The correct choice is to use Azure SQL Database Managed Instance with a failover group for the OLTP workload and a read-only replica of that Managed Instance for the reporting database. This meets the strict recovery point objective (RPO) of under 5 seconds and recovery time objective (RTO) of under 30 seconds because failover groups enable automatic, geo-redundant failover with synchronous replication, ensuring near-zero data loss and rapid recovery. For the reporting workload, a read-only replica offloads read-only queries without requiring a separate instance, keeping costs low while tolerating up to five minutes of data loss. On the DP-900 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how Azure SQL deployment options map to specific workload patterns—OLTP demands high availability and low latency, while OLAP-style reporting can leverage cost-effective replicas. A common trap is choosing Azure SQL Database single database for OLTP, which lacks built-in failover groups, or opting for a separate, expensive instance for reporting. Memory tip: think “Failover for fast fail, replica for cheap reads.”
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.
Your organization is migrating on-premises SQL Server databases to Azure. The databases include a mission-critical OLTP system that requires high availability with automatic failover and a reporting database that is used for read-only queries. You need to choose the appropriate Azure SQL deployment options for each workload. The OLTP system must have a recovery point objective (RPO) of less than 5 seconds and a recovery time objective (RTO) of less than 30 seconds. The reporting database should be cost-effective and can tolerate up to 5 minutes of data loss. What should you recommend?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use Azure SQL Database Managed Instance with a failover group for OLTP, and use a read-only replica of the Managed Instance for reporting.
Option C is correct because Azure SQL Database Managed Instance supports failover groups that provide automatic failover across regions with an RPO of less than 5 seconds and an RTO of less than 30 seconds, meeting the OLTP requirements. The read-only replica of the Managed Instance can be used for reporting queries without impacting the primary OLTP workload, and it is cost-effective as it does not require a separate database instance.
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 SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines with Always On Availability Groups for both workloads.
Why it's wrong here
Requires manual failover management.
✗
Use Azure SQL Database Hyperscale for OLTP and Azure SQL Database serverless for reporting.
Why it's wrong here
Hyperscale is not optimized for low RPO.
✓
Use Azure SQL Database Managed Instance with a failover group for OLTP, and use a read-only replica of the Managed Instance for reporting.
Why this is correct
Failover group provides low RPO/RTO; read-only replica serves reporting.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use Azure SQL Database single database with active geo-replication for both workloads.
Why it's wrong here
Active geo-replication may have higher RPO and RTO.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the high availability features of Azure SQL Database single database (active geo-replication) with the stricter RPO/RTO guarantees of Managed Instance failover groups, or they assume that SQL Server on Azure VMs with Always On Availability Groups is the only option for such requirements, overlooking the managed service benefits.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Failover groups in Azure SQL Database Managed Instance use the Availability Zones or paired regions to replicate data synchronously within the primary region and asynchronously to the secondary region, ensuring minimal data loss. The read-only replica is a secondary replica that can be used for reporting without additional licensing costs, leveraging the built-in high availability architecture. In a real-world scenario, if the primary region fails, the failover group automatically promotes the secondary to primary, and the reporting workload can continue using the new read-only replica.
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.
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: Use Azure SQL Database Managed Instance with a failover group for OLTP, and use a read-only replica of the Managed Instance for reporting. — Option C is correct because Azure SQL Database Managed Instance supports failover groups that provide automatic failover across regions with an RPO of less than 5 seconds and an RTO of less than 30 seconds, meeting the OLTP requirements. The read-only replica of the Managed Instance can be used for reporting queries without impacting the primary OLTP workload, and it is cost-effective as it does not require a separate database instance.
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.
About these practice questions
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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. Your organization is migrating its on-premises SQL Server databases to Azure. The databases include a mix of operational (OLTP) and analytical (OLAP) workloads. For the OLTP databases, you need high availability and automated failover to a secondary region. For the OLAP databases, you need to support large-scale analytic queries with columnstore indexes and the ability to pause compute to save costs. Which Azure SQL deployment options should you choose for each workload type?
medium
A.Azure SQL Managed Instance for both
B.SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines for both
C.Azure SQL Database Hyperscale for OLTP; Azure SQL Database Serverless for OLAP
✓ D.Azure SQL Database (geo-replication) for OLTP; Azure Synapse Analytics (dedicated SQL pool) for OLAP
Why D: Option D is correct because Azure SQL Database with active geo-replication provides high availability and automated failover to a secondary region for OLTP workloads, while Azure Synapse Analytics (dedicated SQL pool) supports large-scale analytic queries with columnstore indexes and allows pausing compute to save costs, meeting the OLAP requirements.
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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