- A
Azure SQL Database
Why wrong: Incorrect. Azure SQL Database does not support SQL Server Agent jobs or linked servers in the same way; it is a single database PaaS offering with limited instance-level features.
- B
Azure SQL Managed Instance
Correct. Azure SQL Managed Instance supports SQL Server Agent, linked servers, and provides high compatibility with on-premises SQL Server while being a fully managed PaaS service.
- C
SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines
Why wrong: Incorrect. SQL Server on VMs is an IaaS offering that requires managing the VM and SQL Server, not a fully managed PaaS.
- D
Azure Synapse Analytics
Why wrong: Incorrect. Azure Synapse Analytics is a distributed data warehouse designed for analytical workloads, not OLTP with SQL Server Agent and linked servers.
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. 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 company is migrating a 1.5 TB on-premises SQL Server database to Azure. The database relies on SQL Server Agent jobs for daily ETL processes and uses linked servers to query data from another on-premises SQL Server database. The company wants a fully managed PaaS service that requires minimal application changes. Which Azure SQL service should they choose?
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 Managed Instance
Azure SQL Managed Instance is the correct choice because it provides near 100% compatibility with on-premises SQL Server, including support for SQL Server Agent jobs and linked servers, while being a fully managed PaaS service. This minimizes application changes, as the migration can leverage the existing database code and features without significant rework.
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.
- ✗
Azure SQL Database
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Azure SQL Database does not support SQL Server Agent jobs or linked servers in the same way; it is a single database PaaS offering with limited instance-level features.
- ✓
Azure SQL Managed Instance
Why this is correct
Correct. Azure SQL Managed Instance supports SQL Server Agent, linked servers, and provides high compatibility with on-premises SQL Server while being a fully managed PaaS service.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines
- ✗
Azure Synapse Analytics
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Azure Synapse Analytics is a distributed data warehouse designed for analytical workloads, not OLTP with SQL Server Agent and linked servers.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose Azure SQL Database because it is the most well-known PaaS option, failing to recognize that its lack of SQL Server Agent and linked server support would require significant application changes, which the question explicitly wants to minimize.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure SQL Managed Instance uses a VNet-deployed architecture that supports SQL Server Agent via the same T-SQL commands (e.g., sp_add_job, sp_start_job) and linked servers using OLE DB or .NET SqlClient, with the same port 1433. Under the hood, it runs on the same SQL Server engine as on-premises, but with automated patching, backups, and high availability built-in, making it ideal for lift-and-shift migrations where feature parity is critical.
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
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Identify considerations for relational data on Azure — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Identify considerations for relational data on Azure practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All DP-900 questions
982 questions across all exam domains
- →
Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals DP-900 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
DP-900 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related DP-900 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Describe core data concepts practice questions
Practise DP-900 questions linked to Describe core data concepts.
Describe an analytics workload on Azure practice questions
Practise DP-900 questions linked to Describe an analytics workload on Azure.
Identify considerations for relational data on Azure practice questions
Practise DP-900 questions linked to Identify considerations for relational data on Azure.
Describe considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure practice questions
Practise DP-900 questions linked to Describe considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure.
DP-900 fundamentals practice questions
Practise DP-900 questions linked to DP-900 fundamentals.
DP-900 scenario practice questions
Practise DP-900 questions linked to DP-900 scenario.
DP-900 troubleshooting practice questions
Practise DP-900 questions linked to DP-900 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free DP-900 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DP-900 question test?
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: Azure SQL Managed Instance — Azure SQL Managed Instance is the correct choice because it provides near 100% compatibility with on-premises SQL Server, including support for SQL Server Agent jobs and linked servers, while being a fully managed PaaS service. This minimizes application changes, as the migration can leverage the existing database code and features without significant rework.
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
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.