- A
SQL Server Always On Availability Group with synchronous replication across availability zones
Correct. This configuration provides automatic failover, synchronous commit for zero data loss, and readable secondary replicas for reporting.
- B
SQL Server Always On Failover Cluster Instance (FCI) with shared disks
Why wrong: Incorrect. FCI uses shared storage and provides automatic failover but does not support readable secondary replicas.
- C
Azure SQL Database Managed Instance with active geo-replication
Why wrong: Incorrect. This is a PaaS option, not suitable for SQL Server on Azure VMs, and geo-replication is asynchronous by default.
- D
Azure SQL Database with active geo-replication
Why wrong: Incorrect. This is a PaaS solution for Azure SQL Database, not for SQL Server on Azure VMs.
AZ-305 Design business continuity solutions Practice Question
This AZ-305 practice question tests your understanding of design business continuity solutions. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. A key principle to apply: always On Availability Groups provide database-level high availability.. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A company runs a critical SQL Server database on an Azure virtual machine. They need a high-availability solution within a single region that provides automatic failover, zero data loss (synchronous replication), and support read-only routing for reporting workloads. Which solution should they implement?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
SQL Server Always On Availability Group with synchronous replication across availability zones
SQL Server Always On Availability Group with synchronous replication across availability zones meets all requirements: it provides automatic failover, zero data loss through synchronous commit mode, and supports read-only routing by directing reporting workloads to readable secondary replicas. This solution operates within a single Azure region using availability zones for high availability.
Key principle: Always On Availability Groups provide database-level high availability.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
SQL Server Always On Availability Group with synchronous replication across availability zones
Why this is correct
Correct. This configuration provides automatic failover, synchronous commit for zero data loss, and readable secondary replicas for reporting.
Related concept
Always On Availability Groups provide database-level high availability.
- ✗
SQL Server Always On Failover Cluster Instance (FCI) with shared disks
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. FCI uses shared storage and provides automatic failover but does not support readable secondary replicas.
- ✗
Azure SQL Database Managed Instance with active geo-replication
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. This is a PaaS option, not suitable for SQL Server on Azure VMs, and geo-replication is asynchronous by default.
- ✗
Azure SQL Database with active geo-replication
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. This is a PaaS solution for Azure SQL Database, not for SQL Server on Azure VMs.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse synchronous replication (used in Always On Availability Groups) with asynchronous replication (used in geo-replication), and fail to recognize that read-only routing is a feature exclusive to Availability Groups, not Failover Cluster Instances or geo-replication solutions.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Synchronous replication in an Availability Group requires that the transaction be committed on both the primary and a synchronous secondary replica before acknowledging the commit, ensuring zero data loss at the cost of increased latency. Read-only routing is achieved by configuring the secondary replica with the 'APPLICATION_INTENT=READ_ONLY' connection string, which the listener automatically routes to a readable secondary. In Azure, availability zones provide physical separation within a region, protecting against datacenter-level failures while maintaining low-latency synchronous replication.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Always On Availability Groups provide database-level high availability.
- Synchronous replication ensures zero data loss (RPO=0).
- Readable secondary replicas offload reporting workloads.
- Automatic failover requires a quorum and health detection.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Always On Availability Groups provide database-level high availability.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review always On Availability Groups provide database-level high availability., then practise related AZ-305 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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Design business continuity solutions — study guide chapter
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Design business continuity solutions practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-305 question test?
Design business continuity solutions — This question tests Design business continuity solutions — Always On Availability Groups provide database-level high availability..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: SQL Server Always On Availability Group with synchronous replication across availability zones — SQL Server Always On Availability Group with synchronous replication across availability zones meets all requirements: it provides automatic failover, zero data loss through synchronous commit mode, and supports read-only routing by directing reporting workloads to readable secondary replicas. This solution operates within a single Azure region using availability zones for high availability.
What should I do if I get this AZ-305 question wrong?
Review always On Availability Groups provide database-level high availability., then practise related AZ-305 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Always On Availability Groups provide database-level high availability.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This AZ-305 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the AZ-305 exam.
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