DP-300 Plan and implement data platform resources Practice Question
Your company plans to migrate several on-premises SQL Server databases to Azure SQL Database. The databases are used by different applications, each with varying performance requirements. You need to choose a deployment option that provides the most cost-effective solution while allowing for independent scaling of each database. Which option should you choose?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to choose single databases (Option D) thinking they offer the most straightforward independent scaling, but they overlook the cost inefficiency compared to elastic pools when databases have variable or low utilization.
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
✓
Create an Azure SQL Database elastic pool and add databases to the pool.
Azure SQL Database elastic pools allow multiple databases to share a fixed set of resources (eDTUs or vCores), enabling cost savings by pooling underutilized databases while providing the ability to independently scale each database's resource consumption within the pool. This meets the requirement for independent scaling and cost-effectiveness, as opposed to single databases that each require their own dedicated resources.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Create an Azure SQL Database elastic pool and add databases to the pool.
Why this is correct
Elastic pools provide cost-effective resource sharing with independent scaling.
- ✗
Install SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines and host all databases on a single instance.
Why it's wrong here
This requires managing VMs and does not provide elastic scaling.
- ✗
Migrate all databases to a single Azure SQL Managed Instance.
Why it's wrong here
Managed Instance does not support elastic pools; each database would share the same resources.
- ✗
Deploy each database as a single Azure SQL Database with its own DTU-based tier.
Why it's wrong here
Single databases are costlier than pooling when databases have variable usage.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Overview of Azure Data Platform Options
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 by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.