The answer is to use the Query Performance Insight blade in the Azure portal and schedule an export to a storage account. This is correct because Query Performance Insight is natively integrated into Azure SQL Database, leveraging the Query Store to surface the top queries by average CPU time, memory, and IO, and its built-in export feature allows you to automate the weekly delivery of this performance data to a storage account for reporting. On the Microsoft Azure Database Administrator Associate DP-300 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of Azure SQL Database’s native monitoring tools versus external solutions; a common trap is choosing Azure Monitor Workbooks, which require a separate data source and cannot directly query Query Store, or SQL Agent jobs, which lack built-in reporting. Remember the mnemonic QPI Exports to Storage—Query Performance Insight handles the analysis, and the export handles the automation.
DP-300 Configure and manage automation of tasks Practice Question
This DP-300 practice question tests your understanding of configure and manage automation of tasks. 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 company has a policy that all Azure SQL Databases must have their performance data (DTU/CPU, memory, IO) monitored and analyzed weekly. You need to automate the generation of a weekly report summarizing the top 10 queries by average CPU time. What should you use?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use the Query Performance Insight blade in the Azure portal and schedule an export to a storage account.
Option B is correct because Query Performance Insight is built into Azure SQL Database and provides query-level performance data. Option A is wrong because Azure Monitor Workbooks can visualize data but require a data source; they do not query Query Store directly. Option C is wrong because SQL Agent jobs can run queries but do not have built-in reporting capabilities. Option D is wrong because Power BI requires an export mechanism.
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 a Power BI dashboard that connects directly to Azure SQL Database Query Store.
Why it's wrong here
Power BI requires interactive access, not scheduled automated reports.
✗
Create an Azure Monitor Workbook that queries the Query Store.
Why it's wrong here
Workbooks can retrieve data from various sources but are not the simplest automated reporting tool.
✗
Set up a SQL Agent job to run queries against sys.dm_exec_query_stats and email the results.
Why it's wrong here
SQL Agent cannot natively email formatted reports without additional configuration.
✓
Use the Query Performance Insight blade in the Azure portal and schedule an export to a storage account.
Why this is correct
Query Performance Insight has built-in export capabilities for scheduled reports.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
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
How to think about this question
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.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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 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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this DP-300 question in full detail.
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.
Configure and manage automation of tasks — This question tests Configure and manage automation of tasks — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use the Query Performance Insight blade in the Azure portal and schedule an export to a storage account. — Option B is correct because Query Performance Insight is built into Azure SQL Database and provides query-level performance data. Option A is wrong because Azure Monitor Workbooks can visualize data but require a data source; they do not query Query Store directly. Option C is wrong because SQL Agent jobs can run queries but do not have built-in reporting capabilities. Option D is wrong because Power BI requires an export mechanism.
What should I do if I get this DP-300 question wrong?
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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