The answer is geo-redundant storage (GRS) and geo-zone-redundant storage (GZRS). These two Azure Storage replication options provide durability for data in the event of a regional disaster because they both replicate your data asynchronously to a secondary region that is hundreds of miles away, ensuring that even if an entire Azure region fails, your data survives in a separate geographic location. GZRS adds an extra layer of protection by first replicating data across multiple availability zones within the primary region before sending it to the secondary region, combining zone-level and geo-level resilience. On the Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert AZ-305 exam, this question tests your understanding of how replication choices map to specific disaster recovery scenarios, and a common trap is confusing zone-redundant storage (ZRS) with geo-redundancy—ZRS only protects within a single region, not across regions. Remember the memory tip: if you need to survive a regional disaster, you must “go geo”—look for the “G” in GRS or GZRS.
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.
Which TWO Azure storage replication options provide durability for data in the event of a regional disaster? (Select two.)
GRS replicates data to a secondary region for regional disaster protection.
C
Read-access geo-redundant storage (RA-GRS)
Why wrong: RA-GRS provides same durability as GRS but with read access; however, the question asks for options that provide durability, and GRS already covers it; RA-GRS is a variant, but typically GRS is the base. To avoid confusion, RA-GRS also provides regional durability, but the best answers are GRS and GZRS.
D
Zone-redundant storage (ZRS)
Why wrong: ZRS only protects within a region across availability zones.
E
Locally redundant storage (LRS)
Why wrong: LRS only replicates within a single datacenter, not across regions.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Geo-zone-redundant storage (GZRS)
Options B and D are correct. Geo-redundant storage (GRS) replicates data to a secondary region. Geo-zone-redundant storage (GZRS) combines zone-redundancy with geo-redundancy. Option A is wrong because LRS only protects within a single datacenter. Option C is wrong because ZRS protects within a region only. Option E is wrong because RA-GRS provides read access but same durability as GRS.
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.
✓
Geo-zone-redundant storage (GZRS)
Why this is correct
GZRS combines ZRS and GRS for maximum durability.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Geo-redundant storage (GRS)
Why this is correct
GRS replicates data to a secondary region for regional disaster protection.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Read-access geo-redundant storage (RA-GRS)
Why it's wrong here
RA-GRS provides same durability as GRS but with read access; however, the question asks for options that provide durability, and GRS already covers it; RA-GRS is a variant, but typically GRS is the base. To avoid confusion, RA-GRS also provides regional durability, but the best answers are GRS and GZRS.
✗
Zone-redundant storage (ZRS)
Why it's wrong here
ZRS only protects within a region across availability zones.
✗
Locally redundant storage (LRS)
Why it's wrong here
LRS only replicates within a single datacenter, not across regions.
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.
Trap categories for this question
Similar concept trap
RA-GRS provides same durability as GRS but with read access; however, the question asks for options that provide durability, and GRS already covers it; RA-GRS is a variant, but typically GRS is the base. To avoid confusion, RA-GRS also provides regional durability, but the best answers are GRS and GZRS.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this AZ-305 question in full detail.
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.
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: Geo-zone-redundant storage (GZRS) — Options B and D are correct. Geo-redundant storage (GRS) replicates data to a secondary region. Geo-zone-redundant storage (GZRS) combines zone-redundancy with geo-redundancy. Option A is wrong because LRS only protects within a single datacenter. Option C is wrong because ZRS protects within a region only. Option E is wrong because RA-GRS provides read access but same durability as GRS.
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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Question Discussion
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