The answer is to add ApplicationIntent=ReadOnly to the connection string and use the failover group listener. This works because the failover group automatically exposes a read-only listener endpoint—distinct from the read-write listener—that routes connections with the ApplicationIntent=ReadOnly attribute directly to the secondary replica, offloading read workloads from the primary. On the Microsoft Azure Database Administrator Associate DP-300 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of geo-replication traffic routing versus read-scale for Hyperscale; a common trap is confusing the failover group listener with the read-scale feature, which applies only to a single database’s readable secondaries, not geo-replicated secondaries. The key insight is that the listener handles both read-write and read-only endpoints, so you must explicitly set the intent in your connection string. Memory tip: think “Listener + Intent = Redirect to Secondary”—without the listener, ApplicationIntent alone does nothing for geo-failover groups.
DP-300 Practice Question: Plan and configure a high availability and disaster recovery environment
This DP-300 practice question tests your understanding of plan and configure a high availability and disaster recovery environment. 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.
Your company has an Azure SQL Database that uses a failover group with a secondary in a different region. You need to ensure that read-only queries are directed to the secondary database to offload the primary. What should you configure?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Add ApplicationIntent=ReadOnly to the connection string and use the failover group listener.
Option C is correct because the failover group provides a read-only listener endpoint that can be used for read-only queries. Option A is wrong because ApplicationIntent=ReadOnly in the connection string combined with the read-only listener routes to secondary. Option B is wrong because read-only routing is not automatic without the listener. Option D is wrong because read-scale is a separate feature, not for geo-replicated secondaries.
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.
✓
Add ApplicationIntent=ReadOnly to the connection string and use the failover group listener.
Why this is correct
The read-only listener routes to the secondary when ApplicationIntent=ReadOnly is specified.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use a Traffic Manager profile to route read traffic.
Why it's wrong here
Traffic Manager does not understand SQL read intent.
✗
Enable read-scale for the database.
Why it's wrong here
Read-scale is for read-only replicas within the same region, not for geo-secondary.
✗
Configure a separate connection string pointing to the secondary server.
Why it's wrong here
This requires manual management and does not automatically redirect if secondary becomes primary.
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
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.
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.
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..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Add ApplicationIntent=ReadOnly to the connection string and use the failover group listener. — Option C is correct because the failover group provides a read-only listener endpoint that can be used for read-only queries. Option A is wrong because ApplicationIntent=ReadOnly in the connection string combined with the read-only listener routes to secondary. Option B is wrong because read-only routing is not automatic without the listener. Option D is wrong because read-scale is a separate feature, not for geo-replicated secondaries.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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