DP-300 Configure and manage automation of tasks Practice Question
A company runs Azure SQL Database and wants to automatically receive an email alert when the database's CPU usage exceeds 90% for 10 minutes. The DBA needs to configure this with minimal effort. What should the DBA do?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse Azure SQL Database with Azure SQL Managed Instance, leading to the assumption that SQL Server Agent alerts and Database Mail are available on Azure SQL Database.
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
✓
Create an Azure Monitor alert rule on the cpu_percent metric with a threshold of 90 and an action group that sends email.
Azure Monitor alert rules are the native way to monitor platform metrics for Azure SQL Database. By creating a rule on the cpu_percent metric with a threshold and an action group that includes email, the DBA can automatically receive notifications when CPU exceeds 90% for the specified duration. This requires minimal configuration effort.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use Azure Automation to run a runbook every 10 minutes that checks CPU usage and sends an email.
Why it's wrong here
While Azure Automation could poll CPU usage and send email, it requires writing and maintaining a runbook, managing credentials, and scheduling frequent runs. This adds significant administrative overhead compared to a native Azure Monitor alert rule, which is simpler and purpose-built for metric thresholds.
- ✓
Create an Azure Monitor alert rule on the cpu_percent metric with a threshold of 90 and an action group that sends email.
Why this is correct
Azure Monitor alert rules can evaluate platform metrics like cpu_percent for Azure SQL Database. Setting a threshold of 90 and an action group with email notification directly fulfills the requirement. This is the native, low-effort solution for metric-based alerts on Azure SQL Database.
- ✗
Configure a SQL Server Agent alert on the CPU usage performance condition.
Why it's wrong here
SQL Server Agent is not available on Azure SQL Database. Agent alerts based on performance conditions are a feature of on-premises SQL Server and Azure SQL Managed Instance, not Azure SQL Database. Therefore, this option cannot be used in the scenario.
- ✗
Create a Database Mail profile and a SQL Agent operator to send the alert.
Why it's wrong here
Database Mail and SQL Agent operators are not available in Azure SQL Database. These are features of SQL Server and Azure SQL Managed Instance. Without SQL Server Agent, there is no mechanism to trigger the email based on CPU usage, so this approach is not applicable.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Overview of Azure Data Platform Options
Key term
Azure SQL Performance Tuning
Azure SQL Performance Tuning is the process of optimizing the speed and efficiency of queries and database operations in Microsoft Azure SQL Database or SQL Managed Instance to reduce latency and improve throughput.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Microsoft exam blueprint
This DP-300 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 DP-300 exam.