DTU vs vCore pricing models in Azure - Practice Questions

Challenge - 5 Problems

🧠 Conceptual

intermediate

Understanding DTU Pricing Model

Which statement best describes the DTU pricing model for Azure SQL Database?

A DTU pricing allows unlimited scaling without additional cost.

B DTU pricing charges separately for compute and storage resources.

C DTU pricing is based solely on the number of CPU cores used.

D DTU bundles compute, memory, and I/O resources into a single unit for simplified pricing.

💡 Hint

Think about how DTU combines different resources into one unit.

DTU (Database Transaction Unit) is a blended measure of CPU, memory, and I/O resources bundled together for simplified pricing.

❓ Architecture

intermediate

Choosing Between DTU and vCore Models

You need to select a pricing model for an Azure SQL Database that requires predictable performance and flexibility to scale compute and storage independently. Which pricing model fits best?

A DTU model, because it charges separately for compute and storage.

B DTU model, because it bundles all resources for simplicity.

C vCore model, because it allows independent scaling of compute and storage.

D vCore model, because it bundles compute, memory, and I/O into one unit.

💡 Hint

Consider which model offers separate scaling of resources.

The vCore model allows you to scale compute and storage independently, providing more flexibility and predictable pricing.

❓ service_behavior

advanced

Impact of Scaling Storage in DTU vs vCore Models

What happens when you increase storage size in the DTU pricing model compared to the vCore pricing model?

A In DTU, increasing storage automatically increases DTUs and cost; in vCore, storage scales independently with separate cost.

B In DTU, storage scales independently with no cost change; in vCore, storage increase raises compute cost.

C Both DTU and vCore models increase compute resources automatically when storage increases.

D Neither DTU nor vCore models charge for storage increases.

💡 Hint

Think about how storage and compute are linked in each model.

DTU bundles compute and storage, so increasing storage often increases DTUs and cost. vCore separates storage cost, so you pay only for added storage.

❓ security

advanced

Security Considerations in DTU vs vCore Models

Which statement correctly describes security features availability between DTU and vCore pricing models?

A vCore model supports advanced security features like Azure Defender and Always Encrypted, while DTU does not.

B DTU model supports all advanced security features, but vCore model does not.

C Both DTU and vCore models support the same security features without differences.

D DTU model supports Azure Defender, but vCore model requires manual configuration for security.

💡 Hint

Consider which model is newer and supports more advanced features.

The vCore model supports the latest advanced security features such as Azure Defender and Always Encrypted, while DTU is more limited.

✅ Best Practice

expert

Optimizing Cost with vCore Model for Variable Workloads

You have an Azure SQL Database workload with fluctuating compute needs but steady storage requirements. Which approach best optimizes cost using the vCore pricing model?

A Provision minimal vCores and increase storage size to compensate for compute spikes.

B Use serverless compute tier to auto-scale compute and provision fixed storage size.

C Provision high compute vCores permanently and scale storage as needed.

D Use DTU model instead because it bundles compute and storage for fluctuating workloads.

💡 Hint

Think about how to handle variable compute needs cost-effectively.

The serverless compute tier in the vCore model automatically scales compute based on workload demand, while storage remains fixed, optimizing cost for variable workloads.