Quick Answer
The correct answer is to set the backup retention period to 35 days in the backup settings of Azure SQL Managed Instance. This works because Azure SQL Managed Instance supports configurable backup retention for point-in-time restore (PITR) up to a maximum of 35 days, allowing you to meet compliance requirements directly without additional services. On the Microsoft Azure Database Administrator Associate DP-300 exam, this concept tests your understanding of managed instance backup policies versus those of Azure SQL Database, where the default PITR retention is only 7 days but can be extended to 35 days as well. A common trap is confusing backup retention with long-term retention (LTR) policies, which are separate and used for keeping backups beyond 35 days. Remember: for compliance up to 35 days, adjust the PITR retention setting—think “PITR maxes at 35.”
This DP-300 practice question tests your understanding of plan and implement data platform resources. 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.
A company uses Azure SQL Managed Instance for its line-of-business applications. They need to ensure that backups are retained for 35 days for compliance purposes. Which configuration should the DBA set?
Create a backup policy in Azure Backup Vault
Why wrong: Azure Backup Vault is not used for SQL Managed Instance backups.
Enable geo-redundant storage (GRS)
Why wrong: GRS is about storage redundancy, not retention.
Set the backup retention period to 35 days in the backup settings
The backup retention can be set up to 35 days.
Configure long-term retention (LTR) policy
Why wrong: LTR is for longer retention beyond 35 days.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Set the backup retention period to 35 days in the backup settings
Option C is correct because Azure SQL Managed Instance allows you to configure the backup retention period directly in the backup settings, with a maximum of 35 days for point-in-time restore (PITR). This meets the compliance requirement without needing additional services or policies.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Create a backup policy in Azure Backup Vault
Why it's wrong here
Azure Backup Vault is not used for SQL Managed Instance backups.
Enable geo-redundant storage (GRS)
Why it's wrong here
GRS is about storage redundancy, not retention.
Set the backup retention period to 35 days in the backup settings
Why this is correct
The backup retention can be set up to 35 days.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Configure long-term retention (LTR) policy
Why it's wrong here
LTR is for longer retention beyond 35 days.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse long-term retention (LTR) with the standard backup retention period, assuming LTR is required for any retention beyond the default 7 days, when in fact the 35-day maximum is configurable directly in the backup settings.
Detailed technical explanation
Azure SQL Managed Instance automatically performs full, differential, and transaction log backups every 5-10 minutes, with a default PITR retention of 7 days. The retention period can be increased up to 35 days via the Azure portal or T-SQL (ALTER DATABASE SET PITR_RETENTION_DAYS = 35). This retention applies to all backup types, enabling restore to any point within the window, which is critical for compliance scenarios requiring a specific retention duration.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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.
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FAQ
Plan and implement data platform resources — This question tests Plan and implement data platform resources — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Set the backup retention period to 35 days in the backup settings — Option C is correct because Azure SQL Managed Instance allows you to configure the backup retention period directly in the backup settings, with a maximum of 35 days for point-in-time restore (PITR). This meets the compliance requirement without needing additional services or policies.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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.
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