The answer is to use Stretch Database to migrate cold data to Azure Blob Storage. This is correct because Stretch Database transparently moves rarely accessed historical rows from an Azure SQL Database table into Azure Blob Storage, keeping the data fully online and queryable via standard T-SQL without any application changes. The database engine automatically routes queries to the appropriate storage tier, so you reduce storage costs for cold data while maintaining occasional access. On the Microsoft Azure Database Administrator Associate DP-300 exam, this question tests your understanding of cost-optimization strategies for large tables; a common trap is choosing partitioning or manual export, which require schema changes or break queryability. Remember that Stretch Database is deprecated but still appears in current exam objectives, so expect it as a legacy but valid option. Memory tip: think "Stretch" as stretching your table across hot (local) and cold (blob) storage tiers, keeping it all under one logical table.
DP-300 Plan and implement data platform resources Practice Question
This DP-300 practice question tests your understanding of plan and implement data platform resources. 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.
You are designing a data archiving solution for an Azure SQL Database. The database contains a table with over 100 million rows of historical sales data that is rarely accessed. You need to reduce storage costs while keeping the data available for occasional queries. What should you do?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use Stretch Database to migrate cold data to Azure Blob Storage
Stretch Database (now deprecated but still tested in DP-300) transparently migrates cold data from an Azure SQL Database table to Azure Blob Storage while keeping the data online and queryable via T-SQL. This reduces storage costs for rarely accessed historical data without requiring application changes, as the database engine automatically routes queries to the appropriate storage tier.
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.
✗
Partition the table by date and compress each partition
Why it's wrong here
Partitioning and compression help performance and space, but cold data still resides in SQL Database storage.
✗
Use page compression on the table
Why it's wrong here
Page compression reduces size but cold data remains in the database, still incurring costs.
✗
Delete old data and store it in Azure Blob Storage as CSV files
Why it's wrong here
Data is no longer queryable via SQL without additional tools.
✓
Use Stretch Database to migrate cold data to Azure Blob Storage
Why this is correct
Stretch Database moves cold data to Azure Blob Storage transparently, reducing storage costs while keeping data queryable via SQL Server.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose partitioning or compression (A or B) because they reduce storage size, but they fail to recognize that the question explicitly asks for cost reduction by moving data to cheaper storage, not just shrinking it within the same expensive tier.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Stretch Database uses a remote query execution model where the SQL Server engine sends query fragments to the remote Azure Blob Storage tier, which runs a lightweight SQL Server instance to process filtered data. The migration is controlled by a stretch threshold defined on the table, and data moves asynchronously in the background using a built-in service broker. In real-world scenarios, this is ideal for compliance or audit tables where data must remain accessible but is rarely modified.
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 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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this DP-300 question in full detail.
Plan and implement data platform resources — This question tests Plan and implement data platform resources — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use Stretch Database to migrate cold data to Azure Blob Storage — Stretch Database (now deprecated but still tested in DP-300) transparently migrates cold data from an Azure SQL Database table to Azure Blob Storage while keeping the data online and queryable via T-SQL. This reduces storage costs for rarely accessed historical data without requiring application changes, as the database engine automatically routes queries to the appropriate storage tier.
What should I do if I get this DP-300 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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