DP-300 Practice Question: Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources
You are managing an Azure SQL Database that is experiencing intermittent performance degradation. Query Store shows that a specific query's execution plan changed, causing increased CPU usage. You need to ensure consistent performance without rewriting the application. 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
✓
Force the previous query plan using Query Store
Force the previous query plan using Query Store. This approach directly addresses the root cause by locking the query to a known good plan, ensuring consistent performance without application changes. Option A is incorrect because increasing the DTU/service tier may temporarily improve performance but does not fix the plan regression. Option B is incorrect because creating a missing index recommendation may help but does not guarantee the query will use the previous plan. Option C is incorrect because dropping and recreating the index is disruptive and may not force the plan to revert.
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 DTU/service tier of the database
Why it's wrong here
Increasing resources addresses symptoms but not the root cause of plan regression.
- ✗
Create a missing index recommendation
Why it's wrong here
Index tuning may not revert the plan to the previous good one.
- ✗
Drop and recreate the index used by the query
Why it's wrong here
This is disruptive and may not force the same plan.
- ✓
Force the previous query plan using Query Store
Why this is correct
Plan forcing enforces the known good plan for consistent performance.
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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