DP-420: Designing and Implementing Cloud-Native Applications Using Microsoft Azure Cosmos DB

Course Description:

Master the skills needed to design and implement cloud-native, globally distributed applications using Microsoft Azure Cosmos DB. In this expert-led course, you'll learn how to build highly responsive and scalable applications that harness the power of Azure’s multi-model NoSQL database service.

This course dives deep into key Cosmos DB features such as partitioning, indexing, consistency models, and multi-region distribution, helping developers and architects build applications optimized for high availability, performance, and global scale. Whether you're developing new cloud-native apps or modernizing existing systems, this course provides practical guidance and architectural best practices to leverage Azure Cosmos DB effectively in production environments.

The course includes 40%–50% hands-on activities to help reinforce concepts through guided implementation.

Target Audience:

This course is designed for:

• Application developers and software engineers building distributed, cloud-native applications

• Cloud architects designing modern NoSQL data solutions with Azure Cosmos DB

• Data professionals transitioning to NoSQL cloud-native architectures

• Anyone preparing for the Microsoft DP-420 certification exam

Prerequisites:
Familiarity with cloud application development, JSON, and basic understanding of Azure services. Experience with APIs (e.g., SQL, MongoDB, Cassandra, Gremlin, Table) is beneficial but not required.

Course Outline:

Module 1: Introduction to Azure Cosmos DB for Cloud-Native Applications

• Explore the benefits of Azure Cosmos DB as a globally distributed NoSQL database

• Understand Cosmos DB use cases in cloud-native and microservices architectures

• Compare APIs: SQL (Core), MongoDB, Cassandra, Gremlin, and Table

Module 2: Plan and Implement Data Models in Azure Cosmos DB

• Design efficient NoSQL data models tailored to Cosmos DB partitioning and indexing

• Use embedded and referenced documents for flexible, high-performance structures

• Apply best practices for modeling hierarchical and relational data in NoSQL

Module 3: Distribute Data Globally and Design for Scale

• Configure multi-region writes and geo-replication for global availability

• Understand and apply Cosmos DB partitioning strategies for horizontal scalability

• Manage throughput and performance using request units (RUs) and autoscale

Module 4: Optimize Consistency, Performance, and Availability

• Choose the right consistency level based on application requirements

• Analyze trade-offs between latency, availability, and throughput

• Use features like dedicated gateways and integrated cache for performance tuning

Module 5: Implement Secure Access and Compliance Controls

• Secure Cosmos DB with RBAC, firewall rules, private endpoints, and Azure AD

• Use managed identities and customer-managed keys for enterprise security

• Monitor compliance and audit access using Azure Monitor and diagnostic logs

Module 6: Integrate Cosmos DB into Modern Application Architectures

• Build event-driven apps with Azure Functions and Cosmos DB change feed

• Use Cosmos DB with Azure Logic Apps, Event Grid, and Data Factory

• Apply microservices and serverless patterns using Cosmos DB in production

Module 7: Monitor, Troubleshoot, and Maintain Cosmos DB Applications

• Use Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, and Application Insights for observability

• Diagnose performance issues using Query Metrics, Latency, and Indexing metrics

• Plan for maintenance, backups, and scaling operations using Cosmos DB SLAs and alerts

Delivery Format:

• Instructor-led course with expert guidance

• 40%–50% hands-on implementation using Azure Cosmos DB

• Real-world design patterns and configuration exercises included