AZ-900 Describe Azure architecture and services Practice Question
Which Azure database service is specifically optimized for running open-source MariaDB workloads as a fully managed service?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently confuse MariaDB with MySQL due to their shared history, assuming Azure Database for MySQL can handle MariaDB workloads, but Azure explicitly separates these services to account for divergent features and versioning.
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
✓
Azure Database for MariaDB
Azure Database for MariaDB is the correct answer because it is a fully managed relational database service specifically built for the MariaDB community edition, offering high availability, automated backups, and scaling. It uses the same wire protocol as MySQL but is tailored to MariaDB's specific engine features and versioning, such as support for the Aria storage engine and Galera cluster replication.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Azure Database for MySQL
Why it's wrong here
Azure Database for MySQL is a fully managed relational database service built for the MySQL community edition, not for MariaDB. While MariaDB originated as a fork of MySQL, the two database engines have diverged significantly, and Azure offers a distinct, dedicated managed service for MariaDB. Selecting MySQL would therefore fail to meet the requirement of hosting a MariaDB workload, even though they share historical roots.
- ✓
Azure Database for MariaDB
Why this is correct
Azure Database for MariaDB is the correct choice because it is the dedicated Azure PaaS offering that provides a fully managed, high-availability deployment of the open-source MariaDB database engine. It includes built-in automated backups, scaling, and security features while preserving wire compatibility for MariaDB clients and tools. This service is specifically designed to host MariaDB workloads, making it the appropriate answer.
- ✗
Azure SQL Database
Why it's wrong here
Azure SQL Database is a managed relational database service that runs the proprietary Microsoft SQL Server engine, which uses T-SQL as its query language and has a distinct protocol. MariaDB, by contrast, is an open-source system based on the MySQL protocol and SQL dialect, so it is not supported by Azure SQL Database. Relying on Azure SQL Database would incorrectly assume that any relational database can be hosted there, which is not the case.
- ✗
Azure Cosmos DB
Why it's wrong here
Azure Cosmos DB is a globally distributed, multi-model NoSQL database service that supports document, key-value, graph, and column-family data models through APIs like MongoDB and Cassandra. It is not a relational database and does not provide MariaDB compatibility, so it cannot host a MariaDB instance. The service excels at low-latency, horizontally scalable NoSQL scenarios, but hosting open-source relational MariaDB is outside its scope.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Azure Regions and Geographies
Key term
Managed service
A managed service is an IT offering where a third-party provider takes full responsibility for maintaining, monitoring, and supporting a specific technology or system on behalf of a customer.
Key term
Availability
Availability is the measure of how often a system or service is operational and accessible when needed, typically expressed as a percentage of uptime.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This AZ-900 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-900 exam.