The correct answer is to create a failover group with a readable secondary in the secondary region. This configuration is ideal because it provides automatic, orchestrated failover during a regional disaster, ensuring minimal data loss through continuous data synchronization, while simultaneously allowing the secondary replica to handle read-only query workloads for read scale. On the Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals DP-900 exam, this question tests your understanding of high-availability and disaster recovery options for Azure SQL Database, specifically distinguishing between failover groups and active geo-replication. A common trap is confusing the two: remember that active geo-replication requires manual failover, whereas a failover group automates the process and can include a readable secondary. For a quick memory tip, think “Failover group = automatic failover + read scale,” and contrast it with “Active Geo-Replication = manual failover only.”
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. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 runs a critical application on Azure SQL Database. They need to ensure that in the event of a regional disaster, the database can be failed over to a secondary region with minimal data loss. The solution should also allow the secondary region to be used for read-only queries. What should they configure?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create a failover group with a readable secondary in the secondary region.
Option A is correct because a failover group with a readable secondary provides automatic failover and read access. Option B (Active Geo-Replication) requires manual failover. Option C (Azure Front Door) is for web traffic. Option D (Cosmos DB) is different.
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 Active Geo-Replication and manually failover when needed.
Why it's wrong here
Manual failover does not meet automatic requirement.
✗
Use Azure Front Door to route traffic to the secondary region.
Why it's wrong here
Front Door is for web traffic, not database failover.
✓
Create a failover group with a readable secondary in the secondary region.
Why this is correct
Failover groups provide automatic failover; readable secondary allows read queries.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Migrate to Azure Cosmos DB for multi-region writes.
Why it's wrong here
Cosmos DB is NoSQL, not relational.
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 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 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: Create a failover group with a readable secondary in the secondary region. — Option A is correct because a failover group with a readable secondary provides automatic failover and read access. Option B (Active Geo-Replication) requires manual failover. Option C (Azure Front Door) is for web traffic. Option D (Cosmos DB) is different.
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.
About these practice questions
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Variation 1. A company runs a critical OLTP application on a single Azure SQL Database in the West US region. They need to ensure high availability with automatic failover to a secondary region in case of a regional outage. The solution must minimize data loss and allow the secondary database to be readable for reporting queries when the primary is healthy. Which feature should they enable?
medium
✓ A.Failover groups with automatic failover policy
B.Transparent Data Encryption (TDE)
C.Long-term backup retention (LTR)
D.Auto-tuning
Why A: Failover groups with an automatic failover policy enable Azure SQL Database to replicate data synchronously to a secondary region, ensuring zero data loss during a planned failover and minimal data loss during an unplanned failover. The secondary database is readable for reporting queries when the primary is healthy, meeting both the high availability and read-scale requirements. This feature is specifically designed for cross-region disaster recovery with automatic failover, unlike other options that address security, backup retention, or performance tuning.
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Question Discussion
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