DP-900 Auto-scaling Practice Question
Which THREE are benefits of using Azure SQL Database serverless compute tier?
⚠ Common exam trap
DP-900 often tests the trade-off between serverless cost savings and cold-start latency, tricking candidates who assume serverless is always best for any workload.
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
✓
Billing per second for compute usage
Option B is correct because the serverless compute tier bills per second of compute usage, so you only pay for the vCore-seconds actually consumed rather than a fixed provisioned capacity. Option C is correct because serverless automatically scales compute (vCores) up and down based on the workload's demand, within the configured min/max vCore range. Option D is correct because serverless supports auto-pause, where the database is paused during inactivity and resumes on the next connection, eliminating compute charges while paused. Option A is not a serverless-specific benefit, since the 99.99% availability SLA applies to Azure SQL Database generally, not uniquely to serverless. Option E is not correct because serverless is designed for intermittent, unpredictable, or low-to-moderate workloads, whereas high-throughput, latency-sensitive applications are better suited to the provisioned or hyperscale tiers due to cold-start delays after auto-pause.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Guaranteed high availability with 99.99% SLA
Why it's wrong here
The 99.99% SLA applies to the Business Critical and General Purpose tiers, not specifically to serverless, so it is not a serverless benefit. It is tempting because high availability is a genuine Azure SQL Database feature, but it is delivered by the provisioned tiers rather than the serverless compute tier.
- ✓
Billing per second for compute usage
Why this is correct
Serverless compute bills per second of actual compute usage, charging only while the database is active. This granular billing reduces cost during idle periods, directly satisfying the benefit of per-second compute billing rather than provisioning fixed capacity.
- ✓
Auto-scaling compute based on workload
Why this is correct
Serverless compute automatically scales vCPU and memory according to workload demand, pausing when idle and resuming on activity. This directly satisfies the stem's benefit requirement by removing manual provisioning, so you pay only for compute actually used per second rather than for reserved capacity.
- ✓
Auto-pause during periods of inactivity
Why this is correct
Serverless compute automatically pauses the database during inactivity and resumes it on the next connection, so no compute charges accrue while idle. This auto-pause behaviour directly satisfies the benefit of pausing during periods of inactivity.
- ✗
Ideal for high-throughput, latency-sensitive applications
Why it's wrong here
Serverless auto-scales and auto-pauses, so cold-start latency and per-second billing make it unsuitable for sustained high-throughput, latency-sensitive workloads. It is tempting because serverless suits intermittent, unpredictable usage with idle periods, where pausing saves cost — the opposite of constant, latency-critical demand.
Quick reference
Cloud Service Model Comparison
| Model | You Manage | Provider Manages | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| IaaS | OS, runtime, apps, data | Hardware, hypervisor, networking | EC2, Azure VMs, GCP Compute Engine |
| PaaS | Apps and data | OS, runtime, middleware, hardware | Elastic Beanstalk, Azure App Service |
| SaaS | Data and settings only | Everything else | Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Workday |
| FaaS / Serverless | Function code only | Infra, scaling, runtime | Lambda, Azure Functions, Cloud Run |
| CaaS | Containers and apps | Kubernetes, OS, hardware | EKS, AKS, GKE |
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Microsoft exam blueprint
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