The answer is the vCore-based purchasing model. This is correct because the vCore model separates compute and storage costs, allowing you to scale storage independently without altering CPU or memory resources, which directly matches the scenario where data grows but compute requirements remain stable. On the Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals DP-900 exam, this question tests your understanding of the key difference between the vCore and DTU purchasing models for Azure SQL Database—a common trap is assuming DTUs also allow independent scaling, but DTUs bundle compute and storage together, forcing you to upgrade both when storage increases. A useful memory tip: think of “vCore” as “variable core” for storage independence, while “DTU” stands for “Don’t Touch Upgrades” because scaling storage forces a compute upgrade too.
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 relational database to Azure SQL Database. They anticipate that the amount of stored data will grow significantly over time, but the compute requirements (CPU and memory) will remain relatively stable. Which purchasing model should they choose to allow independent scaling of storage and compute?
Why wrong: DTU-based model bundles compute, storage, and IO into a fixed unit, preventing independent scaling of storage.
B
vCore-based purchasing model
vCore-based model separates compute and storage billing, allowing storage to scale independently of compute.
C
Serverless compute tier
Why wrong: Serverless is an auto-scaling compute option that pauses during inactivity; it does not isolate storage scaling from compute.
D
Hyperscale service tier
Why wrong: Hyperscale is a service tier that uses a vCore-based purchasing model but is designed for very large databases, not specifically for independent scaling of storage relative to compute.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
vCore-based purchasing model
The vCore-based purchasing model separates compute and storage costs, allowing you to scale storage independently without changing compute resources. This matches the scenario where data grows but compute requirements remain stable, as you can increase storage capacity without upgrading CPU or memory.
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.
✗
DTU-based purchasing model
Why it's wrong here
DTU-based model bundles compute, storage, and IO into a fixed unit, preventing independent scaling of storage.
✓
vCore-based purchasing model
Why this is correct
vCore-based model separates compute and storage billing, allowing storage to scale independently of compute.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Serverless compute tier
Why it's wrong here
Serverless is an auto-scaling compute option that pauses during inactivity; it does not isolate storage scaling from compute.
✗
Hyperscale service tier
Why it's wrong here
Hyperscale is a service tier that uses a vCore-based purchasing model but is designed for very large databases, not specifically for independent scaling of storage relative to compute.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is confusing purchasing models (DTU vs. vCore) with service tiers (Hyperscale) or compute options (Serverless), leading candidates to pick Hyperscale or Serverless when the question specifically asks for a purchasing model that allows independent scaling of storage and compute.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In the vCore model, you choose the number of virtual cores and the amount of storage separately, with storage billed per GB/month. This decoupling is achieved by using Azure Premium Storage for data files, allowing storage to grow up to 4 TB (or 16 TB with provisioned throughput) without affecting compute. A real-world scenario is a historical data archive where data accumulates but query patterns remain constant, making vCore cost-effective by avoiding unnecessary compute upgrades.
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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
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: vCore-based purchasing model — The vCore-based purchasing model separates compute and storage costs, allowing you to scale storage independently without changing compute resources. This matches the scenario where data grows but compute requirements remain stable, as you can increase storage capacity without upgrading CPU or memory.
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.
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Question Discussion
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