Disable Auto-Pause in Azure SQL Database by Setting AUTO_PAUSE_DELAY to -1
This DP-300 practice question tests your understanding of monitor, configure, and optimize database 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. A key principle to apply: auto-pause delay. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit. The following PowerShell script is used to configure performance settings:
Set-AzSqlDatabase -ResourceGroupName "rg1" -ServerName "server1" -DatabaseName "db1" -AutoPauseDelay -1
What effect does the command in the exhibit have on the database?
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit. The following PowerShell script is used to configure performance settings:
Set-AzSqlDatabase -ResourceGroupName "rg1" -ServerName "server1" -DatabaseName "db1" -AutoPauseDelay -1
A
Enables auto-pause with a delay of 1 minute.
Correct. This option correctly describes the effect: the command sets the auto-pause delay to 1 minute, the minimum allowed value.
B
Configures the database to pause after 1 second of inactivity.
Why wrong: Incorrect. The delay is set in minutes, not seconds. A value of 0 minutes does not equate to 1 second.
C
Disables auto-pause for the database.
Why wrong: Incorrect. A value of 0 does not disable auto-pause; the value -1 is required to disable auto-pause.
D
Sets auto-pause delay to 1 hour.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Setting to 0 does not result in a 1-hour delay; it defaults to the minimum of 1 minute.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enables auto-pause with a delay of 1 minute.
Setting AUTO_PAUSE_DELAY = 0 is not a valid value in Azure SQL Database serverless. The minimum allowed delay is 1 minute. Therefore, the database interprets a value of 0 as the minimum, effectively setting the auto-pause delay to 1 minute.
Key principle: Auto-pause delay
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Enables auto-pause with a delay of 1 minute.
Why this is correct
Correct. This option correctly describes the effect: the command sets the auto-pause delay to 1 minute, the minimum allowed value.
Related concept
Auto-pause delay
✗
Configures the database to pause after 1 second of inactivity.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The delay is set in minutes, not seconds. A value of 0 minutes does not equate to 1 second.
✗
Disables auto-pause for the database.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. A value of 0 does not disable auto-pause; the value -1 is required to disable auto-pause.
✗
Sets auto-pause delay to 1 hour.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Setting to 0 does not result in a 1-hour delay; it defaults to the minimum of 1 minute.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Candidates may incorrectly assume that a value of 0 disables auto-pause, but in Azure SQL Database serverless, -1 is used to disable. A value of 0 is invalid and defaults to the minimum allowed delay of 1 minute.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Auto-pause is a serverless database feature in Azure SQL Database that automatically pauses databases after a specified period of inactivity (minimum 1 hour, maximum 7 days). Setting AUTO_PAUSE_DELAY = 0 is the documented method to disable auto-pause, ensuring the database remains online continuously, which is critical for production workloads that require instant availability without a cold-start delay.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Auto-pause delay
ALTER DATABASE ... MODIFY
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
Auto-pause delay
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Auto-pause delay Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
Quick reference
Cloud Service Model Comparison
Model
You Manage
Provider Manages
Examples
IaaS
OS, runtime, apps, data
Hardware, hypervisor, networking
EC2, Azure VMs, GCP Compute Engine
PaaS
Apps and data
OS, runtime, middleware, hardware
Elastic Beanstalk, Azure App Service
SaaS
Data and settings only
Everything else
Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Workday
FaaS / Serverless
Function code only
Infra, scaling, runtime
Lambda, Azure Functions, Cloud Run
CaaS
Containers and apps
Kubernetes, OS, hardware
EKS, AKS, GKE
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this DP-300 question in full detail.
Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources — This question tests Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources — Auto-pause delay.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enables auto-pause with a delay of 1 minute. — Setting AUTO_PAUSE_DELAY = 0 is not a valid value in Azure SQL Database serverless. The minimum allowed delay is 1 minute. Therefore, the database interprets a value of 0 as the minimum, effectively setting the auto-pause delay to 1 minute.
What should I do if I get this DP-300 question wrong?
Review auto-pause delay, then practise related DP-300 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Auto-pause delay
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