- A
Database sharding
Why wrong: Sharding requires application changes to route queries.
- B
Geo-replication with readable secondary
A readable geo-replica can serve read-only queries.
- C
In-memory OLTP
Why wrong: In-memory OLTP improves performance but does not scale reads.
- D
Elastic pool
Why wrong: Elastic pools share resources among databases, not for read scaling.
- E
Read scale-out
Read scale-out offloads read queries to a secondary.
Question 708 of 963
DP-300 Geo-replication with readable secondary Practice Question
This DP-300 practice question tests your understanding of plan and implement data platform 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. A key principle to apply: geo-replication with readable secondary. 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.
Which TWO Azure SQL Database features can help you scale out read-intensive workloads without modifying application code?
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
✓
Geo-replication with readable secondary
Geo-replication with readable secondary (Option B) is correct because it creates a continuously synchronized read-only replica in a different Azure region. Applications can connect to this secondary using the same connection string with 'ApplicationIntent=ReadOnly', offloading read-intensive workloads without code changes. Read scale-out (Option E) is correct because it provides a built-in, read-only replica of the primary database within the same region. The read-only traffic is automatically routed to the replica when the connection string includes 'ApplicationIntent=ReadOnly', also requiring no application code modifications. Both features enable scaling out reads while maintaining the same connection string.
Key principle: Geo-replication with readable secondary
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Database sharding
Why it's wrong here
Sharding requires application changes to route queries.
- ✓
Geo-replication with readable secondary
Why this is correct
A readable geo-replica can serve read-only queries.
Related concept
Geo-replication with readable secondary
- ✗
In-memory OLTP
Why it's wrong here
In-memory OLTP improves performance but does not scale reads.
- ✗
Elastic pool
Why it's wrong here
Elastic pools share resources among databases, not for read scaling.
- ✓
Read scale-out
Why this is correct
Read scale-out offloads read queries to a secondary.
Related concept
Geo-replication with readable secondary
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'Geo-replication with readable secondary' (which requires no code changes) with 'Database sharding' (which requires application logic to distribute data), or they mistakenly think 'In-memory OLTP' can scale out reads when it actually improves write/transaction performance on a single database.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Geo-replication uses asynchronous replication based on SQL Server's Always On availability group technology, with a recovery point objective (RPO) of up to 5 seconds. The readable secondary supports snapshot isolation for read-only queries, and you can have up to four readable secondaries per primary using the 'Read Scale-out' feature (Option E), which is also correct. In a real-world scenario, a reporting application can connect to the secondary with 'ApplicationIntent=ReadOnly' in the connection string, and the gateway automatically routes the query to the nearest readable replica.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Geo-replication with readable secondary
- Read scale-out
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
Geo-replication with readable secondary
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review geo-replication with readable secondary, then practise related DP-300 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DP-300 question test?
Plan and implement data platform resources — This question tests Plan and implement data platform resources — Geo-replication with readable secondary.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Geo-replication with readable secondary — Geo-replication with readable secondary (Option B) is correct because it creates a continuously synchronized read-only replica in a different Azure region. Applications can connect to this secondary using the same connection string with 'ApplicationIntent=ReadOnly', offloading read-intensive workloads without code changes. Read scale-out (Option E) is correct because it provides a built-in, read-only replica of the primary database within the same region. The read-only traffic is automatically routed to the replica when the connection string includes 'ApplicationIntent=ReadOnly', also requiring no application code modifications. Both features enable scaling out reads while maintaining the same connection string.
What should I do if I get this DP-300 question wrong?
Review geo-replication with readable secondary, then practise related DP-300 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Geo-replication with readable secondary
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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