The answer is Standard tier with 100 DTUs. This is correct because the ARM template snippet specifies `requestedServiceObjectiveName: "S0"`, which directly maps to the Standard service tier with 100 DTUs in Azure SQL Database, along with a maximum database size of 250 GB. On the Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert AZ-305 exam, this tests your ability to interpret ARM template properties and map service objective names to actual performance levels, a common scenario when automating database deployments. A frequent trap is confusing S0 with a lower DTU count or misreading it as a vCore-based tier; remember that S-series objectives always refer to the DTU-based purchasing model. For quick recall, think “S0 = Standard 100” — the “0” in S0 indicates the entry-level DTU count for Standard, not zero performance.
AZ-305 Design data storage solutions Practice Question
This AZ-305 practice question tests your understanding of design data storage 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.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Standard tier with 100 DTUs
The ARM template snippet specifies `requestedServiceObjectiveName: "S0"`, which maps to the Standard service tier with 100 DTUs. The S0 performance level in Azure SQL Database provides 100 DTUs and a maximum database size of 250 GB, making option A correct.
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.
✓
Standard tier with 100 DTUs
Why this is correct
S3 corresponds to Standard tier with 100 DTUs.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Zone-redundant deployment
Why it's wrong here
zoneRedundant is false.
✗
Maximum size of 10 GB
Why it's wrong here
maxSizeBytes is 1 GB (1073741824 bytes).
✗
Premium tier with 100 DTUs
Why it's wrong here
S3 is Standard tier.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the maximum size limits between tiers (e.g., assuming S0 has a 10 GB limit like Basic) or mistakenly associate the DTU count (100) with the Premium tier, overlooking that the `requestedServiceObjectiveName` value explicitly defines the tier and performance level.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `requestedServiceObjectiveName` property in an ARM template directly maps to the service tier and performance level of an Azure SQL Database. The S0 objective is part of the DTU-based purchasing model, where Standard tier S0 provides 100 DTUs and up to 250 GB of storage. Under the hood, DTUs represent a blended measure of CPU, memory, and I/O resources, and the S0 level is designed for low-concurrency workloads with moderate performance needs. In real-world scenarios, choosing S0 is common for small to medium-sized applications where cost efficiency is prioritized over high throughput or advanced high-availability features like zone redundancy.
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: Standard tier with 100 DTUs — The ARM template snippet specifies `requestedServiceObjectiveName: "S0"`, which maps to the Standard service tier with 100 DTUs. The S0 performance level in Azure SQL Database provides 100 DTUs and a maximum database size of 250 GB, making option A correct.
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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