The correct choice is Azure SQL Database with active geo-replication and a secondary in a paired region. This deployment option meets the stringent 5-second recovery point objective (RPO) because active geo-replication supports synchronous replication, which commits transactions to both the primary and secondary databases simultaneously, ensuring virtually zero data loss during a regional outage. On the Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals DP-900 exam, this question tests your understanding of disaster recovery options and the critical distinction between synchronous and asynchronous replication modes. A common trap is confusing active geo-replication with failover groups or auto-failover groups, which default to asynchronous replication and therefore have a higher RPO, making them unsuitable for low RPO disaster recovery scenarios. Remember the memory tip: “Active syncs, failover lags” — active geo-replication can sync, while failover groups lag behind.
DP-900 Practice Question: Identify considerations for relational data on Azure
This DP-900 practice question tests your understanding of identify considerations for relational data on azure. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
A company uses Azure SQL Database for a mission-critical application. They need to ensure that in the event of a regional outage, the database can be failed over to a secondary region with minimal data loss. The recovery point objective (RPO) is 5 seconds. Which deployment option should they choose?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Azure SQL Database with active geo-replication and a secondary in a paired region
Option C is correct because Azure SQL Database active geo-replication with a secondary in a paired region provides a configurable RPO of 5 seconds using synchronous mode. Option A is wrong because failover groups use asynchronous replication by default, RPO is higher. Option B is wrong because auto-failover groups are similar. Option D is wrong because a single database in the same region cannot protect against a regional outage.
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.
✗
Azure SQL Database with failover group enabled
Why it's wrong here
Failover groups use asynchronous replication, RPO is typically several seconds to minutes.
✓
Azure SQL Database with active geo-replication and a secondary in a paired region
Why this is correct
Active geo-replication supports synchronous mode allowing RPO of 5 seconds.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Azure SQL Database single instance with locally redundant storage
Why it's wrong here
Locally redundant storage protects only within a datacenter, not a regional outage.
✗
Azure SQL Database with auto-failover group
Why it's wrong here
Auto-failover groups also use asynchronous replication, RPO may exceed 5 seconds.
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-900 question in full detail.
Identify which DP-900 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.
Identify considerations for relational data on Azure — This question tests Identify considerations for relational data on Azure — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Azure SQL Database with active geo-replication and a secondary in a paired region — Option C is correct because Azure SQL Database active geo-replication with a secondary in a paired region provides a configurable RPO of 5 seconds using synchronous mode. Option A is wrong because failover groups use asynchronous replication by default, RPO is higher. Option B is wrong because auto-failover groups are similar. Option D is wrong because a single database in the same region cannot protect against a regional outage.
What should I do if I get this DP-900 question wrong?
Identify which DP-900 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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