- A
Create a second Elastic Database Job to run at 4:00 AM to rebuild indexes that failed.
Why wrong: This does not address the root cause; the job still may fail due to timeouts.
- B
Change the fill factor to 70 to reduce future fragmentation.
Why wrong: A lower fill factor can actually increase fragmentation over time because more page splits occur when data is inserted; it does not help with the rebuild time or timeout.
- C
Modify the job to reorganize indexes instead of rebuilding them, and use a lower degree of parallelism.
Reorganizing indexes is an online operation that uses fewer resources and can complete faster; reducing parallelism further reduces resource contention, and the job is less likely to timeout.
- D
Increase the DTU level of the database to 200 DTUs to speed up the index rebuild.
Why wrong: Increasing DTUs may speed up the rebuild but does not prevent timeouts if the job itself is poorly configured; also, it increases cost.
Quick Answer
The answer is to modify the job to reorganize indexes instead of rebuilding them, and use a lower degree of parallelism. Reorganizing indexes is a far less resource-intensive operation than rebuilding, which directly addresses the slow index rebuild jobs by reducing both duration and the risk of timeouts, especially on a General Purpose database with only 100 DTUs. This approach also effectively handles fragmentation without the full overhead of a rebuild, making it ideal for optimizing index maintenance in Elastic Job schedules with limited nightly windows. On the DP-300 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of balancing index maintenance strategies with service tier constraints—a common trap is assuming a rebuild is always better, when reorganize is often the correct choice for lower-tier resources. Remember the memory tip: “Rebuild for big bloat, reorganize for daily float,” meaning reorganize is your go-to for routine, resource-conscious maintenance.
DP-300 Configure and manage automation of tasks Practice Question
This DP-300 practice question tests your understanding of configure and manage automation of tasks. 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 the database administrator for a large e-commerce company. The company uses Azure SQL Database for its product catalog, which is updated frequently during business hours. To maintain query performance, you have automated index maintenance using Elastic Database Jobs. The job runs every night at 2:00 AM and rebuilds indexes with a fill factor of 80. However, you notice that the job is taking longer than expected, often running until 6:00 AM, and sometimes it fails due to timeouts. You also observe that index fragmentation is still high after the job completes. The database is in the General Purpose service tier with 100 DTUs. Which action should you take to improve the situation?
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
Modify the job to reorganize indexes instead of rebuilding them, and use a lower degree of parallelism.
Option C is correct because reorganizing indexes is a less resource-intensive operation than rebuilding, which reduces the job duration and avoids timeouts. Additionally, using a lower degree of parallelism (MAXDOP) prevents excessive resource contention, which is critical for a General Purpose database with only 100 DTUs. Reorganizing also addresses fragmentation without the overhead of a full rebuild, making it more suitable for the limited resources and nightly maintenance window.
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.
- ✗
Create a second Elastic Database Job to run at 4:00 AM to rebuild indexes that failed.
Why it's wrong here
This does not address the root cause; the job still may fail due to timeouts.
- ✗
Change the fill factor to 70 to reduce future fragmentation.
Why it's wrong here
A lower fill factor can actually increase fragmentation over time because more page splits occur when data is inserted; it does not help with the rebuild time or timeout.
- ✓
Modify the job to reorganize indexes instead of rebuilding them, and use a lower degree of parallelism.
Why this is correct
Reorganizing indexes is an online operation that uses fewer resources and can complete faster; reducing parallelism further reduces resource contention, and the job is less likely to timeout.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Increase the DTU level of the database to 200 DTUs to speed up the index rebuild.
Why it's wrong here
Increasing DTUs may speed up the rebuild but does not prevent timeouts if the job itself is poorly configured; also, it increases cost.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume rebuilding indexes is always the best maintenance strategy, but for resource-constrained databases with frequent updates, reorganizing with controlled parallelism is more efficient and avoids timeouts.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Index rebuild is an offline or online operation that creates a new index structure, requiring significant CPU, I/O, and log throughput, which can overwhelm a 100-DTU database. Reorganize (ALTER INDEX ... REORGANIZE) defragments the leaf level of the index by physically reordering pages, using minimal locks and resources, and is often sufficient for fragmentation levels below 30%. The MAXDOP hint controls the number of processors used for the operation; lowering it prevents the job from monopolizing DTUs, reducing the chance of timeouts in a multi-tenant environment.
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.
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
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
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Configure and manage automation of tasks — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DP-300 question test?
Configure and manage automation of tasks — This question tests Configure and manage automation of tasks — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Modify the job to reorganize indexes instead of rebuilding them, and use a lower degree of parallelism. — Option C is correct because reorganizing indexes is a less resource-intensive operation than rebuilding, which reduces the job duration and avoids timeouts. Additionally, using a lower degree of parallelism (MAXDOP) prevents excessive resource contention, which is critical for a General Purpose database with only 100 DTUs. Reorganizing also addresses fragmentation without the overhead of a full rebuild, making it more suitable for the limited resources and nightly maintenance window.
What should I do if I get this DP-300 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 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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