DP-300 Plan and implement data platform resources Practice Question
Your company is migrating an on-premises SQL Server database to Azure SQL Managed Instance. The database uses SQL Server Agent jobs, Service Broker, and cross-database queries within the same instance. Which PaaS option should you choose?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse Azure SQL Database with Azure SQL Managed Instance, assuming that all PaaS SQL offerings support the same features, but Azure SQL Database deliberately omits instance-scoped features like Agent and Service Broker to maintain a multi-tenant architecture.
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
✓
Azure SQL Managed Instance
Azure SQL Managed Instance is the correct choice because it provides near 100% compatibility with on-premises SQL Server, including support for SQL Server Agent jobs, Service Broker, and cross-database queries within the same instance. These features are not available in Azure SQL Database, which is a PaaS offering with a more restricted surface area. SQL Server on Azure VM is IaaS and requires manual management, while elastic query in Azure SQL Database only supports cross-database queries across different databases, not the full Service Broker or Agent functionality.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Azure SQL Managed Instance
Why this is correct
Azure SQL Managed Instance supports SQL Server Agent, Service Broker and cross-database queries within the same instance, so the workload migrates as PaaS with minimal code change, unlike Azure SQL Database which lacks these instance-scoped features.
- ✗
Azure SQL Database
Why it's wrong here
Azure SQL Database does not support SQL Server Agent, Service Broker, or cross-database queries within an instance, so the migration would fail. It is tempting because it is the simplest PaaS offering, and it would be correct for a single database needing no instance-scoped features.
- ✗
SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machine
Why it's wrong here
SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines is IaaS, so it delivers full SQL Server Agent, Service Broker and cross-database query support, but it fails the PaaS requirement in the stem. It is tempting because lift-and-shift VMs suit workloads needing OS-level control or unsupported features.
- ✗
Azure SQL Database with elastic query
Why it's wrong here
Azure SQL Database's elastic query provides cross-database queries across separate databases, but it lacks SQL Server Agent and Service Broker, which the workload depends on. It is tempting because elastic query targets sharded, multi-database SaaS patterns, not single-instance migrations needing instance-scoped features.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Deploying and Configuring SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines
Key term
SQL Server on Azure VM
SQL Server on Azure VM is a cloud service that lets you run Microsoft SQL Server software inside a virtual machine in Microsoft Azure, giving you full control over the database environment just like you would have on your own physical server.
Key term
Azure SQL Managed Instance
Azure SQL Managed Instance is a fully managed cloud database service that gives you nearly all the features of Microsoft SQL Server on your own server, without you having to manage the hardware or operating system.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
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