When to Implement a Read-Only Database Replica
Question
You have a transactional application that stores data in an Azure SQL managed instance.
When should you implement a read-only database replica?
Answers
Explanations
Click on the arrows to vote for the correct answer
A. B. C. D.A
Use read-only replicas to offload read-only query workloads.
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/read-scale-outA read-only database replica is a copy of the primary database that can be used to offload read-only operations from the primary database, allowing it to focus on handling write operations. This can improve overall performance and scalability, as well as reduce the risk of data corruption or loss.
In the context of an Azure SQL managed instance, implementing a read-only replica can be beneficial in several scenarios, including:
A. Generating reports without affecting the transactional workload: Running reports can be resource-intensive and can slow down transactional operations. By offloading reporting to a read-only replica, you can avoid impacting the performance of the primary database and ensure that transactional operations can continue without interruption.
B. Auditing the transactional application: A read-only replica can be used to track changes to the primary database and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. By maintaining a read-only copy of the database, you can review historical data without affecting the transactional workload or risking data loss.
C. Implementing high availability in the event of a regional outage: By replicating data to a secondary location, you can ensure that your application remains available in the event of an outage in the primary region. In this scenario, the read-only replica serves as a standby database that can be promoted to the primary role if needed.
D. Improving the recovery point objective (RPO): The RPO refers to the maximum amount of data that can be lost in the event of a failure. By replicating data to a read-only replica, you can reduce the risk of data loss and improve the RPO. In the event of a failure, you can promote the read-only replica to the primary role and minimize the amount of data that needs to be restored.
In conclusion, implementing a read-only database replica can be beneficial in various scenarios, such as offloading reporting, ensuring compliance, providing high availability, and improving the recovery point objective. The specific use case will depend on your application's requirements and the nature of your workload.
