The answer is memory-optimized VMs, specifically the M-series and E-series, because they are engineered with a high memory-to-core ratio and massive RAM capacities—up to 12 TB for M-series—to handle memory-intensive workloads like large in-memory analytics or SAP HANA. SAP HANA requires certified VM sizes that can load the entire database into RAM, and Azure’s M-series is SAP-certified for this exact purpose. On the AZ-900 exam, this tests your understanding of Azure compute families and their workload alignment; a common trap is confusing memory-optimized VMs with compute-optimized or general-purpose families, which lack the high memory-to-core ratio needed for such tasks. To remember, think of the M in M-series as standing for “Memory” or “Massive RAM,” and note that E-series is for “Enterprise” memory-intensive apps.
AZ-900 Describe Azure architecture and services Practice Question
This AZ-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe azure architecture and services. 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 Azure compute size family is optimized for memory-intensive workloads like large in-memory analytics or SAP HANA?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Memory-optimized VMs (M-series, E-series)
Memory-optimized VMs, such as the M-series and E-series, are designed with a high memory-to-core ratio and large memory capacities (up to 12 TB for M-series) to handle workloads that require massive amounts of RAM, such as large in-memory analytics and SAP HANA. SAP HANA specifically requires certified VM sizes with sufficient memory to load the entire database into RAM, and Azure's M-series is SAP-certified for this purpose.
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.
✗
Compute-optimized VMs (Fsv2-series)
Why it's wrong here
Compute-optimized VMs have high CPU-to-memory ratio for compute-intensive tasks, not memory-intensive workloads.
✓
Memory-optimized VMs (M-series, E-series)
Why this is correct
Memory-optimized VMs provide high memory-to-CPU ratios for SAP HANA, in-memory analytics, and large databases.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Storage-optimized VMs (Lsv2-series)
Why it's wrong here
Storage-optimized VMs provide high disk I/O throughput for storage-intensive workloads, not specifically memory-intensive.
✗
GPU VMs (NC-series)
Why it's wrong here
GPU VMs are for AI training and graphics rendering, not memory-intensive database workloads.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'memory-optimized' with 'compute-optimized' because both sound performance-related, but the key differentiator is the memory-to-core ratio and specific workload certification (e.g., SAP HANA) that only memory-optimized families provide.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, memory-optimized VMs leverage Intel Xeon processors with large L3 caches and support for Intel Optane DC Persistent Memory (on certain Mv2 series) to extend memory capacity beyond traditional DRAM. In real-world SAP HANA deployments, Azure enforces strict memory-to-vCPU ratios (e.g., 8 GB per vCPU for M-series) to ensure consistent performance, and the VM must be deployed in a single-tenant environment to meet SAP certification requirements.
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-900 question in full detail.
Describe Azure architecture and services — This question tests Describe Azure architecture and services — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Memory-optimized VMs (M-series, E-series) — Memory-optimized VMs, such as the M-series and E-series, are designed with a high memory-to-core ratio and large memory capacities (up to 12 TB for M-series) to handle workloads that require massive amounts of RAM, such as large in-memory analytics and SAP HANA. SAP HANA specifically requires certified VM sizes with sufficient memory to load the entire database into RAM, and Azure's M-series is SAP-certified for this purpose.
What should I do if I get this AZ-900 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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