DP-900 Describe core data concepts Practice Question
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?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse 'read replica' (which exists in Azure SQL Database Hyperscale and Azure SQL Managed Instance) with the standard Azure SQL Database feature, or they mistakenly think failover groups themselves provide the readable copy, when in fact it is Active geo-replication that creates the readable secondary.
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
✓
Active geo-replication
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.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Azure SQL Database read replica
Why it's wrong here
Azure SQL Database does not offer a separate, user-managed 'read replica' feature comparable to that of Azure Database for MySQL or PostgreSQL. While it supports built-in read scale-out, which automatically routes read-only connections to a single, non-geographic replica, that replica is not a standalone deployable object and cannot be maintained as an independent secondary for custom reporting workloads. Therefore, for a distinct readable secondary in another region, you would need to rely on active geo-replication.
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Automated backups
Why it's wrong here
Automated backups are point-in-time snapshot and transaction log copies stored in Azure storage for restore and retention purposes, not live database endpoints. They provide recovery to a moment in time but cannot be pinned to via a connection string for read-only queries, nor do they continuously synchronize with the primary. Because reporting requires a near-real-time, queryable secondary, automated backups do not meet that operational need.
- ✓
Active geo-replication
Why this is correct
Active geo-replication is the correct answer because it provisions a readable secondary database in a different Azure region, with continuous asynchronous data movement from the primary. The secondary can be queried with its own connection string, making it ideal for read-only reporting and analytics while offloading the primary's workload. Because the secondary is a fully accessible online database, it satisfies the requirement for a maintainable read-only copy.
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Failover groups
Why it's wrong here
Failover groups are a management layer built on top of active geo-replication that coordinates failover for a set of databases and provides a multi-database listener. However, they are designed primarily for business continuity and automatic, planned or unplanned failover, not for independently provisioning a read-only reporting replica. While the secondary in a failover group may be readable if you enable the read-only listener, that is an ancillary capability, and the group itself does not replace or enhance the underlying readable secondary for dedicated reporting use cases.
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