- A
Rehost the application on Azure VMs in an availability set and use SQL Server Always On Availability Groups.
Why wrong: IaaS approach with more operational overhead; does not leverage PaaS.
- B
Migrate the web tier to Azure App Service with staging slots and use Azure SQL Database with active geo-replication.
PaaS services reduce overhead; App Service supports external session state; SQL Database with geo-replication meets RPO/RTO.
- C
Refactor the application into microservices and deploy to Azure Kubernetes Service.
Why wrong: Too much change; does not meet 'minimize code changes' requirement.
- D
Containerize the application using Docker and deploy to Azure Container Instances in paired regions.
Why wrong: Requires refactoring and containers may not fit the monolithic app.
Quick Answer
The correct approach is to migrate the web tier to Azure App Service with staging slots and use Azure SQL Database with active geo-replication. This solution directly addresses the need for a minimal change migration of a monolithic application to Azure while achieving high availability, because App Service offers a PaaS environment that requires little to no code refactoring for a stateless Windows Server app, and active geo-replication on Azure SQL Database provides a regional failover capability that meets the strict RPO of 5 minutes and RTO of 1 hour. On the AZ-305 exam, this scenario tests your ability to balance PaaS adoption with legacy constraints, often trapping candidates who default to IaaS (like Azure VMs) for monolithic apps, forgetting that App Service can externalize session state. A common memory tip is “PaaS for the app, geo-rep for the data”—if you can externalize state, App Service handles the web tier with zero code changes, while geo-replication ensures regional resilience without touching the database schema.
AZ-305 Design infrastructure solutions Practice Question
This AZ-305 practice question tests your understanding of design infrastructure 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.
Your organization is migrating a legacy on-premises application to Azure. The application uses a monolithic architecture and requires high availability. The application tier runs on Windows Server and uses a SQL Server database. You need to design a migration strategy that minimizes changes to the application code while maximizing availability. The application can be stateless if session state is externalized. You have the following requirements: (1) The application must be resilient to Azure region failures. (2) The database must have an RPO of 5 minutes and RTO of 1 hour. (3) The migration must be completed within 6 months. (4) The solution should use platform-as-a-service (PaaS) services where possible to reduce operational overhead. Which approach should you recommend?
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
Migrate the web tier to Azure App Service with staging slots and use Azure SQL Database with active geo-replication.
Option C is correct because Azure App Service provides a PaaS environment that can host the web tier with minimal code changes, and Azure SQL Database with active geo-replication meets the RPO/RTO requirements. Option A is wrong because Azure VMs are IaaS, not PaaS, and require more management. Option B is wrong because Azure Container Instances are not ideal for monolithic apps. Option D is wrong because Azure Functions are event-driven and not suitable for a monolithic application.
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.
- ✗
Rehost the application on Azure VMs in an availability set and use SQL Server Always On Availability Groups.
- ✓
Migrate the web tier to Azure App Service with staging slots and use Azure SQL Database with active geo-replication.
Why this is correct
PaaS services reduce overhead; App Service supports external session state; SQL Database with geo-replication meets RPO/RTO.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Refactor the application into microservices and deploy to Azure Kubernetes Service.
Why it's wrong here
Too much change; does not meet 'minimize code changes' requirement.
- ✗
Containerize the application using Docker and deploy to Azure Container Instances in paired regions.
Why it's wrong here
Requires refactoring and containers may not fit the monolithic app.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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.
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Design infrastructure solutions — study guide chapter
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Design infrastructure solutions practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-305 question test?
Design infrastructure solutions — This question tests Design infrastructure solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Migrate the web tier to Azure App Service with staging slots and use Azure SQL Database with active geo-replication. — Option C is correct because Azure App Service provides a PaaS environment that can host the web tier with minimal code changes, and Azure SQL Database with active geo-replication meets the RPO/RTO requirements. Option A is wrong because Azure VMs are IaaS, not PaaS, and require more management. Option B is wrong because Azure Container Instances are not ideal for monolithic apps. Option D is wrong because Azure Functions are event-driven and not suitable for a monolithic application.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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