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Azure Synapse Analytics Mock Interview Guide

The document is a mock interview guide for Azure Synapse Analytics, covering key topics such as integration in data pipelines, differences between dedicated and serverless SQL pools, and data movement techniques. It includes detailed answers on performance optimization, security implementation, and real-time use cases. Additionally, it discusses orchestration in pipelines and report refresh optimization strategies.

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16 views3 pages

Azure Synapse Analytics Mock Interview Guide

The document is a mock interview guide for Azure Synapse Analytics, covering key topics such as integration in data pipelines, differences between dedicated and serverless SQL pools, and data movement techniques. It includes detailed answers on performance optimization, security implementation, and real-time use cases. Additionally, it discusses orchestration in pipelines and report refresh optimization strategies.

Uploaded by

verma.anil0509
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Azure Synapse Analytics: Real-Time Project-Based Mock Interview Guide

1. Integration of Synapse Analytics in Data Pipelines

Q: How have you integrated Synapse Analytics in your data pipeline or analytics solution?

A: In my recent project, Synapse served as the central data warehouse. Data was ingested from

Azure SQL DB, flat files from Blob Storage, and Salesforce APIs via ADF Pipelines. The data was

stored in a dedicated SQL pool for structured reporting. Power BI was directly connected to

Synapse using serverless SQL for ad-hoc queries.

2. Dedicated vs Serverless SQL Pools

Q: What is the difference between dedicated and serverless SQL pools? Which did you use and

why?

A: Dedicated SQL pools provide provisioned performance (DWUs), ideal for predictable workloads

and optimized queries. Serverless SQL pools use a pay-per-query model, suitable for exploratory

analysis. We used dedicated pools for fact/dimension modeling and serverless for querying raw

Parquet files in the data lake.

3. Data Movement & Transformation

Q: How did you handle data movement and transformation?

A: We used Synapse Pipelines for orchestration. Raw data was ingested to the Bronze zone in

ADLS, then cleaned and transformed using Data Flows and Spark notebooks. Final data was stored

in the Gold zone and loaded into dedicated SQL pools for reporting.

4. Data Ingestion Techniques

Q: How did you ingest data from external sources?

A: For SQL Server, we used Copy Data activity in Pipelines. For Blob Storage files, we used
PolyBase with staging and external tables. JSON files were processed using Spark notebooks.

5. Performance Optimization in Dedicated Pools

Q: What techniques did you apply for performance tuning?

A:

- Hash distribution on large fact tables for join efficiency

- Round-robin distribution for staging loads

- Clustered columnstore indexes to reduce I/O

- Materialized views for pre-aggregated data

6. Apache Spark Usage

Q: Did you use Spark pools in Synapse?

A: Yes, Spark was used for processing semi-structured JSON files and performing cleansing

operations. PySpark scripts handled flattening of nested data and conversions to Parquet format.

7. Security Implementation

Q: How did you implement security in Synapse?

A: We used AAD-based role assignments, data masking for sensitive columns, and row-level

security for region-wise data access. Least privilege access principles were enforced.

8. Monitoring and Cost Management

Q: How did you monitor Synapse and manage costs?

A: Used Azure Monitor and Log Analytics for performance metrics. Scheduled pause of idle pools

and serverless queries for low-volume tasks to save costs. Monitored query execution plans to

optimize logic.

9. Real-Time Use Case


Q: Can you describe a real-time use case involving Synapse?

A: For a retail client, we built a near-real-time stock monitoring system. Data was ingested every 30

minutes into Synapse, transformed, and used for inventory dashboards in Power BI. Alerts were

sent via Logic Apps when stock thresholds were breached.

10. Orchestration in Pipelines

Q: How did you orchestrate your Synapse workflows?

A: Built a master pipeline calling modular child pipelines. Used parameters to make reusable

components. Tumbling window triggers handled incremental loads, and web activity notified failures

through Logic Apps.

11. Report Refresh Optimization

Q: How did Synapse help reduce report refresh time?

A: Previously, reports refreshed from transactional systems, taking 30+ minutes. After implementing

Synapse with pre-aggregated views and optimized data models, refresh times dropped below 5

minutes, significantly enhancing user experience.

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