Cloud Computing Study Guide - 07
Study Guide
Beginner → Exam Ready
By Levi J.
2026 Edition
Data Pipelines
What is a Data Pipeline?
A data pipeline is a set of steps that moves data from sources to a place where it can be stored, processed,
and analyzed.
Data Pipeline Stages
1. Data Ingestion
Data Ingestion means:
Collecting data from different sources and bringing it into the data platform.
Examples:
Moving sales data from a website to Azure
Collecting customer data from mobile apps
Importing data from on-premises databases
2. Data Storage
Data Storage means:
Saving the collected data.
Data can be stored in:
Structured storage - Tables with rows and columns
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, Cloud Computing Study Guide - 07
Semi-structured storage - JSON, XML files
Unstructured storage - Images, videos, documents
Cloud storage - Cost-effective, scalable
Examples:
Azure Blob Storage
Azure Data Lake Storage
SQL databases
NoSQL databases
3. Data Processing and Transformation
Processing and Transformation means:
Cleaning and changing data so it's ready for analysis.
This includes:
Cleaning: Removing errors or invalid values
Deduplication: Removing duplicate records
Formatting: Making data consistent
Aggregation: Calculating totals or summaries
Business rules: Applying company rules, such as currency conversion
Example:
Changing all dates to the same format before creating a report.
4. Data Analysis and Reporting
Data analysis and reporting means:
Turning processed data into useful information.
This is done using:
Reports - Structured summaries
Dashboards - Real-time visual displays
Charts - Graphical representations
Graphs - Trend analysis
Page 2 of 8
Study Guide
Beginner → Exam Ready
By Levi J.
2026 Edition
Data Pipelines
What is a Data Pipeline?
A data pipeline is a set of steps that moves data from sources to a place where it can be stored, processed,
and analyzed.
Data Pipeline Stages
1. Data Ingestion
Data Ingestion means:
Collecting data from different sources and bringing it into the data platform.
Examples:
Moving sales data from a website to Azure
Collecting customer data from mobile apps
Importing data from on-premises databases
2. Data Storage
Data Storage means:
Saving the collected data.
Data can be stored in:
Structured storage - Tables with rows and columns
Page 1 of 8
, Cloud Computing Study Guide - 07
Semi-structured storage - JSON, XML files
Unstructured storage - Images, videos, documents
Cloud storage - Cost-effective, scalable
Examples:
Azure Blob Storage
Azure Data Lake Storage
SQL databases
NoSQL databases
3. Data Processing and Transformation
Processing and Transformation means:
Cleaning and changing data so it's ready for analysis.
This includes:
Cleaning: Removing errors or invalid values
Deduplication: Removing duplicate records
Formatting: Making data consistent
Aggregation: Calculating totals or summaries
Business rules: Applying company rules, such as currency conversion
Example:
Changing all dates to the same format before creating a report.
4. Data Analysis and Reporting
Data analysis and reporting means:
Turning processed data into useful information.
This is done using:
Reports - Structured summaries
Dashboards - Real-time visual displays
Charts - Graphical representations
Graphs - Trend analysis
Page 2 of 8
