DP-300 Practice Question: Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources
Which TWO actions can reduce storage costs for an Azure SQL Database? (Select two.)
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
✓
Enable row or page compression on large tables.
To reduce storage costs for an Azure SQL Database, you can enable row or page compression on large tables (option B) to decrease data size. Archiving historical data to Azure Blob Storage using external tables (option E) moves cold data out of the database, reducing storage consumption. Option A is incorrect because increasing the service tier typically increases storage costs. Option C is wrong because reducing backup retention does not affect storage used for data files, only backup storage. Option D is incorrect because automatic tuning optimizes query performance, not storage costs. Therefore, the correct answers are B and E.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Increase the service tier to get more storage.
Why it's wrong here
Higher tiers cost more.
- ✓
Enable row or page compression on large tables.
Why this is correct
Compression reduces storage footprint.
- ✗
Reduce backup retention to 1 day.
Why it's wrong here
Backup retention affects backup storage, not data storage.
- ✗
Enable automatic tuning to optimize query plans.
Why it's wrong here
Automatic tuning does not reduce storage.
- ✓
Archive historical data to Azure Blob Storage using external tables.
Why this is correct
Moving cold data reduces database size.
Quick reference
Azure Blob Storage Tier Comparison
| Tier | Storage Cost | Retrieval Cost | Latency | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hot | Highest | Lowest | Immediate | Active data, frequent reads |
| Cool | Lower | Higher | Immediate | Data accessed < once / month |
| Cold | Lower still | Higher | Immediate | Data accessed < once / quarter |
| Archive | Lowest | Highest + rehydration delay | Hours | Long-term compliance retention |
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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