Quick Answer
The answer is Azure SQL Analytics, the dedicated monitoring solution for Azure SQL Database that provides built-in dashboards for top queries by CPU usage. This is correct because Azure SQL Analytics leverages the Query Store and dynamic management views (DMVs) to automatically surface the top 10 queries by CPU over the last hour, eliminating the need for custom queries or manual configuration. On the Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert AZ-305 exam, this tests your ability to select purpose-built monitoring tools for specific database performance requirements, often contrasting Azure SQL Analytics with generic Azure Monitor or Log Analytics workspaces that require more setup. A common trap is choosing Azure Monitor alone, which lacks the prebuilt query performance views; Azure SQL Analytics is the integrated solution that directly answers the dashboard requirement. Memory tip: think “SQL Analytics = Query Store + DMVs for instant top CPU queries.”
This AZ-305 practice question tests your understanding of design identity, governance, and monitoring solutions. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
You need to design a solution to monitor the performance of an Azure SQL Database. You want to create a dashboard that shows the top 10 queries by CPU usage over the last hour. What should you use?
Azure Monitor Workbooks
Why wrong: Workbooks can be used, but it requires manual setup.
Power BI
Why wrong: Power BI requires data export and is not native.
Azure SQL Analytics
Azure SQL Analytics provides pre-built performance monitoring dashboards.
Log Analytics
Why wrong: Log Analytics can query logs but not a ready-made dashboard.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Azure SQL Analytics
Azure SQL Analytics is a dedicated monitoring solution for Azure SQL Database that provides built-in views and dashboards for top queries by CPU, duration, and other performance metrics. It leverages the Query Store and DMVs to surface the top 10 queries by CPU usage over the last hour without requiring custom queries or additional configuration.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Azure Monitor Workbooks
Why it's wrong here
Workbooks can be used, but it requires manual setup.
Power BI
Why it's wrong here
Power BI requires data export and is not native.
Azure SQL Analytics
Why this is correct
Azure SQL Analytics provides pre-built performance monitoring dashboards.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Log Analytics
Why it's wrong here
Log Analytics can query logs but not a ready-made dashboard.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse Azure SQL Analytics (a dedicated monitoring solution) with Log Analytics (the underlying data platform) or Azure Monitor Workbooks (a general-purpose dashboard tool), assuming any of them can provide the same pre-built top queries view without additional effort.
Detailed technical explanation
Azure SQL Analytics uses the Query Store, which continuously collects query-level performance data such as CPU time, duration, and execution count. The solution automatically surfaces the top 10 queries by CPU usage over the last hour by querying the sys.query_store_query and sys.query_store_plan DMVs, aggregating data into a pre-configured dashboard that refreshes every 5 minutes. In a real-world scenario, this enables DBAs to quickly identify resource-intensive queries without writing custom KQL or managing separate BI tools.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Design identity, governance, and monitoring solutions — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
Design identity, governance, and monitoring solutions practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
All AZ-305 questions
999 questions across all exam domains
Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert AZ-305 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
AZ-305 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise AZ-305 questions linked to Design identity, governance, and monitoring solutions.
Practise AZ-305 questions linked to Design data storage solutions.
Practise AZ-305 questions linked to Design business continuity solutions.
Practise AZ-305 questions linked to Design infrastructure solutions.
Practise AZ-305 questions linked to SAA-C03 VPC.
Practise AZ-305 questions linked to SAA-C03 S3 lifecycle policy questions.
Practise AZ-305 questions linked to SAA-C03 RDS Multi-AZ questions.
Practise AZ-305 questions linked to SAA-C03 IAM policy.
Practise AZ-305 questions linked to SAA-C03 Route 53 failover questions.
Practise AZ-305 questions linked to SAA-C03 CloudFront.
Practise AZ-305 questions linked to SAA-C03 NAT gateway questions.
Practise AZ-305 questions linked to SAA-C03 VPC endpoint questions.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Design identity, governance, and monitoring solutions — This question tests Design identity, governance, and monitoring solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Azure SQL Analytics — Azure SQL Analytics is a dedicated monitoring solution for Azure SQL Database that provides built-in views and dashboards for top queries by CPU, duration, and other performance metrics. It leverages the Query Store and DMVs to surface the top 10 queries by CPU usage over the last hour without requiring custom queries or additional configuration.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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 →
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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.
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.