- A
Increase the DTU/service tier of the database
Why wrong: Increasing resources addresses symptoms but not the root cause of plan regression.
- B
Create a missing index recommendation
Why wrong: Index tuning may not revert the plan to the previous good one.
- C
Drop and recreate the index used by the query
Why wrong: This is disruptive and may not force the same plan.
- D
Force the previous query plan using Query Store
Plan forcing enforces the known good plan for consistent performance.
Question 622 of 963
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. 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 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 choices
Why each option matters
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
The correct answer is D: Force the previous query plan using Query Store. This approach directly addresses the root cause by locking the query to a known good plan, ensuring consistent performance without application changes. Option A is incorrect because increasing the DTU/service tier may temporarily improve performance but does not fix the plan regression. Option B is incorrect because creating a missing index recommendation may help but does not guarantee the query will use the previous plan. Option C is incorrect because dropping and recreating the index is disruptive and may not force the plan to revert.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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.
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Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DP-300 question test?
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 — The correct answer is D: Force the previous query plan using Query Store. This approach directly addresses the root cause by locking the query to a known good plan, ensuring consistent performance without application changes. Option A is incorrect because increasing the DTU/service tier may temporarily improve performance but does not fix the plan regression. Option B is incorrect because creating a missing index recommendation may help but does not guarantee the query will use the previous plan. Option C is incorrect because dropping and recreating the index is disruptive and may not force the plan to revert.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
This DP-300 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the DP-300 exam.
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