- A
Azure SQL Database with active geo-replication
Active geo-replication provides automatic failover to a readable secondary region, with strong consistency for relational workloads.
- B
Azure Cosmos DB with multiple write regions and strong consistency
Why wrong: Multiple write regions cannot be combined with strong consistency; stronger consistency models limit multi-region writes.
- C
Azure Database for MySQL with read replicas
Why wrong: Read replicas are for scaling reads, not active geo-replication with automatic failover for disaster recovery.
- D
Azure SQL Managed Instance with failover groups
Why wrong: Failover groups in SQL Managed Instance provide DR, but the service is designed for single instance rather than globally distributed active geo-replication.
Quick Answer
Azure SQL Database with active geo-replication is the correct choice because it delivers a fully managed relational database that guarantees strong consistency for all reads and writes, supports complex queries with joins, and enables disaster recovery across two Azure regions with automatic failover. Active geo-replication creates readable secondary replicas in a paired region, allowing the application to manually or programmatically initiate failover while maintaining transactional integrity and durability. On the AZ-305 exam, this scenario tests your ability to match business requirements—like global e-commerce, strong consistency, and complex relational queries—to the appropriate Azure data service, often contrasting Azure SQL Database with Cosmos DB, which sacrifices strong consistency for multi-region writes. A common trap is choosing Cosmos DB for its multi-region capabilities, but remember that Cosmos DB does not support SQL joins natively and offers only eventual consistency by default. Memory tip: “SQL for joins and strong consistency; geo-replication for DR with readable secondaries.”
AZ-305 Design data storage solutions Practice Question
This AZ-305 practice question tests your understanding of design data storage 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. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. 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 global e-commerce application that stores customer order data. The data must be highly available and durable. The application requires strong consistency for all reads and writes. The company needs to store relational data (orders, customers) and handle complex queries with joins. They want a fully managed database service that supports active geo-replication for disaster recovery across two Azure regions with automatic failover. Which Azure database service should they choose?
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
Azure SQL Database with active geo-replication
Azure SQL Database with active geo-replication is the correct choice because it provides a fully managed relational database service that supports strong consistency, complex queries with joins, and active geo-replication across two Azure regions with automatic failover for disaster recovery. Active geo-replication creates readable secondary replicas in a paired region, and the application can manually or programmatically initiate failover to ensure high availability and durability while maintaining transactional consistency.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Azure SQL Database with active geo-replication
Why this is correct
Active geo-replication provides automatic failover to a readable secondary region, with strong consistency for relational workloads.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Azure Cosmos DB with multiple write regions and strong consistency
Why it's wrong here
Multiple write regions cannot be combined with strong consistency; stronger consistency models limit multi-region writes.
- ✗
Azure Database for MySQL with read replicas
Why it's wrong here
Read replicas are for scaling reads, not active geo-replication with automatic failover for disaster recovery.
- ✗
Azure SQL Managed Instance with failover groups
Why it's wrong here
Failover groups in SQL Managed Instance provide DR, but the service is designed for single instance rather than globally distributed active geo-replication.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Azure SQL Database active geo-replication with Azure SQL Managed Instance failover groups, but the key differentiator is that active geo-replication supports automatic failover only when configured with a failover group, while Managed Instance failover groups are designed for instance-level migration and have different RPO/RTO characteristics and licensing requirements.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Active geo-replication in Azure SQL Database uses asynchronous replication to create up to four readable secondaries in different Azure regions, with a Recovery Point Objective (RPO) of up to 5 seconds and a Recovery Time Objective (RTO) of less than 1 hour for manual failover. The service leverages the Always On availability group technology under the hood, ensuring that all committed transactions are replicated to the secondary, and failover can be triggered via PowerShell, REST API, or the Azure portal, making it suitable for global applications requiring strong consistency and complex relational queries.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
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
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Design data storage solutions — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-305 question test?
Design data storage solutions — This question tests Design data storage solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Azure SQL Database with active geo-replication — Azure SQL Database with active geo-replication is the correct choice because it provides a fully managed relational database service that supports strong consistency, complex queries with joins, and active geo-replication across two Azure regions with automatic failover for disaster recovery. Active geo-replication creates readable secondary replicas in a paired region, and the application can manually or programmatically initiate failover to ensure high availability and durability while maintaining transactional consistency.
What should I do if I get this AZ-305 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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