The answer is to configure a read replica in Azure SQL Database, because this creates a read-only copy of the database that can handle reporting queries without affecting the primary transactional workload. By offloading reporting to the replica, you isolate resource-intensive queries—such as those consuming CPU, IO, and memory—from the main database, ensuring transactional performance remains stable and fast. On the Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals DP-900 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of workload isolation and high-availability features; a common trap is confusing read replicas with geo-replication or failover groups, which focus on disaster recovery rather than read scaling. Remember, if the goal is to offload reporting without impacting transactions, think “read replica for read scale.” A simple memory tip: “Replica reads, primary writes—keep reporting off the main stage.”
DP-900 Describe core data concepts Practice Question
This DP-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe core data concepts. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 retail company uses Azure SQL Database to store transactional data. They need to ensure that reporting queries do not impact the performance of the transactional workload. Which solution should you recommend?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure a read replica in Azure SQL Database
A read replica in Azure SQL Database allows reporting queries to be offloaded to a read-only copy of the database, isolating them from the primary transactional workload. This ensures that reporting activities do not consume resources (CPU, IO, memory) on the primary instance, preventing performance degradation for transactional operations.
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.
✓
Configure a read replica in Azure SQL Database
Why this is correct
A read replica handles reporting queries without impacting the primary transactional workload.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Increase the DTU or vCore limit of the database
Why it's wrong here
Increases resources but does not isolate reporting load from transactional load.
✗
Add indexes to the reporting tables
Why it's wrong here
Improves query performance but still runs on the primary database, affecting transactional workload.
✗
Partition the largest tables by date
Why it's wrong here
Helps manage data but does not offload query processing.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse scaling up the database (Option B) with workload isolation, not realizing that scaling up only adds more resources but does not separate read and write operations, so reporting queries can still cause blocking or resource contention on the primary.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure SQL Database read replicas use the Always On availability group technology to maintain a synchronized read-only copy. The primary replica applies transactions and asynchronously (or synchronously, depending on service tier) ships log records to the secondary replica, which redoes them to stay current. This allows reporting queries to read from the secondary without acquiring locks or generating transaction log contention on the primary, a pattern commonly used for read-scale workloads in business intelligence scenarios.
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.
TExam Day Tips
→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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this DP-900 question in full detail.
Describe core data concepts — This question tests Describe core data concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure a read replica in Azure SQL Database — A read replica in Azure SQL Database allows reporting queries to be offloaded to a read-only copy of the database, isolating them from the primary transactional workload. This ensures that reporting activities do not consume resources (CPU, IO, memory) on the primary instance, preventing performance degradation for transactional operations.
What should I do if I get this DP-900 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. An organization uses Azure SQL Database and needs to maintain a copy of the database for read-only reporting without affecting the production workload. Which feature should they use?
easy
A.Azure SQL Database read replica
B.Automated backups
✓ C.Active geo-replication
D.Failover groups
Why C: Active geo-replication (Option C) creates a readable secondary replica of an Azure SQL Database in a different Azure region. This secondary replica is continuously updated asynchronously from the primary and can be used for read-only query workloads, offloading reporting traffic without impacting the production database's performance or transaction throughput.
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
Question Discussion
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