The correct configuration is Active Geo-Replication with a readable secondary in a different Azure region, added to a failover group. This meets the required Azure SQL Database business continuity RPO of 5 seconds and RTO of 1 hour because Active Geo-Replication uses asynchronous replication with a typical RPO of up to 5 seconds, while failover groups automate the failover process to keep the RTO under one hour. On the DP-300 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to balance low data loss with fast recovery for a global application—a common trap is choosing Azure SQL Database automatic backups or standard geo-restore, which offer much higher RPO and RTO. The readable secondary also optimizes performance for users in Europe by offloading read-only traffic. Memory tip: think “Geo-Replication for low RPO, Failover Group for low RTO.”
DP-300 Plan and implement data platform resources Practice Question
This DP-300 practice question tests your understanding of plan and implement data platform resources. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 need to design a business continuity plan for an Azure SQL Database that must meet an RPO of 5 seconds and an RTO of 1 hour. The database is used by a global application with users in North America and Europe. Which configuration should you implement?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure Active Geo-Replication with a readable secondary in a different Azure region and add to a failover group.
Active Geo-Replication with a readable secondary in a different Azure region, added to a failover group, meets the RPO of 5 seconds and RTO of 1 hour. Active Geo-Replication provides asynchronous replication with an RPO of up to 5 seconds, and failover groups enable automatic or manual failover with an RTO typically under 1 hour. The readable secondary supports read-only workloads in Europe, optimizing global application performance.
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.
✗
Configure auto-failover groups between two Azure regions.
Why it's wrong here
Auto-failover groups rely on Active Geo-Replication; the correct answer specifies the underlying technology.
✓
Configure Active Geo-Replication with a readable secondary in a different Azure region and add to a failover group.
Why this is correct
Active Geo-Replication with failover group meets RPO of 5 seconds and RTO of 1 hour.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Deploy the database as zone-redundant within a single region.
Why it's wrong here
Zone-redundancy protects within a region, not from regional outages.
✗
Use geo-restore of automated backups to recover in another region.
Why it's wrong here
Geo-restore has an RPO of hours, not seconds.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse auto-failover groups (Option A) with Active Geo-Replication, not realizing that failover groups alone do not enforce the low RPO; they must be combined with Active Geo-Replication to achieve the 5-second RPO, making Option B the precise configuration.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Active Geo-Replication uses asynchronous log shipping with a target RPO of 5 seconds under normal conditions, but network latency or high transaction rates can increase RPO; failover groups add a listener endpoint and coordinated failover, ensuring the RTO is met by automating the failover process. In a real-world scenario, if the primary region in North America fails, the failover group automatically promotes the readable secondary in Europe, and application connection strings using the listener automatically redirect, achieving the RTO. The readable secondary also offloads read-only queries, reducing load on the primary and improving global user experience.
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.
TExam Day Tips
→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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this DP-300 question in full detail.
Plan and implement data platform resources — This question tests Plan and implement data platform resources — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure Active Geo-Replication with a readable secondary in a different Azure region and add to a failover group. — Active Geo-Replication with a readable secondary in a different Azure region, added to a failover group, meets the RPO of 5 seconds and RTO of 1 hour. Active Geo-Replication provides asynchronous replication with an RPO of up to 5 seconds, and failover groups enable automatic or manual failover with an RTO typically under 1 hour. The readable secondary supports read-only workloads in Europe, optimizing global application performance.
What should I do if I get this DP-300 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Variation 1. You are designing a disaster recovery solution for an Azure SQL Database in the Business Critical tier. You require automatic failover to a secondary region with zero data loss. Which configuration should you use?
hard
✓ A.Create a failover group with the Business Critical tier.
B.Configure geo-replication between two servers.
C.Enable read scale-out in a secondary region.
D.Use active geo-replication with manual failover.
Why A: The Business Critical tier in Azure SQL Database supports failover groups, which provide automatic failover across regions with zero data loss by using synchronous replication at the primary region and asynchronous replication to the secondary region. Failover groups ensure that all committed transactions are preserved during a failover, meeting the zero data loss requirement for disaster recovery.
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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