DP-300 Configure and manage automation of tasks Practice Question
Which TWO actions are required to automate the export of an Azure SQL Database to a BACPAC file on a monthly basis? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
DP-300 often tests the components required for automating BACPAC export, and candidates may incorrectly include LTR or SSIS, which are not relevant.
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 Azure Automation or a scheduled Azure Function to call the Export-AzSqlDatabase cmdlet.
Option B is correct because automating a monthly BACPAC export requires a scheduling/orchestration mechanism, and Azure Automation runbooks or a timer-triggered Azure Function can invoke the Az PowerShell cmdlet Export-AzSqlDatabase (or the equivalent az sql db export CLI command) on a recurring schedule. Option E is correct because a BACPAC export must be written to a destination, and the Export-AzSqlDatabase cmdlet requires a target Azure Storage account and container (specified via -StorageAccountName/-StorageContainerName or a storage key/URI) to hold the resulting .bacpac file. Option A is not required because long-term retention (LTR) applies to automated full/differential/log backup copies for point-in-time restore, not to BACPAC logical exports. Option C is not required because the export is a platform service performed by Azure SQL Database; no SQL Server on an Azure VM is needed. Option D is not required because SSIS is an ETL tool and plays no role in generating a BACPAC export.
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 long-term retention (LTR) policy for the database.
Why it's wrong here
Long-term retention copies backups to separate storage for compliance retention; it does not produce BACPAC files, which are logical schema-and-data exports. LTR would be correct for retaining full database backups beyond the standard retention period, not for monthly BACPAC export automation.
- ✓
Use Azure Automation or a scheduled Azure Function to call the Export-AzSqlDatabase cmdlet.
Why this is correct
Export-AzSqlDatabase performs the actual BACPAC export, but it must run unattended. Azure Automation runbooks or a timer-triggered Azure Function supply that monthly schedule and authenticate to the subscription, satisfying the automation requirement the question specifies.
- ✗
Deploy a SQL Server on Azure VM to run the export command.
Why it's wrong here
A SQL Server on Azure VM is unnecessary because the BACPAC export is performed by the SqlPackage utility or the Az.Sql cmdlets against the database directly. It is tempting when a full SQL engine is assumed necessary, but the automation only needs an Azure Automation runbook with those tools.
- ✗
Install SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) on a virtual machine.
Why it's wrong here
SSIS moves and transforms data between sources; it has no native BACPAC extraction capability, so it cannot generate the logical export the scenario demands. It is tempting because SSIS is the standard Azure tool for scheduled data movement, and would be correct for ETL pipelines rather than database archival exports.
- ✓
Create an Azure Storage account with a container to store the BACPAC file.
Why this is correct
Export-AzSqlDatabase writes the BACPAC to a destination, which must be a blob container in an Azure Storage account. Creating that account and container provides the required target location, a prerequisite before any scheduled export can succeed.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Configuring Automation Tasks for Database Administration
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
Azure SQL Database Backup
Azure SQL Database Backup is a fully managed, automated service that creates and stores copies of your SQL database data and transaction logs in Azure storage, enabling point-in-time recovery and long-term retention for data protection and business continuity.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Microsoft exam blueprint
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.