for.
It can be, especially if you want cloud data vocabulary first. If your real target is Power BI reporting work, PL-300 may become the more direct next step.
Many learners move toward a role-based path. For reporting and dashboards, PL-300 is the clearest dotCreds follow-on page today.
Start with data representation, workload types, Azure SQL, storage, Cosmos DB, analytics services, and basic Power BI concepts before worrying about edge cases.
Microsoft, Azure, Power BI, Power Platform, and related exam names are trademarks of Microsoft. dotCreds is not affiliated with Microsoft.
Flexible search understands DP-900, dp900, PL-300, PL-900, AI-103, and adjacent provider keywords.