- A
Configure Azure SQL Database failover groups with automatic failover, and use geo-redundant storage (GRS) for Blob Storage.
Why wrong: Failover groups use asynchronous replication, which could result in data loss exceeding RPO; GRS does not provide read access during a primary region failure.
- B
Deploy Azure Site Recovery for VMs, configure Azure SQL Database failover groups, and use geo-zone-redundant storage (GZRS) for Blob Storage.
Why wrong: Azure Site Recovery for SQL Database is unnecessary and adds cost; failover groups with asynchronous replication may exceed RPO.
- C
Configure Azure SQL Database geo-restore for the database, and use zone-redundant storage (ZRS) for Blob Storage.
Why wrong: Geo-restore has RTO of hours, not 15 minutes; ZRS only protects within a region, not across regions.
- D
Configure Azure SQL Database active geo-replication with a secondary in a paired region, and use read-access geo-redundant storage (RA-GRS) for Blob Storage.
Active geo-replication provides synchronous replication for zero data loss, and RA-GRS allows read access during a regional outage, meeting RTO/RPO.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to configure Azure SQL Database active geo-replication with a secondary in a paired region, and use read-access geo-redundant storage (RA-GRS) for Blob Storage. Active geo-replication for Azure SQL Database uses synchronous replication to the secondary region, guaranteeing zero data loss (RPO of 0) and enabling failover within minutes, which satisfies the 15-minute RTO and 5-minute RPO requirements. For Blob Storage, RA-GRS provides read access to data in the secondary region even during a primary outage, with asynchronous replication meeting the 5-minute RPO while remaining cost-optimized. On the AZ-305 exam, this question tests your ability to match disaster recovery features to strict RTO/RPO targets, often trapping candidates who overcomplicate with Site Recovery or confuse failover groups (asynchronous) with active geo-replication (synchronous). Remember the memory tip: “Active geo-rep for zero data loss; RA-GRS for read access during a loss.”
AZ-305 Design business continuity solutions Practice Question
This AZ-305 practice question tests your understanding of design business continuity solutions. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
Contoso Ltd. runs a mission-critical application on Azure Virtual Machines in the East US region. The application uses Azure SQL Database (Business Critical tier) and stores files in Azure Blob Storage (hot tier). The business requires a Recovery Time Objective (RTO) of 15 minutes and a Recovery Point Objective (RPO) of 5 minutes for the application. For SQL Database, they need the ability to fail over to a secondary region with no data loss. For Blob Storage, they need to maintain read access to data even if the primary region fails. The solution must be cost-optimized and not exceed the RTO/RPO. Which combination of services should you recommend?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"primary"Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
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
Configure Azure SQL Database active geo-replication with a secondary in a paired region, and use read-access geo-redundant storage (RA-GRS) for Blob Storage.
Option B is correct because Azure SQL Database with active geo-replication provides synchronous replication to a secondary region, achieving RPO of 0 (no data loss), and failover can be initiated within minutes, meeting RTO of 15 minutes. Azure Blob Storage with read-access geo-redundant storage (RA-GRS) allows read access to data in the secondary region even if the primary fails, and asynchronous replication meets RPO of 5 minutes. Option A is wrong because Azure Site Recovery for SQL Database is not necessary and adds cost/complexity; SQL Database has built-in geo-replication. Option C is wrong because Azure SQL Database failover groups use asynchronous replication, which could lose data (RPO > 5 minutes) unless configured with premium tier, but still not zero data loss. Option D is wrong because Azure SQL Database with geo-restore has RTO of hours, not 15 minutes.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Configure Azure SQL Database failover groups with automatic failover, and use geo-redundant storage (GRS) for Blob Storage.
Why it's wrong here
Failover groups use asynchronous replication, which could result in data loss exceeding RPO; GRS does not provide read access during a primary region failure.
- ✗
Deploy Azure Site Recovery for VMs, configure Azure SQL Database failover groups, and use geo-zone-redundant storage (GZRS) for Blob Storage.
Why it's wrong here
Azure Site Recovery for SQL Database is unnecessary and adds cost; failover groups with asynchronous replication may exceed RPO.
- ✗
Configure Azure SQL Database geo-restore for the database, and use zone-redundant storage (ZRS) for Blob Storage.
Why it's wrong here
Geo-restore has RTO of hours, not 15 minutes; ZRS only protects within a region, not across regions.
- ✓
Configure Azure SQL Database active geo-replication with a secondary in a paired region, and use read-access geo-redundant storage (RA-GRS) for Blob Storage.
Why this is correct
Active geo-replication provides synchronous replication for zero data loss, and RA-GRS allows read access during a regional outage, meeting RTO/RPO.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related AZ-305 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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Design business continuity solutions — study guide chapter
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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 — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure Azure SQL Database active geo-replication with a secondary in a paired region, and use read-access geo-redundant storage (RA-GRS) for Blob Storage. — Option B is correct because Azure SQL Database with active geo-replication provides synchronous replication to a secondary region, achieving RPO of 0 (no data loss), and failover can be initiated within minutes, meeting RTO of 15 minutes. Azure Blob Storage with read-access geo-redundant storage (RA-GRS) allows read access to data in the secondary region even if the primary fails, and asynchronous replication meets RPO of 5 minutes. Option A is wrong because Azure Site Recovery for SQL Database is not necessary and adds cost/complexity; SQL Database has built-in geo-replication. Option C is wrong because Azure SQL Database failover groups use asynchronous replication, which could lose data (RPO > 5 minutes) unless configured with premium tier, but still not zero data loss. Option D is wrong because Azure SQL Database with geo-restore has RTO of hours, not 15 minutes.
What should I do if I get this AZ-305 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related AZ-305 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 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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