Quick Answer
The answer is the Hyperscale tier with 4 vCores. This configuration is correct because Hyperscale natively supports read-committed snapshot isolation (RCSI) without any additional database settings, and its distributed architecture handles high insert workloads of 10,000 rows per second by rapidly scaling out compute and storage independently, all while supporting up to 100 TB for a 500-million-row table at a lower cost than Business Critical. On the DP-300 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of tier-specific isolation defaults and workload patterns—a common trap is choosing Business Critical for its high IOPS, but Hyperscale’s log-based storage engine actually excels at sustained inserts and offers RCSI out of the box. Remember the memory tip: “Hyperscale for high inserts and snapshot by default.”
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 retail company is migrating its on-premises SQL Server database to Azure SQL Database. The database has a table with 500 million rows and receives 10,000 INSERT operations per second during peak hours. The application requires read-committed snapshot isolation. Which Azure SQL Database tier and configuration should the DBA recommend to minimize cost while meeting performance requirements?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "minimum / minimize"
Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
Business Critical tier with 8 vCores
Why wrong: Business Critical is more expensive than needed.
Serverless tier with auto-pause
Why wrong: Serverless may not sustain 10,000 INSERTs/sec.
General Purpose tier with 2 vCores
Why wrong: General Purpose may not handle the throughput and RCSI is not enabled by default.
Hyperscale tier with 4 vCores
Hyperscale supports high INSERT throughput and RCSI is enabled by default.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Hyperscale tier with 4 vCores
The Hyperscale tier with 4 vCores is correct because it supports up to 100 TB of storage, provides fast scaling for high-volume INSERT workloads (10,000 rows/second), and natively supports read-committed snapshot isolation (RCSI) without additional configuration. It minimizes cost compared to Business Critical while offering the necessary performance and isolation level for a 500-million-row table.
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.
Business Critical tier with 8 vCores
Why it's wrong here
Business Critical is more expensive than needed.
Serverless tier with auto-pause
Why it's wrong here
Serverless may not sustain 10,000 INSERTs/sec.
General Purpose tier with 2 vCores
Why it's wrong here
General Purpose may not handle the throughput and RCSI is not enabled by default.
Hyperscale tier with 4 vCores
Why this is correct
Hyperscale supports high INSERT throughput and RCSI is enabled by default.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates may choose General Purpose (C) due to its lower cost, overlooking that it cannot sustain 10,000 INSERTs/second and does not natively support read-committed snapshot isolation without explicit configuration, while Hyperscale (D) is designed for such large-scale, high-throughput workloads with built-in RCSI.
Detailed technical explanation
Hyperscale uses a distributed architecture with a separate log service and page servers, allowing near-instantaneous scaling of compute and storage without data movement. Read-committed snapshot isolation in Hyperscale is enabled by default using row versioning, which avoids blocking between readers and writers—critical for high-concurrency INSERT workloads. The 4 vCore configuration provides sufficient compute for 10,000 INSERTs/second while keeping costs lower than Business Critical, as Hyperscale separates compute and storage billing.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
What to study next
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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: Hyperscale tier with 4 vCores — The Hyperscale tier with 4 vCores is correct because it supports up to 100 TB of storage, provides fast scaling for high-volume INSERT workloads (10,000 rows/second), and natively supports read-committed snapshot isolation (RCSI) without additional configuration. It minimizes cost compared to Business Critical while offering the necessary performance and isolation level for a 500-million-row table.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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