The answer is to use the secondary database in the failover group for read-only queries by setting ApplicationIntent=ReadOnly in the connection string. This works because a failover group secondary is a readable replica by design, and the ApplicationIntent parameter tells SQL Server to route the connection to the read-only secondary, offloading read-only queries from the primary without altering the failover group configuration. On the DP-300 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to leverage existing high-availability features for workload management, often appearing as a trap where candidates mistakenly choose to scale up the primary or create a separate geo-replica. A common memory tip is to remember that ApplicationIntent=ReadOnly is the “light switch” for read routing—flip it on the connection string, not the infrastructure.
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. 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 have an Azure SQL Database in the Premium tier with a failover group to a secondary region. The primary database experiences a performance issue due to a sudden increase in workload. You need to temporarily offload read-only queries to the secondary replica without affecting the failover group configuration. What should you do?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use the secondary database in the failover group for read-only queries by setting ApplicationIntent=ReadOnly.
Option C is correct because the secondary in a failover group can be used for read-only queries by setting ApplicationIntent=ReadOnly in the connection string. Option A is wrong because scaling up the primary does not offload reads. Option B is wrong because active geo-replication would create a separate secondary outside the failover group. Option D is wrong because read scale-out is only available in Premium and Business Critical tiers, but it uses replicas within the same region, not the failover group secondary.
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.
✓
Use the secondary database in the failover group for read-only queries by setting ApplicationIntent=ReadOnly.
Why this is correct
The failover group secondary supports read-only workloads.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Configure active geo-replication to a new secondary in the same region.
Why it's wrong here
Active geo-replication is separate from the failover group and adds cost.
✗
Enable read scale-out on the primary database.
Why it's wrong here
Read scale-out uses local replicas, not the failover group secondary.
✗
Scale up the primary database to a higher performance level.
Why it's wrong here
Scaling up does not offload read queries.
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: Use the secondary database in the failover group for read-only queries by setting ApplicationIntent=ReadOnly. — Option C is correct because the secondary in a failover group can be used for read-only queries by setting ApplicationIntent=ReadOnly in the connection string. Option A is wrong because scaling up the primary does not offload reads. Option B is wrong because active geo-replication would create a separate secondary outside the failover group. Option D is wrong because read scale-out is only available in Premium and Business Critical tiers, but it uses replicas within the same region, not the failover group secondary.
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: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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