Study guide for Exam DP-300: Administering Microsoft Azure SQL Solutions
Purpose of this document
This study guide should help you understand what to expect on the exam and includes a summary of the topics the exam might cover and links to additional resources. The information and materials in this document should help you focus your studies as you prepare for the exam.
| Useful links | Description |
|---|---|
| Review the skills measured as of April 25, 2024 | This list represents the skills measured AFTER the date provided. Study this list if you plan to take the exam AFTER that date. |
| Review the skills measured prior to April 25, 2024 | Study this list of skills if you take your exam PRIOR to the date provided. |
| Change log | You can go directly to the change log if you want to see the changes that will be made on the date provided. |
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Updates to the exam
Our exams are updated periodically to reflect skills that are required to perform a role. We have included two versions of the Skills Measured objectives depending on when you are taking the exam.
We always update the English language version of the exam first. Some exams are localized into other languages, and those are updated approximately eight weeks after the English version is updated. Although Microsoft makes every effort to update localized versions as noted, there may be times when the localized versions of an exam are not updated on this schedule. Other available languages are listed in the Schedule Exam section of the Exam Details webpage. If the exam isn't available in your preferred language, you can request an additional 30 minutes to complete the exam.
Note
The bullets that follow each of the skills measured are intended to illustrate how we are assessing that skill. Related topics may be covered in the exam.
Note
Most questions cover features that are general availability (GA). The exam may contain questions on Preview features if those features are commonly used.
Skills measured as of April 25, 2024
Audience profile
As a candidate for this exam, you should have subject matter expertise in building database solutions that are designed to support multiple workloads built with:
SQL Server on-premises
Azure SQL services
You’re a database administrator who manages on-premises and cloud databases built with SQL Server and Azure SQL services.
As the Azure database administrator, you implement and manage the operational aspects of cloud-native and hybrid data platform solutions built on SQL Server and Azure SQL services. You use a variety of methods and tools to perform and automate day-to-day operations, including applying knowledge of using Transact-SQL (T-SQL) and other tools for administrative management purposes.
You’re responsible for the following concerning database solutions:
Management
Availability
Security
Performance monitoring and optimization
You evaluate and implement migration strategies for moving databases between Azure and on-premises. Plus, you work with Azure data engineers, Azure solution architects, Azure developers, data scientists, and other professionals to manage operational aspects of data platform solutions.
As a candidate for this exam, you should have knowledge of and experience with:
Azure SQL Database
Azure SQL Managed Instance
SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines (Windows and Linux)
Skills at a glance
Plan and implement data platform resources (20–25%)
Implement a secure environment (15–20%)
Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources (20–25%)
Configure and manage automation of tasks (15–20%)
Plan and configure a high availability and disaster recovery (HA/DR) environment (20–25%)
Plan and implement data platform resources (20–25%)
Plan and deploy Azure SQL solutions
Deploy database offerings on selected platforms
Understand automated deployment
Apply patches and updates for hybrid and infrastructure as a service (IaaS) deployment
Deploy hybrid SQL Server solutions
Recommend an appropriate database offering based on specific requirements
Evaluate the security aspects of the possible database offering
Recommend a table partitioning solution
Recommend a database sharding solution
Configure resources for scale and performance
Configure Azure SQL Database for scale and performance
Configure Azure SQL Managed Instance for scale and performance
Configure SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines for scale and performance
Configure table partitioning
Configure data compression
Plan and implement a migration strategy
Evaluate requirements for the migration
Evaluate offline or online migration strategies
Implement an online migration strategy
Implement an offline migration strategy
Perform post migration validations
Troubleshoot a migration
Set up SQL Data Sync for Azure
Implement a migration to Azure
Implement a migration between Azure SQL services
Implement a secure environment (15–20%)
Configure database authentication and authorization
Configure authentication by using Active Directory and Microsoft Entra ID
Create users from Microsoft Entra identities
Configure security principals
Configure database and object-level permissions using graphical tools
Apply the principle of least privilege for all securables
Troubleshoot authentication and authorization issues
Manage authentication and authorization by using T-SQL
Implement security for data at rest and data in transit
Implement transparent data encryption (TDE)
Implement object-level encryption
Configure server- and database-level firewall rules
Implement Always Encrypted
Configure secure access
Configure Transport Layer Security (TLS)
Implement compliance controls for sensitive data
Apply a data classification strategy
Configure server and database audits
Implement data change tracking
Implement dynamic data masking
Manage database resources by using Azure Purview
Implement database ledger in Azure SQL
Implement row-level security
Configure Microsoft Defender for SQL
Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources (20–25%)
Monitor resource activity and performance
Prepare an operational performance baseline
Determine sources for performance metrics
Interpret performance metrics
Configure and monitor activity and performance
Monitor by using SQL Insights
Monitor by using Extended Events
Monitor and optimize query performance
Configure Query Store
Monitor by using Query Store
Identify sessions that cause blocking
Identify performance issues using dynamic management views (DMVs)
Identify and implement index changes for queries
Recommend query construct modifications based on resource usage
Assess the use of query hints for query performance
Review execution plans
Monitor by using Intelligent Insights
Configure database solutions for optimal performance
Implement index maintenance tasks
Implement statistics maintenance tasks
Implement database integrity checks
Configure database automatic tuning
Configure server settings for performance
Configure Resource Governor for performance
Implement database-scoped configuration
Configure compute and storage resources for scaling
Configure intelligent query processing (IQP)
Configure and manage automation of tasks (15–20%)
Create and manage SQL Server Agent jobs
Manage schedules for regular maintenance jobs
Configure job alerts and notifications
Troubleshoot SQL Server Agent jobs
Automate deployment of database resources
Automate deployment by using Azure Resource Manager templates (ARM templates) and Bicep
Automate deployment by using PowerShell
Automate deployment by using Azure CLI
Monitor and troubleshoot deployments
Create and manage database tasks in Azure
Create and configure elastic jobs
Create and configure database tasks by using automation
Configure alerts and notifications on database tasks
Troubleshoot automated database tasks
Plan and configure a high availability and disaster recovery (HA/DR) environment (20–25%)
Recommend an HA/DR strategy for database solutions
Recommend HA/DR strategy based on Recovery Point Objective/Recovery Time Objective (RPO/RTO) requirements
Evaluate HA/DR for hybrid deployments
Evaluate Azure-specific HA/DR solutions
Recommend a testing procedure for an HA/DR solution
Plan and perform backup and restore of a database
Recommend a database backup and restore strategy
Perform a database backup by using database tools
Perform a database restore by using database tools
Perform a database restore to a point in time
Configure long-term backup retention
Backup and restore a database by using T-SQL
Backup and restore to and from cloud storage
Configure HA/DR for database solutions
Configure active geo-replication
Configure an Always On availability group on Azure virtual machines
Configure failover groups
Configure quorum options for a Windows Server Failover Cluster
Configure Always On Failover Cluster Instances on Azure virtual machines
Configure log shipping
Monitor an HA/DR solution
Troubleshoot an HA/DR solution
Study resources
We recommend that you train and get hands-on experience before you take the exam. We offer self-study options and classroom training as well as links to documentation, community sites, and videos.
| Study resources | Links to learning and documentation |
|---|---|
| Get trained | Choose from self-paced learning paths and modules or take an instructor-led course |
| Find documentation | Azure SQL documentation Azure SQL Database documentation Azure documentation |
| Ask a question | Microsoft Q&A | Microsoft Docs |
| Get community support | Azure Data - Microsoft Tech Community |
| Follow Microsoft Learn | Microsoft Learn - Microsoft Tech Community |
| Find a video | Exam Readiness Zone Data Exposed Browse other Microsoft Learn shows |
Change log
Key to understanding the table: The topic groups (also known as functional groups) are in bold typeface followed by the objectives within each group. The table is a comparison between the two versions of the exam skills measured and the third column describes the extent of the changes.
| Skill area prior to April 25, 2024 | Skill area as of April 25, 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Audience profile | No change | |
| Plan and implement data platform resources | Plan and implement data platform resources | No change |
| Plan and deploy Azure SQL solutions | Plan and deploy Azure SQL solutions | No change |
| Configure resources for scale and performance | Configure resources for scale and performance | No change |
| Plan and implement a migration strategy | Plan and implement a migration strategy | No change |
| Implement a secure environment | Implement a secure environment | No change |
| Configure database authentication and authorization | Configure database authentication and authorization | Minor |
| Implement security for data at rest and data in transit | Implement security for data at rest and data in transit | No change |
| Implement compliance controls for sensitive data | Implement compliance controls for sensitive data | No change |
| Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources | Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources | No change |
| Monitor resource activity and performance | Monitor resource activity and performance | No change |
| Monitor and optimize query performance | Monitor and optimize query performance | Minor |
| Configure database solutions for optimal performance | Configure database solutions for optimal performance | No change |
| Configure and manage automation of tasks | Configure and manage automation of tasks | No change |
| Create and manage SQL Server Agent jobs | Create and manage SQL Server Agent jobs | No change |
| Automate deployment of database resources | Automate deployment of database resources | No change |
| Create and manage database tasks in Azure | Create and manage database tasks in Azure | No change |
| Plan and configure a high availability and disaster recovery (HA/DR) environment | Plan and configure a high availability and disaster recovery (HA/DR) environment | No change |
| Recommend an HA/DR strategy for database solutions | Recommend an HA/DR strategy for database solutions | No change |
| Plan and perform backup and restore of a database | Plan and perform backup and restore of a database | No change |
| Configure HA/DR for database solutions | Configure HA/DR for database solutions | Minor |
Skills measured prior to April 25, 2024
Audience profile
As a candidate for this exam, you should have subject matter expertise in building database solutions that are designed to support multiple workloads built with:
SQL Server on-premises
Azure SQL services
You’re a database administrator who manages on-premises and cloud databases built with SQL Server and Azure SQL services.
As the Azure database administrator, you implement and manage the operational aspects of cloud-native and hybrid data platform solutions built on SQL Server and Azure SQL services. You use a variety of methods and tools to perform and automate day-to-day operations, including applying knowledge of using Transact-SQL (T-SQL) and other tools for administrative management purposes.
You’re responsible for the following concerning database solutions:
Management
Availability
Security
Performance monitoring and optimization
You evaluate and implement migration strategies for moving databases between Azure and on-premises. Plus, you work with Azure data engineers, Azure solution architects, Azure developers, data scientists, and other professionals to manage operational aspects of data platform solutions.
As a candidate for this exam, you should have knowledge of and experience with:
Azure SQL Database
Azure SQL Managed Instance
SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines (Windows and Linux)
Skills at a glance
Plan and implement data platform resources (20–25%)
Implement a secure environment (15–20%)
Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources (20–25%)
Configure and manage automation of tasks (15–20%)
Plan and configure a high availability and disaster recovery (HA/DR) environment (20–25%)
Plan and implement data platform resources (20–25%)
Plan and deploy Azure SQL solutions
Deploy database offerings on selected platforms
Understand automated deployment
Apply patches and updates for hybrid and infrastructure as a service (IaaS) deployment
Deploy hybrid SQL Server solutions
Recommend an appropriate database offering based on specific requirements
Evaluate the security aspects of the possible database offering
Recommend a table partitioning solution
Recommend a database sharding solution
Configure resources for scale and performance
Configure Azure SQL Database for scale and performance
Configure Azure SQL Managed Instance for scale and performance
Configure SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines for scale and performance
Configure table partitioning
Configure data compression
Plan and implement a migration strategy
Evaluate requirements for the migration
Evaluate offline or online migration strategies
Implement an online migration strategy
Implement an offline migration strategy
Perform post migration validations
Troubleshoot a migration
Set up SQL Data Sync for Azure
Implement a migration to Azure
Implement a migration between Azure SQL services
Implement a secure environment (15–20%)
Configure database authentication and authorization
Configure authentication by using Active Directory and Microsoft Entra ID
Create users from Microsoft Entra ID identities
Configure security principals
Configure database and object-level permissions using graphical tools
Apply the principle of least privilege for all securables
Troubleshoot authentication and authorization issues
Manage authentication and authorization by using T-SQL
Implement security for data at rest and data in transit
Implement transparent data encryption (TDE)
Implement object-level encryption
Configure server- and database-level firewall rules
Implement Always Encrypted
Configure secure access
Configure Transport Layer Security (TLS)
Implement compliance controls for sensitive data
Apply a data classification strategy
Configure server and database audits
Implement data change tracking
Implement dynamic data masking
Manage database resources by using Azure Purview
Implement database ledger in Azure SQL
Implement row-level security
Configure Microsoft Defender for SQL
Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources (20–25%)
Monitor resource activity and performance
Prepare an operational performance baseline
Determine sources for performance metrics
Interpret performance metrics
Configure and monitor activity and performance
Monitor by using SQL Insights
Monitor by using Extended Events
Monitor and optimize query performance
Configure Query Store
Monitor by using Query Store
Identify sessions that cause blocking
Identify performance issues using dynamic management views (DMVs)
Identify and implement index changes for queries
Recommend query construct modifications based on resource usage
Assess the use of query hints for query performance
Review execution plans
Configure database solutions for optimal performance
Implement index maintenance tasks
Implement statistics maintenance tasks
Implement database integrity checks
Configure database automatic tuning
Configure server settings for performance
Configure Resource Governor for performance
Implement database-scoped configuration
Configure compute and storage resources for scaling
Configure intelligent query processing (IQP)
Configure and manage automation of tasks (15–20%)
Create and manage SQL Server Agent jobs
Manage schedules for regular maintenance jobs
Configure job alerts and notifications
Troubleshoot SQL Server Agent jobs
Automate deployment of database resources
Automate deployment by using Azure Resource Manager templates (ARM templates) and Bicep
Automate deployment by using PowerShell
Automate deployment by using Azure CLI
Monitor and troubleshoot deployments
Create and manage database tasks in Azure
Create and configure elastic jobs
Create and configure database tasks by using automation
Configure alerts and notifications on database tasks
Troubleshoot automated database tasks
Plan and configure a high availability and disaster recovery (HA/DR) environment (20–25%)
Recommend an HA/DR strategy for database solutions
Recommend HA/DR strategy based on Recovery Point Objective/Recovery Time Objective (RPO/RTO) requirements
Evaluate HA/DR for hybrid deployments
Evaluate Azure-specific HA/DR solutions
Recommend a testing procedure for an HA/DR solution
Plan and perform backup and restore of a database
Recommend a database backup and restore strategy
Perform a database backup by using database tools
Perform a database restore by using database tools
Perform a database restore to a point in time
Configure long-term backup retention
Backup and restore a database by using T-SQL
Backup and restore to and from cloud storage
Configure HA/DR for database solutions
Configure active geo-replication
Configure an Always On availability group
Configure auto-failover groups
Configure quorum options for a Windows Server Failover Cluster
Configure Always On Failover Cluster Instances on Azure virtual machines
Configure log shipping
Monitor an HA/DR solution
Troubleshoot an HA/DR solution