DP-300 Configure and manage automation of tasks Practice Question
A DBA manages an Azure SQL Managed Instance and needs to automate a weekly full backup of a user database to an Azure Storage account. The solution must use native SQL Server functionality and minimize custom code. What should the DBA do?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that Azure SQL Managed Instance automated backups can be configured to write to a user-specified storage account, when they are actually service-managed and not customizable.
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 a SQL Server Agent job with a T-SQL step that executes BACKUP DATABASE TO URL.
Azure SQL Managed Instance supports SQL Server Agent and native BACKUP DATABASE TO URL. Creating an Agent job with a T-SQL step that executes the backup to Azure Blob Storage provides a native, scheduled solution with minimal custom code. This is the most straightforward way to automate weekly full backups to a storage account.
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 Data Factory with a copy activity to export the database to a storage account weekly.
Why it's wrong here
Azure Data Factory can copy data from Azure SQL Managed Instance to storage, but it performs data movement rather than a native SQL Server backup. This approach requires building pipelines and does not produce a backup file that can be restored using native SQL Server restore operations, adding complexity and not meeting the native backup requirement.
- ✗
Create an Azure Automation runbook that runs a PowerShell script using the Invoke-Sqlcmd cmdlet to perform a backup.
Why it's wrong here
While an Azure Automation runbook could execute a backup command, it requires managing runbook code, credentials, and a hybrid runbook worker if the managed instance is not publicly accessible. This adds administrative overhead and custom code, whereas a SQL Server Agent job with BACKUP DATABASE TO URL is native and simpler.
- ✓
Create a SQL Server Agent job with a T-SQL step that executes BACKUP DATABASE TO URL.
Why this is correct
Azure SQL Managed Instance supports native BACKUP DATABASE TO URL, which writes backups directly to Azure Blob Storage. SQL Server Agent is available on Managed Instance, so scheduling a job with a T-SQL step is a native, low-code solution. This meets the requirement without external orchestration.
- ✗
Configure automated backups in the Azure portal to write to a custom storage account.
Why it's wrong here
Azure SQL Managed Instance has built-in automated backups that are managed by the service and stored in Azure storage, but they cannot be redirected to a customer-specified storage account. The built-in backups are for point-in-time restore and cannot be customized to a weekly full backup to a specific storage account.
Quick reference
Azure Blob Storage Tier Comparison
| Tier | Storage Cost | Retrieval Cost | Latency | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hot | Highest | Lowest | Immediate | Active data, frequent reads |
| Cool | Lower | Higher | Immediate | Data accessed < once / month |
| Cold | Lower still | Higher | Immediate | Data accessed < once / quarter |
| Archive | Lowest | Highest + rehydration delay | Hours | Long-term compliance retention |
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Deploying and Configuring SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines
Key term
Azure SQL Managed Instance
Azure SQL Managed Instance is a fully managed cloud database service that gives you nearly all the features of Microsoft SQL Server on your own server, without you having to manage the hardware or operating system.
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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.