The answer is the Azure Redis Cache Standard tier, because it provides the required 99.9% SLA through built-in replication with a primary and replica node in the same region, ensuring high availability for session state and product data while remaining fully managed. This tier supports fast read and write access without the added cost or complexity of the Premium tier, making it the ideal choice for caching frequently accessed session state. On the AZ-305 exam, this scenario tests your ability to match SLA requirements with the correct tier, often appearing as a trap where candidates mistakenly choose Basic (no SLA) or Premium (overkill for HA alone). Remember: Standard = SLA + replication, Basic = no SLA, Premium = SLA + persistence and clustering. A quick memory tip: “Standard is the standby for high availability” — think of the replica node standing by to take over.
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 wants to cache frequently accessed session state and product data for their e-commerce website. They need the cache to be highly available with a 99.9% SLA and provide fast read and write access. The solution must be fully managed. Which Azure Cache tier should they choose?
Why wrong: Basic tier does not provide high availability (no SLA) and runs on a single node, so it does not meet the requirement for high availability.
B
Azure Redis Cache Standard tier
Standard tier offers a 99.9% SLA, replication, and is fully managed, making it suitable for caching with high availability.
C
Azure Redis Cache Premium tier
Why wrong: Premium tier provides additional features like data persistence and clustering, but it is unnecessary for the stated requirement for this requirement and more expensive.
D
Azure Content Delivery Network
Why wrong: Azure CDN is for caching static content (images, videos) at edge locations, not for application session state or dynamic data caching.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Azure Redis Cache Standard tier
The Standard tier of Azure Redis Cache provides a 99.9% SLA through built-in replication with two nodes (primary and replica) in the same region, ensuring high availability. It is fully managed, supports fast read/write access for session state and product data, and meets the requirement without the additional cost or complexity of the Premium tier.
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 Redis Cache Basic tier
Why it's wrong here
Basic tier does not provide high availability (no SLA) and runs on a single node, so it does not meet the requirement for high availability.
✓
Azure Redis Cache Standard tier
Why this is correct
Standard tier offers a 99.9% SLA, replication, and is fully managed, making it suitable for caching with high availability.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Azure Redis Cache Premium tier
Why it's wrong here
Premium tier provides additional features like data persistence and clustering, but it is unnecessary for the stated requirement for this requirement and more expensive.
✗
Azure Content Delivery Network
Why it's wrong here
Azure CDN is for caching static content (images, videos) at edge locations, not for application session state or dynamic data caching.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose the Premium tier for high availability, not realizing that the Standard tier already provides a 99.9% SLA with replication, and Premium adds features like data persistence and clustering that are not required by the question.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure Redis Cache Standard tier uses a replicated architecture where the primary node handles all read/write operations and asynchronously replicates data to the replica node. In the event of a primary node failure, Azure automatically fails over to the replica, maintaining the 99.9% SLA. For session state, this replication ensures that cached user sessions survive node failures, which is critical for e-commerce continuity.
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
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.
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 Redis Cache Standard tier — The Standard tier of Azure Redis Cache provides a 99.9% SLA through built-in replication with two nodes (primary and replica) in the same region, ensuring high availability. It is fully managed, supports fast read/write access for session state and product data, and meets the requirement without the additional cost or complexity of the Premium tier.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.