Quick Answer
The answer is 2 VMs. This is the minimum number required for SQL Server Always On Availability Groups on Azure VM to achieve automatic failover, because the configuration needs at least one primary replica and one secondary replica to form a functional availability group; a witness is optional and not counted toward the replica minimum. On the Microsoft Azure Database Administrator Associate DP-300 exam, this concept tests your understanding of high availability and disaster recovery fundamentals, often appearing as a trick where candidates mistakenly add a witness or a third node. A common trap is assuming you need a separate VM for a file-share witness, but automatic failover only requires two replicas—the witness is only needed for manual failover in a two-node cluster. Remember the memory tip: "Two for automatic, three for manual with a witness."
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 need to implement a disaster recovery solution for a SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machine using SQL Server Always On Availability Groups. The secondary replica must be in a different Azure region. What is the minimum number of VMs required to achieve automatic failover?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "always"
Why it matters: Absolute qualifier. An answer using 'always' is only correct if there are genuinely no exceptions — absolute statements are often wrong in networking.
Clue: "minimum / minimize"
Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
1
Why wrong: Single VM provides no HA.
3
Why wrong: Three replicas are needed only if you want a witness for automatic failover without shared storage.
4
Why wrong: Unnecessary.
2
Two replicas are the minimum for automatic failover.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
2
Option C is correct because an Always On Availability Group requires at least 2 replicas (primary and secondary) for automatic failover. A witness is optional. Option A (1 VM) provides no high availability. Option B (2 VMs) is the minimum for automatic failover. Option D (4 VMs) is unnecessary.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
1
Why it's wrong here
Single VM provides no HA.
3
Why it's wrong here
Three replicas are needed only if you want a witness for automatic failover without shared storage.
4
Why it's wrong here
Unnecessary.
2
Why this is correct
Two replicas are the minimum for automatic failover.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "always", "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
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
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
What to study next
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 — study guide chapter
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FAQ
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..
The correct answer is: 2 — Option C is correct because an Always On Availability Group requires at least 2 replicas (primary and secondary) for automatic failover. A witness is optional. Option A (1 VM) provides no high availability. Option B (2 VMs) is the minimum for automatic failover. Option D (4 VMs) is unnecessary.
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.
Yes — watch for: "always", "minimum / minimize". Absolute qualifier. An answer using 'always' is only correct if there are genuinely no exceptions — absolute statements are often wrong in networking.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
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