- Worth 15 to 20% of DP-300, with 22 skills in the study guide. We teach and practice each one
- Recommend a database offering based on specific requirements
- Choose an automated deployment method
- Identify use cases for Azure Arc-enabled SQL services
- Identify use cases for Azure SQL Database in Microsoft Fabric
- Plan for table partitioning
- Recommend a database sharding solution
- Deploy database offerings on selected platforms
- Deploy hybrid SQL Server solutions
- Apply patches and updates for hybrid and infrastructure as a service (IaaS) deployment
- 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
- Evaluate requirements for a migration
- Evaluate offline or online migration strategies
- Implement an online migration strategy
- Implement an offline migration strategy
- Implement a migration to Azure
- Implement a migration between Azure SQL services
- Implement Azure SQL Managed Instance database copy and move
- Troubleshoot a migration
Microsoft Certification Training Course
Azure Database Administrator Associate (DP-300) Certification Training Course
We'll get you ready for Exam DP-300, the Microsoft credential for Azure database administrators who run cloud and hybrid SQL platforms.
Course focus: Planning and deploying Azure SQL, securing databases, monitoring and tuning, automating admin tasks, and HA/DR, mapped to the DP-300 study guide.
Course Overview
What the DP-300 course covers and who it's for.
Per Microsoft, DP-300 is for database administrators who manage cloud and on-premises databases built with Azure SQL services and SQL Server, including Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines and SQL Server on-premises.
Security, performance and HA/DR are the biggest domains at 20 to 25% each, so we spend real lab time on authentication, encryption, Query Store, backups and availability groups. We also cover migrations and automation with ARM, Bicep, PowerShell and Azure CLI.
Microsoft says DP-300 candidates implement and manage the operational aspects of cloud-native and hybrid data platform solutions built on Azure SQL services and SQL Server. You use T-SQL and other tools for day-to-day admin work, and you work with data engineers, architects, developers and data scientists.
Most companies still run critical apps on SQL Server, and more of that work sits in Azure SQL Database, Managed Instance or SQL on Azure VMs. DP-300 is the credential for the person who keeps those platforms secure, fast and available.
Accumentum is an independent training provider. We aren't a Microsoft partner and this isn't official Microsoft training. Microsoft sets exam content, prices and policies, so check learn.microsoft.com before you book.
Course Objectives
Get ready for DP-300 the way the exam is built.
01
Cover the Whole Study Guide
Work through all 5 skill areas in Microsoft's DP-300 study guide, weighted the way the exam weights them.
02
Go Deep on the Biggest Domain
Implement a secure environment is 20 to 25% of the exam per Microsoft, so it gets the most class time.
03
Practice Hands-On
Work through the tasks the DP-300 study guide lists, hands on.
04
Master Plan and implement data platform resources
Microsoft lists 22 skills here, worth 15 to 20%. We practice all of them, from the first, recommend a database offering based on specific requirements, through the last, troubleshoot a migration.
05
Master Implement a secure environment
Microsoft lists 20 skills here, worth 20 to 25%. We practice all of them, from the first, configure Microsoft Entra ID authentication for Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, and SQL Server, through the last, implement row-level security.
06
Master Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources
Microsoft lists 23 skills here, worth 20 to 25%. We practice all of them, from the first, prepare an operational performance baseline, through the last, identify use cases for intelligent query processing (IQP) features.
07
Master Configure and manage automation of tasks
Microsoft lists 11 skills here, worth 15 to 20%. We practice all of them, from the first, manage schedules for regular maintenance jobs, through the last, troubleshoot automated database tasks.
08
Master Plan and configure a high availability and disaster recovery (HA/DR) environment
Microsoft lists 18 skills here, worth 20 to 25%. We practice all of them, from the first, recommend HA/DR strategy based on Recovery Point Objective/Recovery Time Objective (RPO/RTO) requirements, through the last, troubleshoot an HA/DR solution.
09
Be Ready for Test Day
We practice the question styles Microsoft uses and walk through how scheduling, scoring and renewal work.
Who Should Attend
- Azure and hybrid SQL database administrators.
- DBAs moving SQL Server workloads to Azure.
- Platform engineers who own Azure SQL Database or Managed Instance.
- Data professionals who back up, secure and tune SQL platforms.
Prerequisites
- Microsoft doesn't require another certification first, and we don't have enrollment prerequisites either.
- Experience with T-SQL, Azure SQL and SQL Server administration helps a lot.
Pathway Map
The DP-300 course in 5 modules.
Each module is one skill area from the official study guide, with its exam weight.
1
Plan and implement data platform resources (15 to 20%)
2
Implement a secure environment (20 to 25%)
3
Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources (20 to 25%)
4
Configure and manage automation of tasks (15 to 20%)
5
Plan and configure a high availability and disaster recovery (HA/DR) environment (20 to 25%)
Course Content
- Worth 20 to 25% of DP-300, with 20 skills in the study guide. We teach and practice each one
- Configure Microsoft Entra ID authentication for Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, and SQL Server
- Configure authentication for SQL on Azure VMs and Azure SQL Managed Instance
- Configure security principals
- Create users from Microsoft Entra identities
- 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 transparent data encryption (TDE)
- Implement object-level encryption
- Configure server- and database-level firewall rules
- Implement Always Encrypted
- Implement Always Encrypted with secure enclaves
- Configure private links and service endpoints
- Apply a data classification strategy
- Configure server and database audits
- Implement change data tracking
- Implement dynamic data masking
- Implement ledger in Azure SQL
- Implement row-level security
- Worth 20 to 25% of DP-300, with 23 skills in the study guide. We teach and practice each one
- Prepare an operational performance baseline
- Determine sources for performance metrics
- Interpret performance metrics
- Configure and monitor activity and performance
- Monitor by using database watcher
- Monitor by using Extended Events
- Configure Query Store
- Monitor by using Query Store
- Identify and resolve session blocking
- Identify performance issues using dynamic management views (DMVs)
- Identify and implement index changes for queries
- Recommend query construct modifications based on resource usage
- Review execution plans
- Monitor by using Intelligent Insights
- 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
- Identify use cases for intelligent query processing (IQP) features
- Worth 15 to 20% of DP-300, with 11 skills in the study guide. We teach and practice each one
- Manage schedules for regular maintenance jobs
- Configure job alerts and notifications
- Troubleshoot SQL Server Agent jobs
- Automate deployment by using Azure Resource Manager (ARM) and Bicep templates
- Automate deployment by using Azure PowerShell
- Automate deployment by using Azure CLI
- Monitor and troubleshoot deployments
- Create and configure elastic jobs
- Create and configure database tasks by using automation
- Configure alerts and notifications on database tasks
- Troubleshoot automated database tasks
- Worth 20 to 25% of DP-300, with 18 skills in the study guide. We teach and practice each one
- 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
- Plan a testing procedure for an HA/DR solution
- Recommend a database backup and restore strategy
- Perform a database backup by using native tools
- Perform a database restore by using native 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 to and restore from cloud storage
- Configure active geo-replication
- Configure Always On availability groups on SQL Managed Instance and Azure virtual machines
- Configure failover groups
- Configure Always On Failover Cluster Instances on Azure virtual machines
- Configure log shipping
- Monitor an HA/DR solution
- Troubleshoot an HA/DR solution
Course Features
How we teach DP-300.
Expert-Led Classes
Live instruction with time for questions, so you aren't figuring out the hard parts alone.
Hands-On Practice
Practice on the tasks in the DP-300 study guide.
Study Guide Mapping
Every module maps to a skill area in Microsoft's DP-300 study guide.
Exam Strategy
Practice questions plus tips on scheduling, timing and what to expect on test day.
Certification Exam
About the DP-300 exam.
DP-300 Exam Readiness
Our students pass at a 98.8% rate across Accumentum courses. We'll get you ready for DP-300 the same way.
Per Microsoft, DP-300 is the exam for Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate. Microsoft lists 100 minutes of exam time for associate exams like this one. You need a score of 700 or greater to pass. Microsoft sets the price by country and shows it on the exam page.
Full details are on the official certification page and the DP-300 study guide.
Accumentum is an independent training provider. We aren't a Microsoft partner and this isn't official Microsoft training. Microsoft sets exam content, prices and policies, so check learn.microsoft.com before you book.
Inside the Course
A closer look at each DP-300 domain.
The course starts with planning and deploying Azure SQL solutions. You'll choose between Azure SQL Database, Managed Instance and SQL Server on Azure VMs, plan scale and performance, and practice online and offline migrations between on-premises and Azure.
Security is one of the biggest domains. You'll configure Microsoft Entra authentication, least privilege permissions, transparent data encryption, Always Encrypted, firewalls, private links, auditing, dynamic data masking, ledger and row level security.
Then we move to monitoring and tuning. Query Store, dynamic management views, Extended Events, index and statistics maintenance, automatic tuning, Resource Governor and intelligent query processing all show up here, so we practice reading plans and fixing slow queries.
Automation covers SQL Server Agent jobs, elastic jobs, ARM and Bicep templates, Azure PowerShell and Azure CLI. HA/DR closes the course with backup and restore, geo-replication, failover groups, Always On availability groups, log shipping and how to match a design to RPO and RTO.
By the end you'll be able to pick the right Azure SQL offering, lock it down, keep it fast and recover it when something fails.
Here's how a typical week of class runs. We review the last domain, teach the new skills with live demos, then you practice the same tasks in a lab. You'll deploy a database, secure it, capture a baseline, tune a slow query, automate a maintenance job and fail over a replica. That cycle matches how the exam asks you to think.
We also compare options side by side, since Microsoft asks a lot of which offering or which HA/DR feature fits a scenario. Cost, management overhead and recovery goals drive those choices.
Study Plan
A study plan for DP-300 built from the study guide.
Time follows Microsoft's domain weights, so you study what the exam asks most.
Step 1: Plan and implement data platform resources
Spend about 20% of your study time here. First, recommend a database offering based on specific requirements. Then configure SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines for scale and performance. Last, troubleshoot a migration.
Step 2: Implement a secure environment
Spend about 25% of your study time here. First, configure Microsoft Entra ID authentication for Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, and SQL Server. Then configure server- and database-level firewall rules. Last, implement row-level security.
Step 3: Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources
Spend about 25% of your study time here. First, prepare an operational performance baseline. Then recommend query construct modifications based on resource usage. Last, identify use cases for intelligent query processing (IQP) features.
Step 4: Configure and manage automation of tasks
Spend about 20% of your study time here. First, manage schedules for regular maintenance jobs. Then automate deployment by using Azure CLI. Last, troubleshoot automated database tasks.
Step 5: Plan and configure a high availability and disaster recovery (HA/DR) environment
Spend about 25% of your study time here. First, recommend HA/DR strategy based on Recovery Point Objective/Recovery Time Objective (RPO/RTO) requirements. Then backup and restore a database by using T-SQL. Last, troubleshoot an HA/DR solution.
Step 6: Review and book
Take Microsoft's free practice assessment, review the domains you scored lowest in, and book the exam once you're scoring well.
Official Resources
Where to check DP-300 facts on Microsoft Learn.
Microsoft changes exams often. These are the pages we teach from.
Exam Domains
How Microsoft weights the DP-300 exam.
From the official DP-300 study guide. Bigger domains get more questions.
Plan and implement data platform resources
15 to 20% of the exam. 22 skills listed by Microsoft.
Implement a secure environment
20 to 25% of the exam. 20 skills listed by Microsoft.
Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources
20 to 25% of the exam. 23 skills listed by Microsoft.
Configure and manage automation of tasks
15 to 20% of the exam. 11 skills listed by Microsoft.
Plan and configure a high availability and disaster recovery (HA/DR) environment
20 to 25% of the exam. 18 skills listed by Microsoft.
Exam and Course Format
What test day and class look like for DP-300.
DP-300 is a associate level exam. Microsoft lists 100 minutes of exam time for associate exams like this one. Microsoft scores exams from 1 to 1000 and you need 700 or greater to pass.
You can book DP-300 through the exam page on Microsoft Learn, where Microsoft shows the price for your country and the delivery options it offers. Microsoft also has a free exam sandbox there so you can see the question layout before test day.
Our course runs expert-led. We teach each domain in study guide order, practice the tasks, and finish with review on the areas you miss most.
Career Paths
Where DP-300 fits in your career.
Azure database administrator
Run Azure SQL Database, Managed Instance and SQL on Azure VMs day to day.
SQL Server DBA
Add cloud, hybrid and migration skills to on-premises experience.
Platform or cloud data admin
Own backups, HA/DR, security and performance for SQL estates.
Data platform engineer
Automate deployments and maintenance with ARM, Bicep, PowerShell and Azure CLI.
Funding and PathPay
Ways to pay for DP-300 training.
Accumentum is an Army CA and Air Force COOL Approved Vendor. If you're a soldier or airman, ask us whether Army Credentialing Assistance or Air Force COOL can fund this course for you.
PathPay lets you spread tuition into monthly payments instead of paying it all up front. You can see the plans on the PathPay page or ask us which plan fits this course.
Employers often pay for Microsoft training too. Ask us for a quote or invoice your company can use.
See PathPay plans, Army Credentialing Assistance training and Air Force COOL training.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about our DP-300 course.
DP-300 is the exam for Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate, a associate level credential. Details are on the official page at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/credentials/certifications/azure-database-administrator-associate/
No. We're an independent training provider and we aren't a Microsoft partner. Our course follows Microsoft's public study guide. Microsoft offers free self-paced training on Microsoft Learn too.
Microsoft sets the price by country and shows it on the exam page when you pick your location. Check it there before you book.
Microsoft lists 100 minutes of exam time for associate exams like this one. A score of 700 or greater is needed to pass.
Fundamentals certifications don't expire. Associate, expert and specialty certifications are valid for one year and you renew for free online on Microsoft Learn.
Microsoft doesn't require another certification first, and we don't have enrollment prerequisites either. Experience with T-SQL, Azure SQL and SQL Server administration helps a lot.
Expert-led, with hands-on practice and exam prep. Ask us about upcoming class dates.
DP-300 is for database administrators who run Azure SQL and SQL Server. DP-700 is for data engineers who build pipelines in Microsoft Fabric.
Yes. Microsoft lists SQL Server on-premises alongside Azure SQL Database, Managed Instance and SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines.
No. Microsoft doesn't require another certification first.
Three domains share the top weight at 20 to 25% each: security, performance, and high availability and disaster recovery, per Microsoft.
Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines (Windows and Linux), and SQL Server on-premises, per Microsoft's study guide.
Yes. Evaluating requirements, online and offline strategies, migrations to Azure and between Azure SQL services, and troubleshooting are all in the first domain.
Yes. HA/DR is its own domain at 20 to 25%, covering backups, geo-replication, failover groups, Always On availability groups, Failover Cluster Instances and log shipping.
It depends on your SQL Server and Azure background. Experienced on-premises DBAs usually need more time on Azure-native security, monitoring and HA/DR features.
Yes. Database teams often train together so cloud and hybrid SQL estates follow one standard. Ask us about group options.
Accumentum is an Army CA and Air Force COOL Approved Vendor. If you're a soldier or airman, ask us whether Army Credentialing Assistance or Air Force COOL can fund this course for you.
PathPay lets you spread tuition into monthly payments instead of paying it all up front. You can see the plans on the PathPay page or ask us which plan fits this course.
Use the registration page linked below, or email info@accumentum.net and we'll follow up with dates and next steps.
Enrollment
Enroll in DP-300 training with Accumentum.
Enroll in our DP-300 course to get ready for the Azure Database Administrator Associate exam with expert-led classes and hands-on practice.
For dates and next steps, use the registration page linked below or email info@accumentum.net.
Ready to start on DP-300?
Tell us your target date and we'll help you plan the path.