DP-300 Practice Question: Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources
Which THREE actions can you take to monitor and optimize database resources in Azure SQL Database? (Choose three.)
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
✓
Use Query Store to track query performance over time.
Options B, C, and D are correct. Query Store tracks query performance over time, dynamic management views help identify blocking and resource waits, and automatic tuning automatically implements performance improvements. Option A (Microsoft Defender for SQL) is a security feature for vulnerability detection, not directly for monitoring and optimizing database resources. Option E (Microsoft Sentinel) is a security information and event management (SIEM) tool, not specifically for database monitoring and optimization.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Enable Microsoft Defender for Azure SQL to detect vulnerabilities.
Why it's wrong here
Microsoft Defender for Azure SQL detects vulnerabilities and threats, which is security posture management, not monitoring or optimising database resource consumption such as CPU, DTU, or query performance. It is tempting because it is an Azure SQL monitoring feature, but the stem asks for resource optimisation actions, which Query Performance Insight provides.
- ✓
Use Query Store to track query performance over time.
Why this is correct
Query Store persists execution plans, runtime statistics and wait categories inside the database, letting you identify regressed queries and plan changes across time windows. This directly satisfies the stem's requirement to monitor and optimise database resources, since historical query-level telemetry is unavailable through dynamic management views alone.
- ✓
Query dynamic management views to identify blocking and resource waits.
Why this is correct
Querying dynamic management views exposes live blocking chains and cumulative resource waits, letting you pinpoint the exact queries or sessions consuming CPU, I/O, or locks. This directly satisfies the stem's monitoring and optimisation requirement, since wait statistics reveal where tuning effort will actually reduce contention in Azure SQL Database.
- ✓
Enable automatic tuning to automatically implement performance improvements.
Why this is correct
Automatic tuning continuously analyses workload telemetry and applies verified recommendations, such as CREATE INDEX or FORCE LAST GOOD PLAN, without manual intervention. This directly satisfies the stem's optimisation requirement by letting Azure SQL Database remediate regressions itself, complementing Query Store and Intelligent Insights for ongoing resource monitoring.
- ✗
Configure Microsoft Sentinel to monitor database activity.
Why it's wrong here
Microsoft Sentinel is a SIEM/SOAR platform for security event correlation and threat detection, not a database resource monitoring or optimisation tool; it does not surface query performance or resource metrics. It is tempting because it monitors activity, but the stem requires optimising database resources, which Query Store and Intelligent Insights address.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Managing Environment Configurations and Resource Governance
Key term
Azure SQL Performance Tuning
Azure SQL Performance Tuning is the process of optimizing the speed and efficiency of queries and database operations in Microsoft Azure SQL Database or SQL Managed Instance to reduce latency and improve throughput.
Key term
Query Store
Query Store is a built-in SQL Server feature that captures and stores a history of query execution plans and performance data for easy monitoring and troubleshooting.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This DP-300 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the DP-300 exam.