DP-300 Practice Question: Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources
You support an Azure SQL Database that uses the General Purpose service tier. A nightly ETL process writes millions of rows, and during the load the database occasionally reports error 40501, 'The service is currently busy.' You need to reduce the chance that the ETL job is throttled while keeping the same service tier. What should you do?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is treating a transient throttling error as a configuration limit that can be fixed by changing a database setting.
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
✓
Implement retry logic with exponential backoff in the ETL application to handle transient throttling.
Resource governance throttling in Azure SQL Database is transient by design; the recommended handling is to retry with backoff rather than change storage or recovery settings. Because the constraint is to remain on General Purpose, the ETL must tolerate brief throttling. Retry logic directly addresses the transient nature of error 40501.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Implement retry logic with exponential backoff in the ETL application to handle transient throttling.
Why this is correct
Error 40501 is a transient resource governance response, and the documented mitigation is to retry the operation after a delay. Adding exponential backoff lets the ETL ride out short throttling periods without failing. This is the correct approach when you must remain on the same service tier and cannot reduce the workload's resource demand or move it to a less busy time.
- ✗
Increase the database's max size so that the log file can grow without hitting the storage limit.
Why it's wrong here
Error 40501 indicates resource throttling, not a storage ceiling. Increasing max size changes the maximum data file size but does not raise the compute or log throughput limits of the service tier. The ETL may still exceed the tier's resource budget and receive the same busy error. Max size is relevant to storage errors such as 1105, not to resource governance throttling.
- ✗
Enable Accelerated Database Recovery on the database to reduce log write volume during the bulk load.
Why it's wrong here
Accelerated Database Recovery changes how the transaction log and version store are managed to speed recovery and reduce log truncation delays, but it does not increase the tier's resource limits or prevent resource governance throttling. The ETL can still exceed the budget for the General Purpose tier, and error 40501 would still occur under the same load pattern.
- ✗
Move the database to the Hyperscale service tier, which removes all resource governance limits.
Why it's wrong here
Hyperscale changes the storage and compute architecture but still enforces resource limits based on the chosen service level objective. It does not remove resource governance, and moving tiers changes cost and behavior without guaranteeing the ETL will avoid throttling. The requirement is to keep the same service tier, so a tier change is also outside the stated constraint.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Configuring Disaster Recovery for Azure SQL
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.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Microsoft exam blueprint
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