The answer is deploying an additional App Service in a secondary region and using Azure SQL Database active geo-replication. This solution meets the requirement with the least administrative effort because active geo-replication automatically maintains readable, synchronized replicas of your database in a paired region, while the secondary App Service instance can be configured to fail over with minimal manual intervention. On the Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert AZ-305 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of cost-effective, low-touch disaster recovery patterns for PaaS services, often contrasting simple geo-replication with more complex options like App Service Environment or Azure Front Door. A common trap is overcomplicating the solution—remember that for Standard tier App Service and DTU-based SQL Database, active geo-replication plus a secondary App Service is the simplest path to regional resilience. Memory tip: think "two apps, two databases, one geo-replication link" for the least administrative lift.
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. 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 web application on Azure App Service with a Standard tier plan. The application uses an Azure SQL Database (DTU-based) for storage. The business requires that the application remain available in the event of a single Azure region outage. Which solution meets the requirement with the least administrative effort?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "least"
Why it matters: You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Deploy an additional App Service in a secondary region and use Azure SQL Database active geo-replication
Option A is correct because App Service deployment slots in a secondary region combined with Azure SQL Database geo-replication provide a low-effort DR solution. Option B is wrong because App Service Environment is more complex and costly. Option C is wrong because Azure Front Door is for global load balancing, not DR. Option D is wrong because Azure Backup does not provide availability during an outage.
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.
✗
Use an App Service Environment (ASE) in a single region with App Service plans in multiple availability zones
Why it's wrong here
Does not protect against region failure.
✗
Use Azure Front Door to route traffic to a secondary App Service in the same region
Why it's wrong here
Same region does not protect against region failure.
✗
Configure Azure Backup for the App Service and SQL Database
Why it's wrong here
Backup does not provide high availability.
✓
Deploy an additional App Service in a secondary region and use Azure SQL Database active geo-replication
Why this is correct
Simplest DR setup with geo-replication.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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
A startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this AZ-305 question in full detail.
Identify which AZ-305 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Design business continuity solutions — This question tests Design business continuity solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Deploy an additional App Service in a secondary region and use Azure SQL Database active geo-replication — Option A is correct because App Service deployment slots in a secondary region combined with Azure SQL Database geo-replication provide a low-effort DR solution. Option B is wrong because App Service Environment is more complex and costly. Option C is wrong because Azure Front Door is for global load balancing, not DR. Option D is wrong because Azure Backup does not provide availability during an outage.
What should I do if I get this AZ-305 question wrong?
Identify which AZ-305 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "least". You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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