DP-300 Practice Question: Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources
You manage an Azure SQL Database that uses the General Purpose tier. You need to monitor the performance of the database and identify the top resource-consuming queries. You want to use a built-in feature that requires no additional cost. What should you use?
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
✓
Query Store.
Query Store is a built-in, no-cost feature that automatically captures query execution history and helps identify top resource-consuming queries. Option B is wrong because Azure SQL Analytics (preview) is a monitoring solution that requires configuring diagnostic logs and Log Analytics, adding setup and potential cost, rather than being a simple built-in database feature. Option C is wrong because SQL Server Profiler is deprecated and not supported for Azure SQL Database. Option D is wrong because sys.dm_exec_query_stats and sys.dm_exec_sql_text are DMVs that require manual querying and do not provide the built-in, user-friendly query performance tracking of Query Store.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Query Store.
Why this is correct
Query Store is a built-in, free feature that captures query performance data and helps identify top resource consumers.
- ✗
Azure SQL Analytics (preview) in Azure Monitor.
Why it's wrong here
Azure SQL Analytics is a paid solution that requires Log Analytics workspace and additional costs.
- ✗
SQL Server Profiler.
Why it's wrong here
SQL Server Profiler is a client-side tracing tool that requires manual setup and incurs overhead on the database engine, whereas the question demands a built-in, cost-free feature within Azure SQL Database. It is tempting because Profiler is traditionally used for capturing and analysing query performance on-premises, and would be correct for troubleshooting a specific workload in a SQL Server instance where you control the trace files.
- ✗
sys.dm_exec_query_stats and sys.dm_exec_sql_text DMVs.
Why it's wrong here
DMVs provide query stats but are not a built-in monitoring feature; they require writing queries.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Managing Environment Configurations and Resource Governance
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.
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.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This DP-300 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the DP-300 exam.