The correct answer is to force the previous query plan using Query Store. This resolves the intermittent performance degradation by locking in the known good execution plan that the Query Store captured before the plan change occurred, directly addressing the root cause of increased CPU usage without requiring any application code modifications. On the Microsoft Azure Database Administrator Associate DP-300 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of Query Store’s plan forcing capability as a non-invasive performance tuning method, often appearing as a distractor against options like index tuning or scaling resources. A common trap is choosing to rebuild indexes, which may not revert the specific plan and can cause further disruption, or increasing DTUs, which only masks the symptom. Remember the mnemonic “Force the Source” — when a plan change causes trouble, force the previous stable plan from Query Store to restore consistent performance.
DP-300 Practice Question: Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources
This DP-300 practice question tests your understanding of monitor, configure, and optimize database resources. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 managing an Azure SQL Database that is experiencing intermittent performance degradation. Query Store shows that a specific query's execution plan changed, causing increased CPU usage. You need to ensure consistent performance without rewriting the application. 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
✓
Force the previous query plan using Query Store
Option C is correct because forcing the previous known good plan via Query Store plan forcing stabilizes performance without code changes. Option A is wrong because index tuning may not revert the plan. Option B is wrong because dropping and recreating the index is disruptive. Option D is wrong because DTU increase addresses symptoms not root cause.
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.
✗
Increase the DTU/service tier of the database
Why it's wrong here
Increasing resources addresses symptoms but not the root cause of plan regression.
✗
Create a missing index recommendation
Why it's wrong here
Index tuning may not revert the plan to the previous good one.
✗
Drop and recreate the index used by the query
Why it's wrong here
This is disruptive and may not force the same plan.
✓
Force the previous query plan using Query Store
Why this is correct
Plan forcing enforces the known good plan for consistent performance.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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.
Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources — This question tests Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Force the previous query plan using Query Store — Option C is correct because forcing the previous known good plan via Query Store plan forcing stabilizes performance without code changes. Option A is wrong because index tuning may not revert the plan. Option B is wrong because dropping and recreating the index is disruptive. Option D is wrong because DTU increase addresses symptoms not root cause.
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.
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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