Quick Answer
The answer is to increase the number of vCores to 16. This directly reduces log write latency in a Business Critical Azure SQL Database because the log writer process is CPU-bound; adding more vCores provides additional compute and memory resources, allowing the log flush to complete faster and alleviating the HADR_SYNC_COMMIT waits caused by synchronous commit to the availability group replicas. On the DP-300 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that Business Critical’s fixed four-replica architecture means you cannot reduce replicas to lower latency, and that scaling up vCores is the primary lever for improving log throughput without sacrificing durability. A common trap is assuming Premium SSD v2 or disabling automatic tuning will help, but neither addresses the core bottleneck of log writer CPU saturation. Memory tip: “More cores, faster logs—sync commit waits no more.”
This DP-300 practice question tests your understanding of monitor, configure, and optimize database resources. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 a critical Azure SQL Database that supports a financial application. The database is configured with the Business Critical service tier (8 vCores) and uses Always On availability groups for high availability. Recently, the application team noticed that some transactions are experiencing high latency during writes. You investigate and find that the log write latency is averaging 10 ms, and there are occasional HADR_SYNC_COMMIT waits. The application requires durable writes with synchronous commit. You need to reduce write latency without compromising data durability. What should you do?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "always"
Why it matters: Absolute qualifier. An answer using 'always' is only correct if there are genuinely no exceptions — absolute statements are often wrong in networking.
Switch to Premium SSD v2 storage
Why wrong: Storage type not adjustable in Business Critical.
Disable automatic tuning to reduce overhead
Why wrong: Automatic tuning has minimal overhead; does not affect log writes.
Reduce the number of secondary replicas to minimize synchronization overhead
Why wrong: Business Critical always has 4 replicas; cannot reduce.
Increase the number of vCores to 16
More vCores increase log write throughput.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Increase the number of vCores to 16
Option C is correct because increasing the number of vCores improves the log write throughput and reduces latency, as the log writer can use more CPU and memory. Option A is wrong because reducing the number of replicas is not possible in Business Critical (always 4). Option B is wrong because Premium SSD v2 may not be available in all regions and is not a direct fix for log write latency. Option D is wrong because turning off automatic tuning does not affect log write latency.
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.
Switch to Premium SSD v2 storage
Why it's wrong here
Storage type not adjustable in Business Critical.
Disable automatic tuning to reduce overhead
Why it's wrong here
Automatic tuning has minimal overhead; does not affect log writes.
Reduce the number of secondary replicas to minimize synchronization overhead
Why it's wrong here
Business Critical always has 4 replicas; cannot reduce.
Increase the number of vCores to 16
Why this is correct
More vCores increase log write throughput.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "always" in the question point toward this answer.
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.
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FAQ
Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources — This question tests Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Increase the number of vCores to 16 — Option C is correct because increasing the number of vCores improves the log write throughput and reduces latency, as the log writer can use more CPU and memory. Option A is wrong because reducing the number of replicas is not possible in Business Critical (always 4). Option B is wrong because Premium SSD v2 may not be available in all regions and is not a direct fix for log write latency. Option D is wrong because turning off automatic tuning does not affect log write latency.
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.
Yes — watch for: "always". Absolute qualifier. An answer using 'always' is only correct if there are genuinely no exceptions — absolute statements are often wrong in networking.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
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