DP-900 Practice Question: Identify considerations for relational data on Azure
A company plans to migrate an on-premises SQL Server database to Azure. The database uses SQL Server Agent to run scheduled jobs and performs cross-database queries within the same instance. The company wants a fully managed PaaS solution that requires minimal application changes. Which Azure SQL deployment option should they choose?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates choose Azure SQL Database (single database) or elastic pool because they are more commonly discussed as PaaS, but they overlook the specific requirements for SQL Server Agent and cross-database queries, which only Managed Instance supports.
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 full SQL Server Agent support for scheduled jobs and enables cross-database queries within the same instance, while being a fully managed PaaS service. It offers near 100% compatibility with on-premises SQL Server, minimizing application changes during migration.
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 Database (single database)
Why it's wrong here
Azure SQL Database single database is a fully managed PaaS option but does not support SQL Server Agent or cross-database queries. Significant application changes would be required to migrate the scheduled jobs and multi-database logic.
When this WOULD be correct
A company needs a fully managed PaaS database with high scalability and built-in high availability, but does not require SQL Server Agent, cross-database queries, or instance-level features. They are migrating a single database with no dependencies on other databases in the same instance.
- ✓
Azure SQL Managed Instance
Why this is correct
Azure SQL Managed Instance offers high compatibility with on-premises SQL Server, including SQL Server Agent, cross-database queries, and linked servers. It is fully managed and requires minimal changes to existing applications, making it the best fit for this migration.
- ✗
Azure SQL Database elastic pool
Why it's wrong here
An elastic pool is a collection of single databases sharing resources. It inherits the limitations of single databases, such as lack of SQL Server Agent and cross-database queries, and thus does not meet the requirements.
When this WOULD be correct
A company needs to manage multiple databases with varying and unpredictable usage patterns, and wants to optimize cost by sharing resources across databases without needing instance-level features like SQL Agent or cross-database queries.
- ✗
SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines
Why it's wrong here
SQL Server on Azure VMs provides full control and compatibility but is an IaaS solution, not fully managed. The company would be responsible for patching, backups, and high availability, which contradicts the desire for a fully managed PaaS solution.
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct if the company requires full control over the SQL Server instance, needs to install custom software or run legacy applications that are not supported in PaaS, or must maintain compatibility with on-premises SQL Server features not available in Azure SQL Managed Instance.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The DP-900 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓Azure SQL Managed InstanceCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
Azure SQL Managed Instance offers high compatibility with on-premises SQL Server, including SQL Server Agent, cross-database queries, and linked servers. It is fully managed and requires minimal changes to existing applications, making it the best fit for this migration.
✗Azure SQL Database (single database)Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Azure SQL Database (single database) does not support SQL Server Agent or cross-database queries within the same instance, which are required by the company's existing workloads.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A company needs a fully managed PaaS database with high scalability and built-in high availability, but does not require SQL Server Agent, cross-database queries, or instance-level features. They are migrating a single database with no dependencies on other databases in the same instance.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think Azure SQL Database is the default PaaS option and overlook the specific requirements for SQL Server Agent and cross-database queries, assuming all SQL Server features are available.
✗Azure SQL Database elastic poolWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Azure SQL Database elastic pool does not support SQL Server Agent or cross-database queries, which are required by the company's workload.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A company needs to manage multiple databases with varying and unpredictable usage patterns, and wants to optimize cost by sharing resources across databases without needing instance-level features like SQL Agent or cross-database queries.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think elastic pool is a fully managed PaaS option that can handle multiple databases, but overlook that it lacks instance-scoped features like SQL Agent and cross-database queries.
✗SQL Server on Azure Virtual MachinesWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
SQL Server on Azure VMs is an IaaS solution requiring manual management of OS, SQL Server, and backups, and it does not provide the fully managed PaaS experience the company wants. It also requires more application changes than Azure SQL Managed Instance.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct if the company requires full control over the SQL Server instance, needs to install custom software or run legacy applications that are not supported in PaaS, or must maintain compatibility with on-premises SQL Server features not available in Azure SQL Managed Instance.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think that running SQL Server on a VM is the simplest migration path because it offers full compatibility with on-premises SQL Server, overlooking that it is not a fully managed PaaS solution and requires more administrative overhead.
Analysis generated from the official DP-900blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Azure SQL Services
Key term
Service
A service is a software component or system that performs a specific function and is available to be used by other programs or users over a network.
Key term
SQL Managed Instance
SQL Managed Instance is a cloud database service from Azure that gives you most of the features of a full SQL Server instance without you having to manage the underlying hardware or software patches.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This DP-900 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-900 exam.