Microsoft AuthorisedAssociate · Data2026 ObjectivesTop SQL Cert in MY
DP-300 Azure Database Admin Associate
Plan, deploy, secure and operate SQL Server and Azure SQL at scale — high availability, performance, automation and modern data services — mapped to DP-300.
⏱Duration: 4 days / 32 hrs
💻Format: Instructor-Led + Azure SQL Sandbox
🌐Delivery: On-site · Virtual · Hybrid
✅Pass rate: 91%
📅Next intake: 26 May 2026
📜
Deploy & migrate
Azure SQL Database, Managed Instance, SQL on VM — picking the right one
🔐
Security
TDE, Always Encrypted, dynamic data masking, Defender for SQL
DP-300 is Microsoft's Azure Database Administrator Associate credential. It validates that you can deploy, secure and operate SQL Server and Azure SQL at scale — across the relational data platform on Azure, on-prem and hybrid.
At Nexperts, DP-300 is delivered on a real Azure SQL sandbox with Managed Instance + Azure SQL Database + SQL on VM pre-staged. By day 4 you've migrated a real on-prem schema, deployed Always Encrypted, configured auto-failover groups and tuned a 250ms query down to 12ms.
DP-300 is the cert most database admins underestimate. The exam blends classic DBA depth with modern Azure-SQL trade-offs — and the trade-offs are where candidates lose marks.
The 2026 DP-300 update sharpened the focus on Azure SQL Hyperscale, Defender for SQL Plan 2, Microsoft Fabric Mirroring, and the new database-watcher service. We cover all four with hands-on labs.
Who should take this course
📜
Database administrators
Coming from on-prem SQL Server. DP-300 is the formal Azure SQL credential.
☁️
Cloud engineers
Operating SQL workloads on Azure. DP-300 sharpens the database-side depth.
👨💻
Backend developers
Working with SQL daily. DP-300 raises database competence beyond developer level.
🌟
AZ-104 holders
Natural progression. Add database depth to your administrator base.
💼
Data architects
Designing data platforms. DP-300 gives the relational-platform depth.
🔐
SOC senior analysts
Investigating in SQL environments. DP-300 + AZ-500 is the secure-data combo.
Prerequisites
✓ 1–2 years of T-SQL and SQL Server administration experience
✓ Working knowledge of Azure SQL Database basics
✓ Comfortable with PowerShell, Azure CLI and SSMS / Azure Data Studio
✓ Basic familiarity with backup, restore and HA concepts
→ No SQL Server experience? Ask about our T-SQL primer before DP-300 starts.
Course Curriculum
Five domains. One Azure SQL operator's toolkit.
DP-300 is structured into Plan & Implement Data Platform, Implement a Secure Environment, Monitor & Optimise, Configure & Manage Automation, and Plan & Configure HA / DR. We deliver in deploy-then-defend order.
Hands-On Azure SQL Sandbox
9 builds. Real Azure SQL + on-prem.
Every learner gets an Azure SQL sandbox with Managed Instance + Azure SQL Database + SQL on VM. By day 4 you've migrated, secured, tuned and protected a real workload.
01
Migration Sprint
Migrate a sample on-prem schema to Azure SQL Managed Instance via DMS.
Migration
02
Always Encrypted
Apply Always Encrypted with secure enclaves on a sensitive table. Validate query.
Crypto
03
Defender for SQL
Enable Defender for SQL. Investigate a seeded SQL injection alert.
Security
04
Query Store Tuning
Tune a 250ms query to under 15ms with Query Store + automatic tuning.
Performance
05
Index Strategy
Apply rowstore + columnstore + missing-index hints to a fact table. Compare plans.
Indexing
06
Failover Group
Configure auto-failover group across regions. Validate forced + planned failover.
HA
07
Backup + PITR
Configure long-term retention + point-in-time restore. Run a tabletop DR.
DR
08
Runbook Automation
Build a runbook that auto-scales a SQL DB based on DTU pressure.
Automation
09
Database Watcher
Configure database-watcher for a 3-DB workload. Build an ops dashboard.
Observability
+ 12 micro-tasks across T-SQL, PowerShell SqlServer module, and Azure CLI.
Exam Information
One scenario exam. Heavy on T-SQL judgement.
DP-300 is 40–60 questions over 100 minutes. The exam includes T-SQL snippet items — you read scripts and pick the side-effect or fix. Most candidates fail on Always Encrypted scenarios.
Microsoft DP-300 Exam
Questions40 – 60 (scenario + T-SQL)
Duration100 minutes
Passing score700 / 1000
FormatPearson VUE / Online proctored
Validity1 year + free annual renewal assessment
Industry avg pass rate~66% first attempt
Nexperts pass rate91% first attempt
T-SQL Snippet Drill
Drill length3-hour structured drill
FormatSSMS — you read, instructor reviews
Items practised18 T-SQL snippet scenarios
Common gotchasAlways Encrypted query rewriting
StrategyTrace the plan before the script
OutcomeT-SQL question uplift +22%
WalkthroughPast snippet archive provided
Our 3-Mock Programme
01
Diagnostic Mock
End of day 1. Sets the baseline. Average 60%.
02
T-SQL-Heavy Mock
Mid-course. 50% T-SQL items. Average 73%.
03
Final Clearance
Full timed simulation. 80%+ before we book. Average 84%.
0%
Pass Rate
91% of our DP-300 candidates pass on first attempt.
The Microsoft global first-attempt rate for DP-300 sits around 66%. We hit 91% by drilling T-SQL snippet reading and operating real Azure SQL workloads on the sandbox.
Real Azure SQL sandboxT-SQL drill91% first attemptFree retake voucherMigration playbook
Why our pass rate is 91%
Industry average: ~66%
Most candidates know the SQL primitives but freeze on Always Encrypted scenarios and migration trade-offs. They pick by feature recall, not by the actual workload constraint.
Nexperts: 91%
We migrate real schemas. We tune real queries. We drill T-SQL snippet reading. By exam day, the trade-off thinking is reflex.
Your Azure Data Path
DP-300 pairs with DP-203 and AZ-500.
DP-300 stacks naturally with DP-203 (Data Engineer) for analytical depth or AZ-500 (Security) for the secure-data combo.
Before this
AZ-104
Helpful but not strictly required. Most DBAs come from on-prem SQL Server.
Expected salary range after DP-300: RM 9,500 – RM 15,500/month for senior DBA / data platform roles in MY MNCs and banks.
Student Reviews
What our DP-300 engineers say.
4.8
★★★★★
108 reviews
5★
84%
4★
13%
3★
3%
★★★★★
"Coming from 12 years on-prem SQL Server. The cloud-trade-off thinking finally clicked. Migrated 2 mission-critical DBs to Managed Instance using these patterns."
RK
Ramesh Kannan
Senior DBA · Maybank
✓ Passed first attempt
★★★★★
"Always Encrypted with secure enclaves lab solved a compliance problem we'd had for 9 months. Course paid for itself in the first sprint."
ZN
Zaiton Nordin
Database Architect · IHH Healthcare
✓ Passed first attempt
★★★★
"Query Store tuning lab is the most useful drill in any DBA cert prep I've done. Got our cost-per-DTU down 28% after I went back."
RJ
Rohit Jhanwar
Cloud Engineer · Standard Chartered GBS
✓ Passed first attempt
★★★★★
"Mock-3 was tougher than the real exam. T-SQL drill is genuinely the best in MY. Highly recommend."
WC
Wong Chee Yong
DBA Lead · PETRONAS Digital
✓ Passed first attempt · 858/1000
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