
Microsoft Azure offers a suite of data engineering tools that help you build, deploy, and manage data pipelines.
DP-203 is a certification that validates your skills in designing and implementing data engineering solutions on Microsoft Azure.
To pass DP-203, you'll need to understand Azure Data Factory, which is a cloud-based data integration service that allows you to create, schedule, and manage your data pipelines.
You'll also need to know how to use Azure Databricks, a fast, easy, and collaborative Apache Spark-based analytics platform that helps you process large amounts of data.
DP-203 covers Azure Synapse Analytics, a cloud-based analytics service that integrates relational and non-relational data for analytics and business intelligence.
The certification also covers Azure Event Grid, a service that helps you build event-driven applications and integrate event producers with event consumers.
By passing DP-203, you'll demonstrate your ability to design and implement data engineering solutions on Microsoft Azure, which is a highly sought-after skill in the industry.
Expand your knowledge: Azure Dp-100
Exam Details
The Data Engineering on Microsoft Azure (beta) exam is a significant step in your cloud career. This exam is currently available with no retirement date in sight.
The exam cost is a flat $165 USD, which is a one-time payment. You'll need to pay this fee to take the exam.
Here are the details you need to know about the exam:
- Certification Name: Data Engineering on Microsoft Azure (beta)
- Exam Cost: $165 USD
- Languages: English
- Retirement date: none
Exam Details
The exam details are worth noting, especially if you're planning to take the Data Engineering on Microsoft Azure (beta) exam. This certification is still in its beta phase, which means it's a great opportunity to get in early and establish yourself as an expert in the field.
The exam costs $165 USD, a relatively affordable price considering the value of the certification. I've seen many people invest in certifications that are much more expensive, so this is a great option if you're on a budget.
The exam is available in English, which is a relief for non-native speakers. I've heard from friends who've taken exams in other languages that it can be a challenge, so it's great that Microsoft is making this exam accessible to everyone.
Here are the key details about the exam:
- Certification Name: Data Engineering on Microsoft Azure (beta)
- Exam Cost: $165 USD
- Languages: English
- Retirement date: none
Course Outline

The DP-203 exam is a comprehensive certification that covers all aspects of data engineering on Microsoft Azure.
This exam replaces the DP-200 and DP-201 exams, which retired on June 30, 2021.
Through this updated curriculum, learners gain the necessary skills to successfully clear the DP-203 exam and become certified Azure Data Engineers.
The DP-203: Data Engineering on Microsoft Azure course from CloudThat provides comprehensive training and study materials to help candidates prepare for the DP-203 certification exam.
This course is designed to help candidates pass the DP-203 exam and become certified Azure Data Engineers.
Here's an interesting read: Azure Data Factory Certification
Learning Path
CloudThat, a renowned training provider, offers comprehensive Azure DP 203 training for Data Engineering on Microsoft Azure. Their courses are led by Microsoft-certified trainers and focus on practical learning, dedicating 50-60% of the training to hands-on lab sessions.
With over 11 years of experience, CloudThat has trained around 6.5 lakh professionals and served over 100 corporate clients globally. Their Azure Data Engineer certification courses emphasize scenario-based problem-solving and have a strong track record working with Fortune 500 companies.
Worth a look: Azure Data Factory Course
To prepare for the DP 203 exam, it's essential to understand the learning objectives. These include getting started with data engineering on Azure, building data analytics solutions using Azure Synapse serverless SQL pools, and working with data warehouses using Azure Synapse Analytics.
Here's a breakdown of the learning objectives:
- Get started with data engineering on Azure
- Build data analytics solutions using Azure Synapse serverless SQL pools
- Work with data warehouses using Azure Synapse Analytics
- Implement a data streaming solution with Azure Stream Analytics
- Govern data across an enterprise using Microsoft Purview
- Design and implement data storage
- Design and implement the data exploration layer
CloudThat's DP 203 certification includes instructor-led, competency-based learning, and is a proud partner with Microsoft, AWS, GCP, and VMware.
Hands-On Guides
With DP 203, you'll have access to 27 Step-by-Step Activity Guides, also known as Hands-On Labs, to practice and solidify your understanding of the concepts both theoretically and practically.
These guides cover a wide range of topics, including working with Apache Spark in Azure Synapse Analytics.
You'll find hands-on guides for data transformation activities, such as DataFrame transformation activities.
These guides also cover data exploration, including performing data exploration in Synapse Studio.
In addition, you'll learn how to ingest data with Spark notebooks in Azure Synapse Analytics.
Consider reading: Azure Data Factory vs Synapse
The guides also cover data loading best practices in Azure Synapse Analytics.
You'll also learn about petabyte-scale ingestion with Azure Data Factory.
Here's a list of some of the hands-on guides you can expect to find:
- Working with Apache Spark in Azure Synapse Analytics
- Querying a Data Lake Store using serverless SQL pools in Azure Synapse Analytics
- DataFrame transformation activities
- Perform Data Exploration in Synapse Studio
- Petabyte-scale ingestion with Azure Data Factory
These hands-on guides will help you gain hands-on experience with Azure Synapse Analytics, including securing access to data and configuring Azure Synapse Link with Azure Cosmos DB.
You'll also learn how to query Azure Cosmos DB with Apache Spark for Synapse Analytics and use Stream Analytics to process real-time data from Event Hubs.
The hands-on guides cover a wide range of topics, from data transformation to data loading best practices, and will help you become proficient in Azure Synapse Analytics.
Microsoft Azure
Microsoft Azure is a cloud computing platform that provides a range of services for building, deploying, and managing applications and services through its global network of data centers.
Azure Databricks is a key component of the Azure platform, offering a scalable platform for data analytics using Apache Spark. This service allows users to provision an Azure Databricks workspace and start working with data quickly.
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To get started with Azure Databricks, you'll need to identify core workloads and personas for the service, which can help you determine the best use cases for Azure Databricks in your organization.
Here are the key concepts of an Azure Databricks solution:
- Provisioning an Azure Databricks workspace
- Identifying core workloads and personas
- Understanding key concepts of an Azure Databricks solution
Storage Gen2 Introduction
Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 is a game-changer for data analytics architectures. It provides a scalable, secure, cloud-based solution for data lake storage.
Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 is built to handle large amounts of data, making it perfect for big data analytics. Its scalability allows it to grow with your data needs.
Enabling Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 in an Azure Storage account is a straightforward process that can be completed in a few steps. This allows you to take advantage of its features and benefits.
Here's a comparison of Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 and Azure Blob storage:
Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 fits perfectly in the stages of analytical processing, from data ingestion to data warehousing. Its ability to handle large amounts of data makes it an ideal choice for big data analytics.
Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 is used in common analytical workloads such as data warehousing, data science, and business intelligence. Its scalability and security make it a top choice for organizations looking to improve their data analytics capabilities.
Curious to learn more? Check out: Windows Azure Storage
Batch Management
Batch Management is a crucial aspect of data processing in Microsoft Azure. You can trigger batches to run automatically or on demand.
To manage batches effectively, you can handle failed batch loads by implementing retry logic or notifying the team of the issue. Failed batch loads can be a real headache, but with the right tools, you can minimize downtime.
Batch loads can be validated to ensure they meet the required criteria before proceeding. This step helps prevent errors and inconsistencies in the data.
Data pipelines are another important aspect of batch management. You can manage data pipelines in Azure Data Factory or Azure Synapse Pipelines to streamline your data processing workflow.
Here's a list of some key batch management tasks in Azure:
- Trigger batches
- Handle failed batch loads
- Validate batch loads
- Manage data pipelines in Azure Data Factory or Azure Synapse Pipelines
- Schedule data pipelines in Data Factory or Azure Synapse Pipelines
- Implement version control for pipeline artifacts
- Manage Spark jobs in a pipeline
By implementing these batch management strategies, you can ensure smooth data processing and minimize errors.
Explore
As you explore Microsoft Azure, you'll find that it offers a range of tools and services to help you manage and analyze your data.
To get started, you can design and implement the data exploration layer, which involves creating and executing queries using a compute solution that leverages SQL serverless and Spark clusters.
You can also use Azure Synapse Analytics database templates to recommend and implement the best database solution for your needs.
To keep track of your data lineage, you can push new or updated data lineage to Microsoft Purview.
With Microsoft Purview, you can browse and search metadata in the Data Catalog, making it easier to find and understand your data.
Microsoft Azure also offers Azure Databricks, a cloud service that provides a scalable platform for data analytics using Apache Spark.
To get started with Azure Databricks, you can provision an Azure Databricks workspace.
You can also identify core workloads and personas for Azure Databricks, such as data engineers, data scientists, and business analysts.
Key concepts of an Azure Databricks solution include understanding the benefits of using a cloud-based platform, such as scalability and collaboration features.
Implement for SQL
Implementing Azure Synapse Link for SQL is a powerful way to synchronize operational data in a relational database with Azure Synapse Analytics. Azure Synapse Link for SQL enables low-latency synchronization, making it an ideal solution for real-time analytics.
To configure Azure Synapse Link for Azure SQL Database, you'll need to understand the key concepts and capabilities of Azure Synapse Link for SQL. This includes knowing how to configure Azure Synapse Link for Microsoft SQL Server as well.
Here's a step-by-step guide to get you started:
By following these steps, you'll be able to implement Azure Synapse Link for SQL and start synchronizing your operational data in a relational database with Azure Synapse Analytics. This will enable you to gain real-time insights and make data-driven decisions.
Apache Spark
Apache Spark is a core technology for large-scale data analytics. It's a distributed processing platform that enables data engineers to transform, analyze, and visualize data at scale.
You can use Spark in Azure Synapse Analytics to analyze and visualize data in a data lake. To do this, you'll need to configure a Spark pool and run code to load, analyze, and visualize data in a Spark notebook.
Spark provides data engineers with a scalable, distributed data processing platform that can be integrated into an Azure Synapse Analytics pipeline. This allows you to use a Synapse notebook activity in a pipeline and use parameters with a notebook activity.
Here are some key features of Apache Spark:
- Use Apache Spark to modify and save dataframes
- Partition data files for improved performance and scalability
- Transform data with SQL
- Create and configure a Spark cluster
- Use Spark to process and analyze data stored in files
- Use Spark to visualize data
Stream Processing Solution
A stream processing solution is essential for handling real-time data streams. To develop one, you can use Stream Analytics and Azure Event Hubs.
You can process data using Spark structured streaming, which is a powerful tool for handling large amounts of data in real-time. This allows you to create complex data pipelines and handle high volumes of data.
To create windowed aggregates, you can use the Spark Structured Streaming API. This allows you to group data by specific time intervals and perform aggregations on it.
Handling schema drift is a common challenge in stream processing, and you can use techniques like schema evolution to handle it. This involves updating the schema of your data as it changes over time.
Time series data is a common type of data in stream processing, and you can use Spark to process it efficiently. This involves using techniques like aggregation and windowing to extract insights from the data.
When processing data across partitions, you can use Spark's partitioning mechanism to distribute the data across multiple nodes. This allows you to process large amounts of data in parallel.
To configure checkpoints and watermarking during processing, you can use Spark's checkpointing mechanism. This allows you to save the state of your processing pipeline and recover from failures.
Here are some key considerations for developing a stream processing solution:
* Create a stream processing solution by using Stream Analytics and Azure Event HubsProcess data by using Spark structured streamingConfigure checkpoints and watermarking during processingScale resourcesHandle interruptionsConfigure exception handlingUpsert stream dataReplay archived stream dataRead from and write to a delta lake
Use Apache Spark
Apache Spark is a powerful tool for large-scale data analytics. It's a core technology that can be used to analyze and visualize data in a data lake, making it a crucial component in many data engineering pipelines.
You can use Apache Spark in Azure Synapse Analytics to configure a Spark pool, which provides a distributed processing platform for data engineers. This platform can be used to transform large volumes of data.
One of the key features of Apache Spark is its ability to process data in real-time, making it ideal for stream processing. You can use Spark structured streaming to process data from Azure Event Hubs, and even handle schema drift and time series data.
Apache Spark can also be used to transform data, modify and save dataframes, and even partition data files for improved performance and scalability. This makes it a versatile tool for data engineers working with large datasets.
Here are some of the key use cases for Apache Spark:
Overall, Apache Spark is a powerful tool that can be used for a wide range of data processing tasks, from stream processing to batch processing and data transformation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is DP 203 in Azure?
DP-203 is a certification exam for data engineers and developers who want to demonstrate expertise in designing and implementing data solutions on Microsoft Azure. It's a great way to validate your skills and knowledge in Azure data services.
Is DP 203 hard to pass?
DP-203 is considered a moderately challenging certification, with difficulty level varying based on individual background and experience. Passing DP-203 requires a good understanding of data engineering concepts, but with proper preparation, it's achievable.
What is the passing score for DP 203 Azure?
To pass DP 203 Azure, you need a score of 700 or higher. Achieving this score requires a strong understanding of Azure concepts and skills.
Sources
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/credentials/certifications/resources/study-guides/dp-203
- https://www.learningtree.com/courses/microsoft-data-engineering-on-microsoft-azure-training-dp-203/
- https://github.com/MicrosoftLearning/dp-203-azure-data-engineer
- https://www.cloudthat.com/training/azure/dp-203-data-engineering-on-microsoft-azure
- https://k21academy.com/microsoft-azure/data-engineer/data-engineering-on-microsoft-azure/
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