- A
Enable zone redundancy on the current General Purpose database.
Why wrong: Zone redundancy for General Purpose is not available; it's only for Business Critical or Hyperscale.
- B
Configure a readable secondary on the current General Purpose database.
Why wrong: General Purpose does not support readable secondary for HA; it only supports one readable replica for reporting, but failover is not automatic.
- C
Create a secondary database in a different region and use active geo-replication.
Why wrong: This is overkill and adds latency; the requirement is intra-region HA.
- D
Upgrade the database to the Business Critical service tier and enable read scale-out.
Business Critical provides automatic failover and multiple replicas, and read scale-out allows offloading read traffic.
Quick Answer
The answer is to upgrade the database to the Business Critical service tier and enable read scale-out. This is correct because Business Critical provides a primary replica and three secondary replicas within the same region, with automatic failover for minimal downtime during planned maintenance, and the read scale-out feature allows you to offload read-heavy workloads to one of those readable secondary replicas, directly addressing the startup’s need for high availability within a region and traffic offloading. On the DP-300 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of Azure SQL Database service tier capabilities and the distinction between high availability features like zone-redundancy and read scale-out; a common trap is confusing General Purpose’s single readable replica with true HA failover or overcomplicating the solution with geo-replication. Remember the memory tip: “Business Critical gives you three for free—one for writes, two for reads, and automatic failover for peace of mind.”
DP-300 Practice Question: Plan and configure a high availability and disaster recovery environment
This DP-300 practice question tests your understanding of plan and configure a high availability and disaster recovery environment. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
You are a database administrator for a startup that uses Azure SQL Database for its main application. The database is currently in the West US region using the General Purpose service tier. The company expects rapid growth and wants to ensure high availability within the region. They want to minimize downtime during planned maintenance. The application uses read-heavy workloads, and they want to offload read traffic to a secondary replica. The budget is flexible but should be justified. What should you recommend?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"minimum / minimize"Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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
Upgrade the database to the Business Critical service tier and enable read scale-out.
Option D is correct because upgrading to Business Critical provides multiple replicas, automatic failover, and the ability to enable read scale-out to offload read traffic. Option A is wrong because General Purpose has only one readable replica (if configured) but does not provide automatic HA failover. Option B is wrong because zone-redundancy adds cost but does not provide read scale-out. Option C is wrong because active geo-replication is overkill for intra-region HA.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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 zone redundancy on the current General Purpose database.
Why it's wrong here
Zone redundancy for General Purpose is not available; it's only for Business Critical or Hyperscale.
- ✗
Configure a readable secondary on the current General Purpose database.
Why it's wrong here
General Purpose does not support readable secondary for HA; it only supports one readable replica for reporting, but failover is not automatic.
- ✗
Create a secondary database in a different region and use active geo-replication.
Why it's wrong here
This is overkill and adds latency; the requirement is intra-region HA.
- ✓
Upgrade the database to the Business Critical service tier and enable read scale-out.
Why this is correct
Business Critical provides automatic failover and multiple replicas, and read scale-out allows offloading read traffic.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which DP-300 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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Plan and configure a high availability and disaster recovery environment — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DP-300 question test?
Plan and configure a high availability and disaster recovery environment — This question tests Plan and configure a high availability and disaster recovery environment — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Upgrade the database to the Business Critical service tier and enable read scale-out. — Option D is correct because upgrading to Business Critical provides multiple replicas, automatic failover, and the ability to enable read scale-out to offload read traffic. Option A is wrong because General Purpose has only one readable replica (if configured) but does not provide automatic HA failover. Option B is wrong because zone-redundancy adds cost but does not provide read scale-out. Option C is wrong because active geo-replication is overkill for intra-region HA.
What should I do if I get this DP-300 question wrong?
Identify which DP-300 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
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.
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