The correct answer is to use online migration mode with Azure Database Migration Service on the Premium tier. This approach achieves near-zero downtime by enabling continuous data synchronization, where DMS captures ongoing changes from the on-premises SQL Server 2019 database and replicates them to the target Azure SQL Database until you are ready to cut over. For a 2 TB database with heavy read and write operations, the Premium tier provides the necessary throughput and performance to handle the large data volume without slowing down the migration. On the DP-900 exam, this question tests your understanding of the difference between offline and online migration modes, with the key trap being that offline migration requires taking the source database offline, causing downtime. A common memory tip is to associate "online" with "zero downtime" and "Premium" with "large data," so remember: for a big, busy database, go Premium and stay online.
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. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
Your organization is migrating a large on-premises SQL Server database to Azure SQL Database. The database is used by a critical line-of-business application that requires near-zero downtime during migration. The application uses a mix of read and write operations, and you need to minimize the cutover time. The database is about 2 TB in size. You plan to use Azure Database Migration Service (DMS) for the migration. The source SQL Server is version 2019 Enterprise Edition. The target is a Business Critical tier Azure SQL Database. You need to choose the appropriate migration method and configuration. Which of the following actions should you take?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "minimum / minimize"
Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use online migration mode with DMS on Premium tier
Option C is correct because using online migration mode with continuous sync allows near-zero downtime by replicating changes from source to target, and using the Premium tier for DMS provides better performance for large databases. Option A is wrong because offline migration causes downtime. Option B is wrong because using Basic tier DMS is too slow for 2 TB. Option D is wrong because migrating to Managed Instance is not necessary and may not align with requirements.
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.
✗
Use offline migration mode with DMS on Standard tier
Why it's wrong here
Offline mode causes downtime; Standard tier may be too slow for 2 TB.
✗
Use online migration mode with DMS on Basic tier
Why it's wrong here
Basic tier is not suitable for large data volumes; may cause sync delays.
✓
Use online migration mode with DMS on Premium tier
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use offline migration mode with DMS on Premium tier, then manually copy remaining changes
Why it's wrong here
Offline mode still causes downtime; manual copy is error-prone.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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.
Identify which DP-900 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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: Use online migration mode with DMS on Premium tier — Option C is correct because using online migration mode with continuous sync allows near-zero downtime by replicating changes from source to target, and using the Premium tier for DMS provides better performance for large databases. Option A is wrong because offline migration causes downtime. Option B is wrong because using Basic tier DMS is too slow for 2 TB. Option D is wrong because migrating to Managed Instance is not necessary and may not align with requirements.
What should I do if I get this DP-900 question wrong?
Identify which DP-900 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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 →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. You need to migrate an on-premises SQL Server database to Azure SQL Managed Instance with minimal downtime. Which tool should you use?
easy
A.Azure Data Factory
B.SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS)
C.BACPAC export and import
✓ D.Azure Database Migration Service (DMS)
Why D: Option A is correct because Azure DMS supports online migration with minimal downtime. Option B is wrong because BACPAC is for offline export/import. Option C is wrong because SSIS is for integration. Option D is wrong because Azure Data Factory is for data movement but not optimized for online migration.
Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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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.
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