Three real Azure Data Fundamentals projects mapped directly to the DP-900 exam objectives. Mark a step complete and HandsOnCert commits the evidence — database configs, query results, pipeline diagrams — straight to your own GitHub repo. The portfolio employers actually click into.
$29 one-time · Project 1 free · No subscription
Every project maps to an official DP-900 exam domain. Each one ends with evidence committed to your GitHub repo automatically.
Explore the differences between relational and non-relational data, batch vs streaming processing, and data workload roles. Set up an Azure SQL Database and run basic queries. Commit your database setup and query result screenshots.
Core Data Concepts — 25-30% of examDeploy an Azure SQL Database, explore Azure Database for PostgreSQL or MySQL options, and run queries comparing performance tiers. Commit your relational database deployment and query evidence.
Relational Data on Azure — 20-25% of examDeploy an Azure Cosmos DB account and explore its APIs, then explore Azure Synapse Analytics or Microsoft Fabric for analytics workloads. Commit your Cosmos DB configuration and analytics overview screenshots.
Non-Relational & Analytics — 25-30% of examEvery completed step auto-commits evidence to your own repo. No fake portfolio templates — real configs, real screenshots, real history.
No simulators. You work in the actual Azure console and tools, the same ones you'll use on the job and in the DP-900 exam.
Stuck on a step or an exam concept? Cert Buddy is trained on DP-900 objectives and helps you debug and understand — not just copy-paste.
Every chargeable resource has a clear alert telling you exactly when to stop, deallocate, or delete — so a lab break doesn't become a surprise bill.
Get the full DP-900 lab guide as a PDF — step-by-step instructions, screenshots to capture, and an exam quick-reference section.
$29 once. No subscription, no recurring charges. Or get All-Access to all 21 cert paths for $199.
Are the DP-900 hands-on labs free?
Project 1 (Core Data Concepts) is completely free, including unlimited access to Cert Buddy for that project and the manual GitHub commit workflow. The remaining 2 projects unlock for a one-time payment of $29.
Do I need an Azure subscription for DP-900 labs?
Yes, you need an Azure free trial or pay-as-you-go subscription. DP-900 labs use Azure SQL Database, Cosmos DB, and Synapse — all of which fit within free tiers or cost only a few dollars if cleaned up promptly.
How does the GitHub portfolio auto-commit work for DP-900?
When you mark a lab step complete, HandsOnCert commits your database configuration screenshots and query results directly to your own GitHub repository via OAuth.
How long does the DP-900 path take to complete?
The 3 projects take approximately 4 hours total, covering core data concepts, relational data on Azure, and non-relational and analytics data — the same domains tested on the DP-900 exam.
Is DP-900 a good starting point for a data career?
Yes. DP-900 has no prerequisites and is designed for anyone exploring data roles on Azure — including business analysts, data analysts, and database administrators just starting with cloud data services.
What's the difference between DP-900 and GCP-PDE?
DP-900 (Azure Data Fundamentals) is an entry-level conceptual exam covering core data terminology and Azure data services. GCP-PDE (Professional Data Engineer) is an advanced, hands-on Google Cloud certification covering building production data pipelines with BigQuery, Dataflow, and Vertex AI. They are different platforms and difficulty levels.
Start Project 1 free — no credit card required. See exactly how the GitHub auto-commit works before you pay anything.
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