DP-900 Practice Question: Identify considerations for relational data on Azure
You are the database administrator for a large financial institution migrating their core banking system to Azure. The system uses SQL Server with many stored procedures, triggers, and CLR assemblies. The database is 2 TB and growing. The migration must minimize application changes and support high availability with automatic failover. You need to select an Azure relational database service. What should you 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 (option D) is correct because it provides near-100% compatibility with SQL Server, including stored procedures, triggers, and CLR assemblies, while also offering built-in high availability with automatic failover, so the 2 TB core banking database can migrate with minimal application changes. It supports cross-database queries, SQL Agent, and other SQL Server features that Azure SQL Database does not fully support. Azure SQL Database (option A) has limitations such as no CLR support and restricted cross-database access, which would require application changes. Azure Database for PostgreSQL (option B) is a different engine and would require rewriting stored procedures and triggers. SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines (option C) offers full compatibility but requires you to configure and manage your own high-availability and failover solution, such as Always On availability groups, rather than providing automatic failover as a managed service.
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
Azure SQL Database lacks SQL Server Agent and full CLR assembly support, and its 2 TB ceiling constrains growth. It suits cloud-native applications with minimal instance-level dependencies; the stem's stored procedures, triggers and CLR assemblies point to Azure SQL Managed Instance instead.
- ✗
Azure Database for PostgreSQL
Why it's wrong here
PostgreSQL cannot run SQL Server stored procedures, triggers or CLR assemblies, so application changes would be extensive. It is tempting as a managed open-source relational service, and would be correct for a greenfield application with no SQL Server-specific code.
- ✗
SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines
Why it's wrong here
SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines leaves patching, backups and failover clustering to you, so it cannot deliver the automatic failover the scenario demands without extra configuration. It is tempting because it preserves stored procedures, triggers and CLR assemblies unchanged, and would suit lift-and-shift migrations where the application cannot be modified.
- ✓
Azure SQL Managed Instance
Why this is correct
Azure SQL Managed Instance provides near-full SQL Server surface area, including stored procedures, triggers and CLR assemblies, so application changes are minimal. It also supports built-in high availability with automatic failover, meeting the 2 TB core banking requirement.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Non-Relational Data Concepts
Key term
Azure SQL Database
Azure SQL Database is a fully managed relational database-as-a-service (DBaaS) in Microsoft Azure, based on the SQL Server engine, that handles scaling, backups, patching, and high availability automatically.
Key term
Service
A service is a software component or system that performs a specific function and is available to be used by other programs or users over a network.
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Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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