The answer is to enable accelerated database recovery (ADR) to reduce log IO. This is correct because ADR fundamentally changes how transactions are logged and rolled back, dramatically cutting the volume of log records written to the page server. In the Hyperscale service tier, the page server is a critical component that handles data pages and log records; by reducing log generation, ADR directly lowers the IOPS pressure on that server, alleviating the performance bottleneck. On the Microsoft Azure Database Administrator Associate DP-300 exam, this question tests your understanding of Hyperscale’s unique architecture and the specific tools designed to optimize page server IOPS. A common trap is to assume that adding replicas or changing tiers will help, but those actions do not address the root cause of excessive log writes. Remember the memory tip: “ADR cuts the log, not the replicas”—focus on reducing the IO source, not scaling the IO sink.
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 a database administrator for a SaaS company. You manage an Azure SQL Database that uses the Hyperscale service tier. The database supports a multi-tenant application with unpredictable workloads. You notice that the database's page server is experiencing high IOPS utilization, causing query performance degradation. You need to improve performance by optimizing the page server usage. 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
✓
Enable accelerated database recovery (ADR) to reduce log IO.
Option A is correct because enabling accelerated database recovery reduces the log generation and IO on page servers. Option B is wrong because increasing the number of replicas does not reduce page server IO. Option C is wrong because changing to Business Critical might not address page server IO; Hyperscale has its own architecture. Option D is wrong because increasing max degree of parallelism might increase IO.
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 number of secondary replicas to distribute read workload.
Why it's wrong here
Secondary replicas have their own page servers; this does not reduce IOPS on the primary page server.
✓
Enable accelerated database recovery (ADR) to reduce log IO.
Why this is correct
ADR reduces log volume and IO, which decreases page server IOPS utilization.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Change the service tier to Business Critical to get faster IO.
Why it's wrong here
Hyperscale and Business Critical have different architectures; changing tiers may not directly address page server IO.
✗
Increase the MAXDOP setting for the database.
Why it's wrong here
Increasing MAXDOP can increase parallelism and IO, potentially worsening the issue.
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: Enable accelerated database recovery (ADR) to reduce log IO. — Option A is correct because enabling accelerated database recovery reduces the log generation and IO on page servers. Option B is wrong because increasing the number of replicas does not reduce page server IO. Option C is wrong because changing to Business Critical might not address page server IO; Hyperscale has its own architecture. Option D is wrong because increasing max degree of parallelism might increase IO.
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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