- A
Enable geo-redundant backup storage for the server.
Geo-redundant backup storage (RA-GRS) replicates backups to a paired region, ensuring regional recoverability.
- B
Deploy a read-scale replica in a different Azure region.
Why wrong: Read-scale replicas are for offloading read-only queries and do not provide backup retention.
- C
Set point-in-time restore retention to 30 days.
PITR retention of 30 days keeps daily backups for that period, meeting the requirement.
- D
Set up a long-term retention policy with a retention of 30 days.
Why wrong: LTR is intended for retaining backups beyond 35 days (e.g., monthly, yearly), not for daily backups within 30 days.
- E
Configure active geo-replication to a secondary region.
Why wrong: Active geo-replication replicates the live database, not backups; it doesn't provide backup retention.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to set point-in-time restore retention to 30 days and enable geo-redundant backup storage (RA-GRS). Point-in-time restore retention controls how far back you can recover your database, and setting it to 30 days ensures daily backups are kept for the full month. Geo-redundant storage automatically replicates those backups to a paired Azure region, so if the primary region goes down, you can restore from the secondary copy—satisfying the recoverability requirement. On the DP-300 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that backup retention and geo-replication are separate settings: retention defines the time window, while geo-redundancy provides regional disaster recovery. A common trap is confusing geo-replication of the live database with geo-redundant backup storage; remember that backups are replicated automatically when you choose RA-GRS, no extra configuration needed. Memory tip: “Retention is time, geo is place”—set the duration with retention, and pick RA-GRS for location resilience.
DP-300 Configure and manage automation of tasks Practice Question
This DP-300 practice question tests your understanding of configure and manage automation of tasks. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 designing an automated backup strategy for Azure SQL Database. Which TWO actions satisfy a requirement to maintain daily backups for 30 days and ensure recoverability if the Azure region becomes unavailable?
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 geo-redundant backup storage for the server.
Option A is correct because enabling geo-redundant backup storage (RA-GRS) for Azure SQL Database ensures that automated backups are replicated to a paired Azure region. This satisfies the requirement for recoverability if the primary region becomes unavailable, as backups can be restored from the secondary region. Combined with setting point-in-time restore retention to 30 days (Option C), you maintain daily backups for the full 30-day retention period, meeting both requirements.
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 geo-redundant backup storage for the server.
Why this is correct
Geo-redundant backup storage (RA-GRS) replicates backups to a paired region, ensuring regional recoverability.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Deploy a read-scale replica in a different Azure region.
Why it's wrong here
Read-scale replicas are for offloading read-only queries and do not provide backup retention.
- ✓
Set point-in-time restore retention to 30 days.
Why this is correct
PITR retention of 30 days keeps daily backups for that period, meeting the requirement.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Set up a long-term retention policy with a retention of 30 days.
Why it's wrong here
LTR is intended for retaining backups beyond 35 days (e.g., monthly, yearly), not for daily backups within 30 days.
- ✗
Configure active geo-replication to a secondary region.
Why it's wrong here
Active geo-replication replicates the live database, not backups; it doesn't provide backup retention.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is confusing high-availability features (like geo-replication or read-scale replicas) with backup retention and storage redundancy, leading candidates to select options that provide failover capability but do not satisfy the backup retention or geo-redundant backup storage requirements.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Geo-redundant backup storage uses Azure Storage RA-GRS (Read-Access Geo-Redundant Storage) to asynchronously replicate backup blobs to a paired region, ensuring durability even during a regional outage. Point-in-time restore (PITR) retention of 30 days allows restoring the database to any point within that window using transaction log backups, which are taken every 5-10 minutes. Under the hood, Azure SQL Database automatically creates full backups weekly, differential backups every 12 hours, and log backups every 5-10 minutes, all stored in the configured backup storage redundancy.
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.
TExam Day Tips
- 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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Configure and manage automation of tasks — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DP-300 question test?
Configure and manage automation of tasks — This question tests Configure and manage automation of tasks — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable geo-redundant backup storage for the server. — Option A is correct because enabling geo-redundant backup storage (RA-GRS) for Azure SQL Database ensures that automated backups are replicated to a paired Azure region. This satisfies the requirement for recoverability if the primary region becomes unavailable, as backups can be restored from the secondary region. Combined with setting point-in-time restore retention to 30 days (Option C), you maintain daily backups for the full 30-day retention period, meeting both requirements.
What should I do if I get this DP-300 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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 11, 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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