The answer is to initiate a planned failover to switch back to the original primary. This is correct because a planned failover in Azure SQL Database active geo-replication performs a full synchronization between the current primary (the former secondary) and the original primary before swapping roles, ensuring zero data loss even after modifications were made during the outage. On the Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals DP-900 exam, this concept tests your understanding of active geo-replication’s failover types: unplanned failover may cause data loss, while planned failover is the only way to safely execute a failback to the original primary without losing changes. A common trap is confusing “failover” with “failback” or assuming you must manually copy data; instead, remember that planned failover handles the entire role reversal seamlessly. Memory tip: “Planned equals preserved” — a planned failover preserves all data during the failback process.
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 multinational e-commerce company uses Azure SQL Database active geo-replication to replicate a critical inventory database to a secondary region. During a regional outage, the application automatically fails over to the secondary database. After the primary region recovers, the administrator wants to make the original primary the main database again without losing any data modifications made on the secondary during the outage. What should the administrator do?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Initiate a planned failover to switch back to the original primary.
Option C is correct because a planned failover (also known as graceful failover) in Azure SQL Database active geo-replication is designed to switch roles between the primary and secondary databases without data loss. After the original primary region recovers, initiating a planned failover synchronizes all data from the current primary (the former secondary) to the original primary, making it the new primary while preserving all modifications made during the outage. This operation ensures zero data loss because it forces a final synchronization before the role swap.
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.
✗
Drop the geo-replication relationship, then recreate the secondary from the current primary.
Why it's wrong here
This would discard the secondary's data and restart replication with data loss.
✗
Perform a forced failover to switch back to the original primary.
Why it's wrong here
A forced failover may cause data loss because it does not synchronize pending changes.
✓
Initiate a planned failover to switch back to the original primary.
Why this is correct
A planned failover (graceful failover) synchronizes all data between replicas before switching roles, ensuring zero data loss.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Delete the secondary database and restore the original primary from a backup taken before the outage.
Why it's wrong here
This would lose all transactions that occurred during the outage.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is confusing a planned failover (graceful, no data loss) with a forced failover (unplanned, potential data loss), leading candidates to incorrectly choose Option B when they need to preserve all modifications made on the secondary during an outage.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Active geo-replication uses asynchronous replication with a configurable RPO of up to 5 seconds, meaning the secondary may lag behind the primary. A planned failover first ensures the secondary is fully synchronized by blocking new writes and applying all pending transactions, then swaps the roles using a single atomic operation. This is distinct from a forced failover, which immediately promotes the secondary without waiting for synchronization, potentially losing transactions that were in transit.
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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
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 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: Initiate a planned failover to switch back to the original primary. — Option C is correct because a planned failover (also known as graceful failover) in Azure SQL Database active geo-replication is designed to switch roles between the primary and secondary databases without data loss. After the original primary region recovers, initiating a planned failover synchronizes all data from the current primary (the former secondary) to the original primary, making it the new primary while preserving all modifications made during the outage. This operation ensures zero data loss because it forces a final synchronization before the role swap.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
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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Variation 1. A company uses Azure SQL Database with active geo-replication for disaster recovery. During a regional outage, the secondary database is promoted. After the primary region recovers, what is the best practice to re-establish geo-replication?
hard
A.Delete the old primary database and create a new geo-replication
B.Add the old primary as a secondary to the new primary
C.Reverse the geo-replication direction automatically
✓ D.Perform a planned failover to make the old primary the primary again
Why D: Option D is correct because you should fail back to the original primary using planned failover, then reconfigure geo-replication. Option A is wrong because reversing geo-replication automatically is not supported. Option B is wrong because deleting the old primary loses data. Option C is wrong because you cannot simply add the old primary as a secondary without resolution.
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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