The answer is to use Query Store to review query performance and missing index details. This is correct because Query Store provides a historical record of query execution plans and runtime statistics, allowing you to analyze the specific queries driving the high CPU usage and assess how the recommended index would affect their performance before making any changes. On the Microsoft Azure Database Administrator Associate DP-300 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of safe index validation workflows—a common trap is jumping to automatic index tuning or scaling up, which can introduce risk or mask the root cause. The search intent to validate Intelligent Insights index recommendations for Azure SQL Managed Instance is directly addressed here: you must first confirm the index’s impact using Query Store’s missing index details and plan regression analysis. Memory tip: “Query Store first, index change last”—always validate performance data before applying any tuning action.
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 manage an Azure SQL Managed Instance that hosts a critical OLTP database. You notice that the average CPU usage is consistently above 90% during business hours. You have enabled Intelligent Insights, which recommends creating a missing index. What should you do first to validate the recommendation before implementing it?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use Query Store to review query performance and missing index details.
Option B is correct because you should use Query Store to identify the specific queries causing high CPU and verify the index impact. Option A is wrong because automatic index tuning could be risky without validation. Option C is wrong because scaling up may not address the root cause. Option D is wrong because the index already exists in the recommendation.
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.
✓
Use Query Store to review query performance and missing index details.
Why this is correct
Allows validation of the index impact on specific queries.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Scale up the managed instance to a higher tier.
Why it's wrong here
Increases cost and may not fix the missing index issue.
✗
Enable automatic index tuning.
Why it's wrong here
Auto-tuning implements recommendations without validation.
✗
Create the recommended index immediately.
Why it's wrong here
Implementing without validation could cause regressions.
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: Use Query Store to review query performance and missing index details. — Option B is correct because you should use Query Store to identify the specific queries causing high CPU and verify the index impact. Option A is wrong because automatic index tuning could be risky without validation. Option C is wrong because scaling up may not address the root cause. Option D is wrong because the index already exists in the recommendation.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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