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 is building a new application that requires a fully managed relational database. The application has varying workloads across different databases. The company wants to pool resources to optimize cost and allow each database to scale as needed. They also need automated backups with point-in-time restore and geo-replication for disaster recovery. Which Azure data service should they use?
Azure SQL Database supports elastic pools for resource sharing among databases, automated backups, point-in-time restore, and active geo-replication for disaster recovery.
B
Azure SQL Managed Instance
Why wrong: Managed Instance provides near 100% SQL Server compatibility but does not support elastic pools. It is better suited for migrations requiring instance-scoped features.
C
Azure Database for MySQL
Why wrong: Azure Database for MySQL is a fully managed MySQL database, but it does not provide elastic pools for sharing resources across databases.
D
Azure Database for PostgreSQL
Why wrong: Azure Database for PostgreSQL is a fully managed PostgreSQL service, but it lacks elastic pool functionality.
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
Azure SQL Database is a fully managed relational database service that supports elastic pools, which allow you to pool resources across multiple databases to optimize cost and enable each database to scale independently based on demand. It also provides automated backups with point-in-time restore (PITR) and active geo-replication for disaster recovery, meeting all the stated requirements.
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
Why this is correct
Azure SQL Database supports elastic pools for resource sharing among databases, automated backups, point-in-time restore, and active geo-replication for disaster recovery.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Azure SQL Managed Instance
Why it's wrong here
Managed Instance provides near 100% SQL Server compatibility but does not support elastic pools. It is better suited for migrations requiring instance-scoped features.
✗
Azure Database for MySQL
Why it's wrong here
Azure Database for MySQL is a fully managed MySQL database, but it does not provide elastic pools for sharing resources across databases.
✗
Azure Database for PostgreSQL
Why it's wrong here
Azure Database for PostgreSQL is a fully managed PostgreSQL service, but it lacks elastic pool functionality.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Azure SQL Database with Azure SQL Managed Instance, assuming Managed Instance also supports elastic pools, but it does not—elastic pools are exclusive to Azure SQL Database.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure SQL Database elastic pools allocate a shared set of resources (eDTUs or vCores) among multiple databases, allowing each database to burst to higher performance when needed while keeping costs low. Active geo-replication creates up to four readable secondary replicas in different Azure regions, supporting manual failover for disaster recovery, and automated backups enable point-in-time restore to any point within the retention period (7-35 days).
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 SQL Database — Azure SQL Database is a fully managed relational database service that supports elastic pools, which allow you to pool resources across multiple databases to optimize cost and enable each database to scale independently based on demand. It also provides automated backups with point-in-time restore (PITR) and active geo-replication for disaster recovery, meeting all the stated requirements.
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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Question Discussion
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