AZ-305 Question 67
Single answerA manufacturing company hosts its order management system on Azure SQL Database. Workload spikes occur each weekday morning as thousands of orders are processed, but the database sits nearly idle overnight and on weekends. The IT team wants to keep costs low while still handling the peak loads efficiently. Which Azure SQL Database configuration should you recommend?
- A
A) Azure SQL Database General Purpose service tier with provisioned compute vCores
- B
B) Azure SQL Database Hyperscale service tier with auto-scale vCores
- C
C) Azure SQL Database General Purpose service tier with serverless compute
- D
D) Azure SQL Database Business Critical service tier with provisioned compute vCores
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
In scenarios where database usage has substantial off-peak periods and predictable bursts of activity, the General Purpose service tier with serverless compute is often the most cost-effective solution. Serverless can automatically scale resources during peak demand and scale down or pause during periods of minimal usage, reducing costs. Refer to Azure SQL Database documentation on compute tiers (Provisioned vs. Serverless) for best practices on selecting the right service tier.
- A. Incorrect.
A) While the General Purpose service tier is a good fit for many workloads, provisioned compute vCores are continuously allocated (and billed) even during low-demand periods. This does not optimize costs when workloads are intermittent.
- B. Incorrect.
B) The Hyperscale tier is designed for very large databases (up to multi-TB) and rapid scaling of storage. It can scale compute, but it may be overkill for workloads that primarily need cost optimization during off-peak times.
- C. Correct.
C) This option leverages the General Purpose service tier while using serverless compute, which automatically scales CPU and memory based on usage. It also pauses or reduces compute when demand is low, helping significantly with cost optimization. This approach is well-suited for a workload with daily spikes and long periods of inactivity.
- D. Incorrect.
D) The Business Critical tier provides higher I/O and low-latency performance but comes at a higher cost. For occasional heavy spikes and a goal of cost savings, this tier isn't typically necessary, unless you have very stringent performance requirements that justify it.