DP-300 Practice Question: Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources
You are managing an Azure SQL Database in the General Purpose service tier with 100 DTUs. The database supports an e-commerce application. Over the past week, you notice that CPU usage frequently reaches 100% during peak hours, causing query timeouts. You have identified that the most expensive query is a SELECT statement that joins five tables and returns aggregated sales data. You need to reduce CPU pressure without changing the service tier or adding indexes. 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
✓
Use Query Store to identify and force a more efficient execution plan.
Using Query Store to identify and force a more efficient execution plan can reduce CPU usage without changing the service tier or adding indexes. Option A is incorrect because scaling to Business Critical changes the service tier, which is not allowed. Option B is incorrect because increasing DTUs changes the performance level and may increase cost, and it doesn't address the root cause of the expensive query. Option D is incorrect because adding indexes is explicitly prohibited by the requirement.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Scale up to the Business Critical tier.
Why it's wrong here
This changes the service tier, which is not allowed.
- ✗
Increase the DTUs to 200.
Why it's wrong here
This changes the service tier, which is not allowed per requirement.
- ✓
Use Query Store to identify and force a more efficient execution plan.
Why this is correct
Query Store can capture plan history and force a plan that uses less CPU without changing tier or indexes.
- ✗
Add a nonclustered index on the join columns.
Why it's wrong here
Adding indexes is not allowed per requirement.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Overview of Azure Data Platform Options
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.
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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