The answer is to query the Query Store to compare the previous and current plans. This is the recommended first step because Intelligent Insights alerts you to query performance degradation, but it does not store the historical plan data needed to diagnose a plan regression. Query Store captures and retains execution plan history, allowing you to directly compare the plan that caused the higher duration with the previously efficient plan, pinpointing the exact change that degraded performance. On the DP-300 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of Intelligent Insights as a monitoring tool versus Query Store as a diagnostic tool—a common trap is to jump to index tuning or scaling resources, which treat symptoms rather than the root cause of a plan change. Remember the mnemonic: “Alert tells you what, Query Store tells you why.”
DP-300 Practice Question: Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources
This DP-300 practice question tests your understanding of monitor, configure, and optimize database resources. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 monitoring an Azure SQL Database using Intelligent Insights. You receive an alert that 'Query performance degradation' was detected. After reviewing the details, you find that a specific query now has a higher duration and is using a different execution plan. What is the recommended first step to troubleshoot?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Query the Query Store to compare the previous and current plans
Option B is correct because Query Store provides detailed plan history to identify plan regression. Option A is wrong because index tuning may not address plan regression directly. Option C is wrong because restarting the database is disruptive and not a troubleshooting step. Option D is wrong because increasing DTU does not fix plan regression.
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.
✗
Restart the database to clear the plan cache
Why it's wrong here
Restarting is disruptive and may not resolve the root cause.
✗
Increase the service tier of the database
Why it's wrong here
Increasing resources addresses symptoms, not the plan regression.
✓
Query the Query Store to compare the previous and current plans
Why this is correct
Query Store allows plan comparison and identification of regression.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Run the Database Engine Tuning Advisor
Why it's wrong here
Tuning Advisor recommends indexes but may not revert the plan.
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 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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this DP-300 question in full detail.
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.
Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources — This question tests Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Query the Query Store to compare the previous and current plans — Option B is correct because Query Store provides detailed plan history to identify plan regression. Option A is wrong because index tuning may not address plan regression directly. Option C is wrong because restarting the database is disruptive and not a troubleshooting step. Option D is wrong because increasing DTU does not fix plan regression.
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: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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