DP-900 Practice Question: Identify considerations for relational data on Azure
A small online retailer wants to migrate its single on-premises SQL Server database to Azure. They require a fully managed relational database service with built-in high availability, automated backups, and no need to manage virtual machines. They do not need features like multiple databases with cross-database queries or SQL Agent. Which Azure service should they choose?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to choose Azure SQL Managed Instance because it offers more SQL Server parity, but the question explicitly states the retailer does not need SQL Agent or cross-database queries, making the simpler and more cost-effective Azure SQL Database the correct choice.
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 Database
Azure SQL Database is a fully managed Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) relational database that provides built-in high availability (99.99% SLA with zone-redundant configuration), automated backups with point-in-time restore, and eliminates the need to manage virtual machines or operating system patches. It is the ideal choice for a single database migration when features like cross-database queries and SQL Agent are not required.
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
Why this is correct
Azure SQL Database is a fully managed Platform-as-a-Service offering that provides built-in high availability, automated backups, and automatic patching, eliminating all VM and OS management. For migrating a single on-premises SQL Server database, it delivers the needed storage, indexing, and query capabilities without the overhead of maintaining infrastructure, making it the simplest, most cost-effective PaaS choice.
- ✗
Azure SQL Managed Instance
Why it's wrong here
Azure SQL Managed Instance is also a PaaS database service, but it is designed for 'lift-and-shift' migrations of entire SQL Server instances with advanced features such as cross-database queries, SQL Server Agent, and VNet-level network isolation. These additional capabilities are unnecessary when you only need to move one database, so it introduces higher cost and administrative complexity that outweigh any benefit for this small retailer.
- ✗
SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines
Why it's wrong here
SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines is an Infrastructure-as-a-Service solution that requires you to patch the operating system and SQL Server, manage backups, and configure high availability yourself. Because the retailer explicitly wants to avoid managing virtual machines, this option fails the primary requirement even though it provides full control over the SQL Server environment.
- ✗
Azure Database for MySQL
Why it's wrong here
Azure Database for MySQL is a managed relational database service, but it runs the MySQL engine rather than Microsoft SQL Server, so it cannot accept a direct migration of an existing SQL Server schema, T-SQL stored procedures, or SQL Server-specific data types without a full rewrite. The retailer needs to move an existing SQL Server database, making this option incompatible regardless of its PaaS simplicity.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Relational Data Concepts
Key term
Azure SQL Database
Azure SQL Database is a fully managed relational database-as-a-service (DBaaS) in Microsoft Azure, based on the SQL Server engine, that handles scaling, backups, patching, and high availability automatically.
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.
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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.