- A
Configure Azure Backup with geo-redundant storage.
Why wrong: Azure Backup for VMs has a default RPO of 1 hour, which does not meet the 15-minute RPO requirement.
- B
Deploy an active-passive pair of VMs using SQL Server Always On availability groups.
Why wrong: SQL Server Always On is for database-level replication, not for general VM workloads, and it incurs additional licensing costs.
- C
Use Azure Storage with read-access geo-redundant storage (RA-GRS) and failover the VMs.
Why wrong: RA-GRS provides geo-redundancy for storage accounts, but it does not replicate VM configuration or enable automated failover of compute resources.
- D
Implement Azure Site Recovery with replication to a secondary region.
Azure Site Recovery can replicate Azure VMs to another region with an RPO of 15 seconds to 15 minutes and RTO of minutes to hours, meeting the requirements cost-effectively.
AZ-305 Design business continuity solutions Practice Question
This AZ-305 practice question tests your understanding of design business continuity 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.
Your company runs a critical workload on Azure Virtual Machines in a single region. You need to design a disaster recovery solution that meets a Recovery Point Objective (RPO) of 15 minutes and a Recovery Time Objective (RTO) of 1 hour. The solution should minimize cost. What should you recommend?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"minimum / minimize"Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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
Implement Azure Site Recovery with replication to a secondary region.
Option D is correct because Azure Site Recovery provides replication with RPO as low as 15 minutes and RTO of minutes to hours, and it is cost-effective compared to always-on replication. Option A is wrong because Azure Backup has a minimum RPO of 1 hour for VMs. Option B is wrong because read-access geo-redundant storage (RA-GRS) is for storage accounts, not VM-level recovery. Option C is wrong because an active-passive configuration with Always On availability groups requires SQL Server and is overkill for non-database workloads.
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.
- ✗
Configure Azure Backup with geo-redundant storage.
Why it's wrong here
Azure Backup for VMs has a default RPO of 1 hour, which does not meet the 15-minute RPO requirement.
- ✗
Deploy an active-passive pair of VMs using SQL Server Always On availability groups.
Why it's wrong here
SQL Server Always On is for database-level replication, not for general VM workloads, and it incurs additional licensing costs.
- ✗
Use Azure Storage with read-access geo-redundant storage (RA-GRS) and failover the VMs.
Why it's wrong here
RA-GRS provides geo-redundancy for storage accounts, but it does not replicate VM configuration or enable automated failover of compute resources.
- ✓
Implement Azure Site Recovery with replication to a secondary region.
Why this is correct
Azure Site Recovery can replicate Azure VMs to another region with an RPO of 15 seconds to 15 minutes and RTO of minutes to hours, meeting the requirements cost-effectively.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
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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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-305 question test?
Design business continuity solutions — This question tests Design business continuity solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Implement Azure Site Recovery with replication to a secondary region. — Option D is correct because Azure Site Recovery provides replication with RPO as low as 15 minutes and RTO of minutes to hours, and it is cost-effective compared to always-on replication. Option A is wrong because Azure Backup has a minimum RPO of 1 hour for VMs. Option B is wrong because read-access geo-redundant storage (RA-GRS) is for storage accounts, not VM-level recovery. Option C is wrong because an active-passive configuration with Always On availability groups requires SQL Server and is overkill for non-database workloads.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 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.
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