The answer is 5 GB, as this is the fixed maximum size for an Azure SQL Database deployed in the Basic tier. This limit is a hard cap defined by the service tier’s resource governance, which prioritizes low cost and predictable performance for small-scale workloads, making it unsuitable for databases requiring more than 5 GB of storage. On the Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals DP-900 exam, this concept tests your understanding of how service tiers directly constrain database properties like maximum size, often appearing in ARM template or provisioning scenarios. A common trap is confusing the Basic tier’s 5 GB limit with the Standard tier’s much larger sizes (up to 1 TB), so remember that Basic is intentionally limited for lightweight use cases. Memory tip: think “Basic = 5 GB” as in “B for Basic, B for 5 (as in the letter B’s position in the alphabet is 2, but 5 is the next small number).”
DP-900 Describe core data concepts Practice Question
This DP-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe core data concepts. 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.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
5 GB
The ARM template for an Azure SQL Database deployment specifies the database size based on the selected service tier and performance level. For the Basic tier, the maximum database size is 5 GB, which is the correct answer. This is a fixed limit for Basic tier databases, while higher tiers like Standard or Premium support larger sizes.
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.
✓
5 GB
Why this is correct
5,368,709,120 bytes = 5 GB.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
50 GB
Why it's wrong here
The value is 5 GB.
✗
5 MB
Why it's wrong here
The value is 5 GB, not MB.
✗
500 GB
Why it's wrong here
The value is 5 GB.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume all Azure SQL Database tiers support large sizes (like 500 GB) or confuse the Basic tier's 5 GB limit with the much smaller 5 MB, forgetting that Basic is designed for low-cost, small-scale workloads.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure SQL Database uses a resource governance model where the maximum database size is enforced by the service tier (DTU or vCore model). For the Basic tier (DTU model), the max size is 5 GB, with a log rate limit of 0.5 MB/sec. In contrast, the Standard tier (S0-S12) allows up to 250 GB, and Premium up to 4 TB. The ARM template's 'maxSizeBytes' property must match the tier's allowed range; specifying a value outside this range will cause a deployment error.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this DP-900 question in full detail.
Describe core data concepts — This question tests Describe core data concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: 5 GB — The ARM template for an Azure SQL Database deployment specifies the database size based on the selected service tier and performance level. For the Basic tier, the maximum database size is 5 GB, which is the correct answer. This is a fixed limit for Basic tier databases, while higher tiers like Standard or Premium support larger sizes.
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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