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.
Refer to the exhibit. An organization deploys this ARM template to create a storage account. They need to ensure that data is replicated synchronously across two Azure regions. Does this template meet the requirement?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
No, GRS provides asynchronous replication
The template uses GRS (Geo-Redundant Storage), which replicates data asynchronously from the primary region to the secondary region. Because the replication is asynchronous, there is a potential for data loss if a regional disaster occurs before the secondary region is fully updated. The requirement specifies synchronous replication across two Azure regions, which is only provided by Azure Storage’s geo-zone-redundant storage (GZRS) with read-access (RA-GZRS) or by using Azure Files with synchronous replication via Azure File Sync or a third-party solution. Therefore, GRS does not meet the synchronous requirement.
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.
✗
No, the template uses RA-GRS
Why it's wrong here
RA-GRS includes read access to secondary, but still asynchronous.
✗
Yes, GRS provides synchronous replication
Why it's wrong here
GRS is asynchronous.
✗
No, the template uses LRS
Why it's wrong here
The template uses Standard_GRS, not LRS.
✓
No, GRS provides asynchronous replication
Why this is correct
GRS replicates asynchronously to a secondary region.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse GRS’s geo-redundancy with synchronous replication, not realizing that GRS uses asynchronous replication to the secondary region, while synchronous replication is only available within a single region (LRS, ZRS) or across availability zones (ZRS).
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure Storage replication options include LRS (synchronous within a single datacenter), ZRS (synchronous across availability zones in one region), GRS (asynchronous across two regions), and GZRS (synchronous within a region across zones, then asynchronous to another region). For synchronous replication across two distinct Azure regions, you would need a custom solution such as Azure File Sync with cloud tiering or a third-party replication tool, as Azure’s native storage replication does not offer synchronous cross-region replication. The asynchronous nature of GRS means the Recovery Point Objective (RPO) is typically 15 minutes, but can be longer under heavy load.
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 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.
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: No, GRS provides asynchronous replication — The template uses GRS (Geo-Redundant Storage), which replicates data asynchronously from the primary region to the secondary region. Because the replication is asynchronous, there is a potential for data loss if a regional disaster occurs before the secondary region is fully updated. The requirement specifies synchronous replication across two Azure regions, which is only provided by Azure Storage’s geo-zone-redundant storage (GZRS) with read-access (RA-GZRS) or by using Azure Files with synchronous replication via Azure File Sync or a third-party solution. Therefore, GRS does not meet the synchronous requirement.
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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