The correct answer is to deploy two Azure VMs in an availability set and configure an Always On availability group. This combination provides the necessary high availability for SQL Server on Azure VM to achieve a 99.99% SLA, as the availability set protects against both planned and unplanned downtime at the infrastructure level, while the Always On availability group ensures database-level redundancy and automatic failover. On the Microsoft Azure Database Administrator Associate DP-300 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to meet the highest SLA tiers by pairing infrastructure redundancy with SQL Server’s native high-availability feature, rather than relying on a single VM with premium disks or a failover cluster instance on one node. A common trap is assuming that premium storage alone or backup redundancy can satisfy the 99.99% SLA, but these do not address instance-level availability. Remember the memory tip: “Two VMs plus AG equals 99.99% SLA.”
DP-300 Practice Question: Plan and configure a high availability and disaster recovery environment
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 have a SQL Server on Azure VM that hosts a mission-critical database. The VM is in a single availability zone. You need to achieve a 99.99% SLA for the SQL Server instance. Which two actions should you perform? (Choose two.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure SQL Server Always On availability group with synchronous replication.
Option A and C are correct. Deploying two VMs in an availability set (or across zones) and configuring an Always On availability group provides high availability and meets the SLA. Option B is wrong because a single VM with premium disks does not achieve 99.99%. Option D is wrong because FCI with single VM does not provide high availability. Option E is wrong because backup redundancy does not affect availability.
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.
✓
Configure SQL Server Always On availability group with synchronous replication.
Why this is correct
Always On availability group provides database-level high availability.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Enable geo-redundant backup storage.
Why it's wrong here
Backup redundancy does not affect availability.
✗
Configure a failover cluster instance using Azure shared disks.
Single VM cannot achieve 99.99% SLA due to planned maintenance events.
✓
Deploy two Azure VMs in an availability set.
Why this is correct
Two VMs in an availability set provide high availability.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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.
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..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure SQL Server Always On availability group with synchronous replication. — Option A and C are correct. Deploying two VMs in an availability set (or across zones) and configuring an Always On availability group provides high availability and meets the SLA. Option B is wrong because a single VM with premium disks does not achieve 99.99%. Option D is wrong because FCI with single VM does not provide high availability. Option E is wrong because backup redundancy does not affect availability.
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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