The answer is that the secondary database is configured with the 'Geo' secondary type, and you must set it to 'Readable' to minimize lag. By default, Azure SQL Database Hyperscale failover groups use asynchronous replication with a 'Geo' secondary, which prioritizes availability over performance and can introduce significant read lag—often exceeding the 10-second threshold required for near-real-time reporting. Configuring the secondary as 'Readable' enables a near-synchronous replication mode that dramatically reduces lag, though it remains technically asynchronous. On the DP-300 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of Hyperscale replication options and the failover group configuration settings, with a common trap being that the secondary is readable by default (it is, but with high lag). Remember the memory tip: "Geo is slow, Readable is low"—if your reporting needs low lag, always choose the Readable secondary type.
DP-300 Practice Question: Plan and configure a high availability and disaster recovery environment
This DP-300 practice question tests your understanding of plan and configure a high availability and disaster recovery environment. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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 manufacturing company uses Azure SQL Database Hyperscale tier for its IoT telemetry data. The database is in West Europe and must be readable in East US for reporting with a maximum lag of 10 seconds. You configure a failover group with East US as the secondary region. After setup, reporting queries in East US show data that is 5 minutes old. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The secondary database is configured with 'Geo' secondary type; you need to set it to 'Readable' to minimize lag
Option B is correct because by default, failover groups use asynchronous replication with a secondary type 'Geo' which may have higher lag. To achieve low lag, you must enable 'Configure secondary type' to 'Readable' (or 'Named' secondary in some configurations) which ensures near-synchronous replication, though still asynchronous. Option A is incorrect because the secondary is readable by default. Option C is not a standard setting. Option D is unrelated.
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.
✗
The failover group has 'Read/Write failover policy' set to 'Automatic' causing the lag
Why it's wrong here
Automatic failover policy does not affect replication lag.
✗
The secondary database is not readable; it is only for failover
Why it's wrong here
In a failover group, the secondary is readable by default, though lag may still occur.
✓
The secondary database is configured with 'Geo' secondary type; you need to set it to 'Readable' to minimize lag
Why this is correct
Setting the secondary type to 'Readable' ensures the secondary is maintained with lower replication lag.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The replication mode is set to 'Async' and should be changed to 'Sync'
Why it's wrong here
SQL Database does not support synchronous replication across regions for Hyperscale.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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 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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this DP-300 question in full detail.
Identify which DP-300 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Plan and configure a high availability and disaster recovery environment — This question tests Plan and configure a high availability and disaster recovery environment — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The secondary database is configured with 'Geo' secondary type; you need to set it to 'Readable' to minimize lag — Option B is correct because by default, failover groups use asynchronous replication with a secondary type 'Geo' which may have higher lag. To achieve low lag, you must enable 'Configure secondary type' to 'Readable' (or 'Named' secondary in some configurations) which ensures near-synchronous replication, though still asynchronous. Option A is incorrect because the secondary is readable by default. Option C is not a standard setting. Option D is unrelated.
What should I do if I get this DP-300 question wrong?
Identify which DP-300 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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