Study Azure AZ-305 Data Storage: key concepts, common traps, and exam decision cues.
This chapter is about workload shape before product preference. AZ-305 data questions reward the candidate who can tell transactional relational data from document data, object storage, shared files, and analytics or integration needs before discussing tiers or SKUs.
Microsoft currently weights this skill area at 20-25% of the exam.
| Lesson | Focus |
|---|---|
| 2.1 Relational Data Service Fit and Scalability | Learn the trade-offs across Azure SQL Database, Managed Instance, SQL on VMs, and managed open-source relational options. |
| 2.2 Semi-Structured, Unstructured and Durability Choices | Learn when the answer is Cosmos DB, Blob, ADLS Gen2, or Azure Files. |
| 2.3 Data Integration and Analysis Architecture | Learn how orchestration and analysis architecture differ from primary storage decisions. |
| If the question is really about… | Go first to… |
|---|---|
| OLTP, SQL compatibility, service tier, or relational scaling | 2.1 Relational Data Service Fit and Scalability |
| JSON documents, object storage, files, durability, or cost/performance balance | 2.2 Semi-Structured, Unstructured and Durability Choices |
| movement of data between systems or analytics architecture | 2.3 Data Integration and Analysis Architecture |