Quick Answer
The answer is the zone-redundant configuration and the built-in multiple replicas. In the Business Critical service tier, Azure SQL Database automatically provisions at least four replicas of your database, with one primary and three secondary replicas that synchronously commit transactions, ensuring no data loss and rapid failover. When you enable zone-redundant deployment, these replicas are distributed across three different Azure availability zones within the same region, protecting against an entire datacenter failure. On the DP-300 exam, this question tests your understanding that high availability within a single region relies on local redundancy, not cross-region features like geo-replication or auto-failover groups, which are for disaster recovery. A common trap is confusing zone redundancy with geo-redundancy; remember that “zone” means within one region, while “geo” means across regions. Memory tip: think “four replicas, three zones, one region” for Business Critical high availability.
This DP-300 practice question tests your understanding of plan and configure a high availability and disaster recovery environment. 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 manage an Azure SQL Database in the Business Critical service tier. The database must be highly available within a single region. Which TWO features contribute to this high availability?
Active geo-replication
Why wrong: For cross-region, not within region.
Multiple synchronous replicas (4 replicas)
Business Critical includes 4 replicas for HA.
Always On availability groups
Why wrong: Internal implementation, not a configurable feature.
Auto-failover groups
Why wrong: For cross-region failover.
Zone-redundant configuration (when enabled)
Provides resilience within a region across zones.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Multiple synchronous replicas (4 replicas)
Options B and D are correct because Business Critical uses multiple replicas (at least 4) and zone redundancy with zone-deployment for higher availability. Options A and C are incorrect because geo-replication is for cross-region DR, and auto-failover groups are for cross-region failover. Option E is incorrect because always on availability groups are internal, not a separate feature.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Active geo-replication
Why it's wrong here
For cross-region, not within region.
Multiple synchronous replicas (4 replicas)
Why this is correct
Business Critical includes 4 replicas for HA.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Always On availability groups
Why it's wrong here
Internal implementation, not a configurable feature.
Auto-failover groups
Why it's wrong here
For cross-region failover.
Zone-redundant configuration (when enabled)
Why this is correct
Provides resilience within a region across zones.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
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
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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 — study guide chapter
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FAQ
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..
The correct answer is: Multiple synchronous replicas (4 replicas) — Options B and D are correct because Business Critical uses multiple replicas (at least 4) and zone redundancy with zone-deployment for higher availability. Options A and C are incorrect because geo-replication is for cross-region DR, and auto-failover groups are for cross-region failover. Option E is incorrect because always on availability groups are internal, not a separate feature.
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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Same concept, more angles
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. You have an Azure SQL Database in the Business Critical tier with zone redundancy enabled. You need to maintain high availability during a planned patching event. Which THREE actions should you take? (Choose three.)
hardWhy B: Options A, B, and D are correct. Business Critical with zone redundancy automatically handles patching with no data loss and minimal downtime. You should verify zone redundancy is enabled (A), ensure the database is configured to use a read-scale replica (B) to offload read workloads, and test failover (D) to ensure readiness. Option C (enable geo-replication) is not necessary for HA. Option E (scale down) is not needed.
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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