DP-300 Plan and implement data platform resources Practice Question
Which TWO actions are required to implement Azure SQL Database automatic failover with zero data loss?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse active geo-replication (which is asynchronous and can lose data) with auto-failover groups (which can achieve zero data loss only when used with Premium or Business Critical tiers), leading them to select active geo-replication as a correct answer.
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
✓
Create an auto-failover group.
An auto-failover group is required because it provides automatic failover capability across Azure SQL Database instances, which is essential for achieving zero data loss during a regional outage. The Premium or Business Critical service tier is required because these tiers use locally redundant storage with synchronous replication to ensure that transactions are committed without data loss, unlike the Standard or General Purpose tiers that use asynchronous replication.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Create an auto-failover group.
Why this is correct
Auto-failover groups manage failover orchestration.
- ✗
Configure active geo-replication.
Why it's wrong here
Geo-replication is asynchronous.
- ✗
Enable read scale-out.
Why it's wrong here
Read scale-out does not affect failover.
- ✓
Use Premium or Business Critical service tier.
Why this is correct
These tiers support synchronous replication.
- ✗
Configure multiple readable secondaries.
Why it's wrong here
Auto-failover groups support one secondary.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Overview of Azure Data Platform Options
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.
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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.