Quick Answer
The answer is to add more data files to the filegroup. This directly reduces PAGELATCH_SH contention in Azure SQL Managed Instance because these waits occur when multiple sessions compete for shared latches on the same page allocation structures, such as the Global Allocation Map (GAM) or Shared Global Allocation Map (SGAM). By distributing the allocation workload across additional data files, you effectively spread the metadata pages across more resources, minimizing the bottleneck. On the Microsoft Azure Database Administrator Associate DP-300 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of storage architecture and concurrency management—a common trap is mistaking instance scaling (Option B) or read-only replicas (Option A) as solutions, but neither addresses the root cause of page-level latch contention. Remember the memory tip: “More files, fewer fights” — adding files spreads the allocation heat, cooling down PAGELATCH_SH waits.
This DP-300 practice question tests your understanding of monitor, configure, and optimize database resources. 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.
Your Azure SQL Managed Instance is experiencing high PAGELATCH_SH waits. You need to reduce this contention. What should you implement?
Scale up the managed instance to a higher service tier
Why wrong: May help indirectly but not a targeted fix.
Enable delayed durability
Why wrong: Affects transaction log, not page latches.
Configure a readable secondary replica
Why wrong: Does not reduce primary's latch contention.
Add more data files to the filegroup
Distributes page allocation and reduces contention.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Add more data files to the filegroup
Option D is correct because increasing the number of files in the filegroup can distribute page allocation and reduce contention. Option A is wrong because read-only replicas do not reduce primary's latch contention. Option B is wrong because increasing instance size may help but does not directly address PAGELATCH_SH. Option C is wrong because delayed durability affects log write, not page latches.
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.
Scale up the managed instance to a higher service tier
Why it's wrong here
May help indirectly but not a targeted fix.
Enable delayed durability
Why it's wrong here
Affects transaction log, not page latches.
Configure a readable secondary replica
Why it's wrong here
Does not reduce primary's latch contention.
Add more data files to the filegroup
Why this is correct
Distributes page allocation and reduces contention.
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
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.
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.
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FAQ
Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources — This question tests Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Add more data files to the filegroup — Option D is correct because increasing the number of files in the filegroup can distribute page allocation and reduce contention. Option A is wrong because read-only replicas do not reduce primary's latch contention. Option B is wrong because increasing instance size may help but does not directly address PAGELATCH_SH. Option C is wrong because delayed durability affects log write, not page latches.
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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
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.
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