DP-300 Practice Question: Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources
You are a database administrator for a large e-commerce platform using Azure SQL Database. The application experiences intermittent performance degradation during peak hours. Query Store data shows that a specific stored procedure, `usp_getProducts`, has multiple query variants with different execution plans. Some plans are suboptimal. You need to ensure consistent and optimal performance for this stored procedure without rewriting the application code. What should you do?
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 forced parameterization on the database to promote plan reuse.
Enabling forced parameterization causes the database to treat literal values in queries as parameters, which promotes plan reuse and reduces plan cache bloat. This is ideal for stored procedures like usp_getProducts that have multiple query variants with different plans. Option B is incorrect because plan guides target specific queries, not the entire stored procedure, and are complex to manage. Option C is incorrect because Query Store hints are used to force a specific plan for a query, but they require manual intervention and don't address the root cause of plan variability. Option D is incorrect because automatic tuning with 'FORCE LAST GOOD PLAN' is reactive and may not provide consistent performance for a procedure with many variants.
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 forced parameterization on the database to promote plan reuse.
Why this is correct
Forced parameterization helps reduce plan cache bloat and improves plan stability for queries with literals.
- ✗
Create a plan guide to force a specific execution plan for the stored procedure.
Why it's wrong here
Plan guides target specific queries, not the entire stored procedure, and require knowing the exact query text.
- ✗
Implement Query Store hints to force the last known good plan for the stored procedure.
Why it's wrong here
Query Store hints require manual identification and are not a set-and-forget solution.
- ✗
Enable automatic tuning in Azure SQL Database and rely on the 'FORCE LAST GOOD PLAN' feature.
Why it's wrong here
Automatic tuning corrects issues after they occur, but does not prevent plan regression proactively.
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.
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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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.