The correct choice is to deploy a second failover cluster instance in a different Azure region and configure SQL Server log shipping or an availability group between the two FCIs. This solution provides cross-region disaster recovery for SQL Server on Azure VM by ensuring that if an entire Azure region fails, the database can be failed over to the secondary FCI in another region, using asynchronous replication to minimize data loss while maintaining business continuity. On the DP-300 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that an availability set only protects against failures within a single datacenter, not a region-wide outage, and it’s a common trap to confuse high availability with disaster recovery. Remember, for region-level protection, you must replicate data to a separate geographic location. A helpful memory tip: “Availability set for local HA, cross-region FCI for DR—think ‘two regions, two FCIs, async copy.’”
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. 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 have a SQL Server on Azure VM that is part of a failover cluster instance (FCI). The cluster nodes are in an availability set. You need to ensure that the database can tolerate a complete Azure region failure. What should you add to the current architecture?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Deploy a second FCI in a different Azure region and configure SQL Server log shipping or availability group between the FCIs.
Option A is correct because adding a second FCI in another region and configuring asynchronous replication between them provides cross-region DR. Option B is wrong because adding more nodes in the same region does not protect against region failure. Option C is wrong because geo-redundant backup does not provide continuous replication. Option D is wrong because active geo-replication is not supported for SQL Server on Azure VM.
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.
✗
Add another node to the existing FCI in a different availability zone.
Why it's wrong here
Availability zones are within the same region.
✓
Deploy a second FCI in a different Azure region and configure SQL Server log shipping or availability group between the FCIs.
Why this is correct
Cross-region replication provides DR.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Configure geo-redundant backup storage for the SQL Server VMs.
Why it's wrong here
Backup does not provide continuous replication.
✗
Create an Azure SQL Database with active geo-replication and migrate the database.
Why it's wrong here
This would require a database migration, not an addition to the existing architecture.
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.
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: Deploy a second FCI in a different Azure region and configure SQL Server log shipping or availability group between the FCIs. — Option A is correct because adding a second FCI in another region and configuring asynchronous replication between them provides cross-region DR. Option B is wrong because adding more nodes in the same region does not protect against region failure. Option C is wrong because geo-redundant backup does not provide continuous replication. Option D is wrong because active geo-replication is not supported for SQL Server on Azure VM.
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.
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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