DP-203: Data Engineering on Microsoft Azure
Design and implement data storage, data processing, data security, and data monitoring across Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2, Azure Data Factory, Azure Databricks, and Azure Stream Analytics.
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The DP-203 exam features 45-60 scenario, SQL/PySpark, and architectural questions over 120 minutes. Cost is $165 USD with a passing threshold of 700/1000 (70%).
Domains include: (1) Design and implement data storage (~40-45%), (2) Design and develop data processing (~25-30%), (3) Design and implement data security (~10-15%), and (4) Monitor and optimize data storage and data processing (~10-15%).
Synapse Dedicated SQL pools support Hash distribution (distributes rows based on hash of a column, optimal for large fact tables), Replicated (copies table to all 60 compute nodes, optimal for small dimensions), and Round-Robin (evenly distributes rows, optimal for staging).
Hierarchical namespace organizes objects into a hierarchy of directories and subdirectories, transforming atomic directory renames and deletes into fast metadata updates rather than copying individual files.
Delta Lake adds an ACID transaction log (Delta Log) over Parquet files, enabling ACID transactions, time travel, schema enforcement, and unified streaming and batch processing.
Mapping Data Flows allows developers to build visual data transformation logic that is compiled and executed on scaled-out Apache Spark clusters managed by ADF.
Stream Analytics supports Tumbling windows (fixed non-overlapping intervals), Hopping windows (overlapping time periods), Sliding windows (events within duration), and Session windows (filtered by user inactivity).
Partitioning divides large tables by date or integer boundaries to prune unneeded data during queries; Clustered Columnstore Indexes provide columnar compression and high-speed analytical scans.
The COPY statement provides high-throughput, parallel data ingestion from Azure Data Lake Storage into Synapse Dedicated SQL pools with support for custom delimiters and row formats.
Microsoft Purview automatically scans data stores, tracks end-to-end data lineage across Data Factory pipelines and Databricks notebooks, and classifies sensitive columns.
DP-203 is valid for one year and renewable annually for free via Microsoft Learn.
DP-203 certifies Senior Data Engineers, Cloud Analytics Architects, and Big Data Specialists earning average US salaries between $135,000 and $180,000.