Problem
Learning Azure SQL and getting a certification requires reading many books and articles. For newbies and professionals, sometimes finding the right materials isn’t straightforward. In this article we look at several resources that can help you prepare for Microsoft Exam DP-300.
Solution
This tutorial will provide tips, books, courses, and links to pass exam DP-300 Administering Microsoft Azure SQL Solutions.
What is the DP-300 exam?
This exam is related to Azure SQL, the SQL database service in the cloud provided by Microsoft.
Is this Exam Complex?
It depends on your experience. The exam will not be challenging if you have worked on Azure SQL technologies for several years. On the other hand, if you have no or limited experience, you may want to start with an easier exam like the AZ-900 Microsoft Azure Fundamentals Certification.
What is the Score Required to Pass the Exam?
The passing score is 700/1000 points approximately.
Which Books Do I Need to Read in Order to Succeed on this Exam?
The following books will help you with the exam:
- DP-300: Administering Relational Databases on Microsoft Azure : Study Guide With Practice Questions & Labs: First Edition – 2022
- Azure SQL Revealed: A Guide to the Cloud for SQL Server Professionals 1st ed. Edition
- Professional Azure SQL Managed Database Administration: Efficiently manage and modernize data in the cloud using Azure SQL, 3rd Edition 3rd ed. Edition
Are There Any Recommended Courses Available to Prepare for this Exam?
Yes. The following courses are available:
- DP-300: Azure Relational Database Administrator Exam Prep
- Course DP-300T00–A: Administering Microsoft Azure SQL Solutions
- Exam Prep DP-300: Azure Database Administrator Associate
- DP-300 Exam Prep: Administering Relational Databases on Microsoft Azure
- Azure Database Administrator Associate
Can You Share Some Links for Studying for the Exam, Please?
The following links can be used to study for the exam:
Develop and Execute Strategies for Data Platform Resources
Devise and Implement Azure SQL Solutions
- Roll out database options on chosen platforms
- Comprehend and apply automated deployment
- Execute patches and updates for hybrid and infrastructure as a service (IaaS) deployment
- Implement hybrid SQL Server solutions
- Suggest a suitable database offering based on specific requirements
- Assess the security aspects of potential database offerings
- Advocate for an appropriate table partitioning solution
- Propose a database sharding solution
Set Up Resources for Scalability and Performance
- Set up Azure SQL Database for scalability and performance
- Set up Azure SQL Managed Instance for scalability and performance
- Set up SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines for scalability and performance
- Configure table partitioning
- Implement data compression
Develop and Execute a Migration Plan
- Assess the requirements for the migration
- Evaluate strategies for both offline and online migration
- Execute an online migration approach
- Execute an offline migration approach
- Conduct post-migration validations
- Address issues and troubleshoot the migration process
- Establish SQL Data Sync for Azure
- Execute a migration to Azure
- Implement a migration between Azure SQL services
Establish a Secure Environment
Set Up Database Authentication and Authorization
- Configure authentication using Active Directory and Microsoft Entra ID
- Create users from Microsoft Entra identities
- Configure security principals
- Establish database and object-level permissions through graphical tools
- Enforce the principle of least privilege for all securables
- Address and troubleshoot authentication and authorization issues
- Administer authentication and authorization using Transact-SQL
Implement Security Measures for Data at Rest and in Transit
- Deploy transparent data encryption (TDE)
- Implement object-level encryption
- Configure firewall rules at both server and database levels
- Implement Always Encrypted
- Set up secure access
- Implement Transport Layer Security (TLS)
Enforce Compliance Controls for Sensitive Data
- Implement a strategy for classifying data
- Set up server and database audits
- Deploy data change tracking
- Apply dynamic data masking
- Manage database resources using Azure Purview
- Integrate Azure SQL Database ledger
- Establish row-level security
- Configure Microsoft Defender for SQL
Monitor, Set Up, and Optimize Database Resources
Track Resource Activity and Performance
- Establish a baseline for operational performance
- Identify sources for performance metrics
- Interpret performance metrics
- Set up and monitor activity and performance
- Monitor using SQL Insights
- Monitor using Extended Events
Monitor and Enhance Query Performance
- Configure Query Store
- Monitor through Query Store
- Identify sessions causing blocking
- Detect performance issues using dynamic management views (DMVs)
- Identify and implement index changes for queries
- Recommend modifications to query structure based on resource usage
- Evaluate the use of query hints for performance
- Review execution plans
Configure Database Solutions for Optimal Performance
- Implement tasks for index maintenance
- Implement tasks for statistics maintenance
- Implement checks for database integrity
- Configure automatic tuning for databases
- Set up server settings for performance
- Set up Resource Governor for performance
- Use database-scoped configuration
- Set up compute and storage resources for scalability
- Set up intelligent query processing (IQP)
Set Up and Oversee Task Automation
Establish and Oversee SQL Server Agent Jobs
- Administer schedules for routine maintenance jobs
- Configure alerts and notifications for job-related events
- Address issues with SQL Server Agent jobs
Automate the Deployment of Database Resources
- Automate deployment using BiceP and Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates (ARM templates)
- Automate deployment using PowerShell
- Automate deployment using Azure CLI
- Troubleshoot and monitor deployments
Establish and Manage Database Tasks in Azure
- Create and set up elastic jobs
- Create and configure database tasks through automation
- Automate database workflows with Azure Logic Apps
- Configure alerts and notifications for database tasks
- Address issues with automated database tasks
Develop a Plan and Configuration for High Availability and Disaster Recovery (HA/DR) Environments
Propose an HA/DR Strategy for Database Solutions
- Suggest a High Availability/Disaster Recovery strategy based on Recovery Point Objective/Recovery Time Objective (RPO/RTO) requirements
- Check High Availability/Disaster Recovery for hybrid deployments
- Check Azure-specific High Availability/Disaster Recovery solutions
- Propose a testing procedure for an HA/DR solution
Develop and Execute a Plan for Database Backup and Restoration
- Propose a strategy for backing up and restoring a database
- Conduct a database backup using database tools
- Execute a database restoration using database tools
- Perform a database restoration to a specific point in time
- Set up extended backup retention
- Back up and restore a database using T-SQL
- Back up and restore to and from cloud storage
Establish High Availability and Disaster Recovery (HA/DR) for Database Solutions
- Set up an active geo-replication
- Set up an Always On availability group
- Establish auto-failover groups
- Set up quorum options for a Windows Server Failover Cluster
- Configure Always On Failover Cluster Instances on Azure VM
- Set up log shipping
- Supervise a High Availability/Disaster Recovery solution
- Address issues and troubleshoot an HA/DR solution
Next Steps
For more information about Microsoft exams, refer to the following links.
- SQL Server Professional Development Certifications Tips
- DP 500 Certification Exam Preparation for Microsoft Azure and Power BI
- Prepare for the AZ-900 Microsoft Azure Fundamentals Certification
Daniel Calbimonte is a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional, Microsoft Certified Trainer and Microsoft Certified IT Professional for SQL Server. He is an accomplished SSIS author, teacher at IT Academies and has over 10 years of experience as a QE and developer for SQL Server related software. He has worked for the government, oil companies, web sites, magazines and universities around the world. Daniel also regularly speaks at SQL Servers conferences and blogs.
- MSSQLTips Awards: Author of the Year Contender – 2015-2018, 2022, 2023 | Champion (100+ tips) – 2018
