Why This Cheat Sheet Matters for AZ-305
This cheat sheet covers the most important Azure SQL & Cosmos DB concepts tested on the AZ-305 (Azure Solutions Architect Expert) certification exam. It contains 2 sections with 8 key points that you should memorize before exam day. Design data storage solutions including relational databases, non-relational storage, and data integration. Use this as a quick-reference guide during your final review sessions.
Relational Data
- Azure SQL Database for PaaS with auto-tuning and built-in HA.
- SQL Managed Instance for 100% SQL Server compatibility (lift-and-shift).
- Elastic pools share resources across databases with variable usage patterns.
- Active geo-replication for read replicas and DR across regions.
Non-Relational Data
- Cosmos DB for globally distributed, multi-model, low-latency data.
- Storage accounts: blob (objects), files (SMB), queues (messages), tables (NoSQL).
- Data Lake Storage Gen2 for big data analytics with hierarchical namespace.
- Choose consistency level based on CAP theorem trade-offs.
Practice Data Storage Questions
Put your knowledge to the test with practice questions.
Azure Quick Reference Tips
Azure services follow consistent naming patterns that help with exam recall. Resource Manager (ARM) templates use JSON, while Bicep provides a cleaner DSL for infrastructure as code. Remember that Azure resources are organised in a hierarchy: Management Groups → Subscriptions → Resource Groups → Resources.