DEA-C01 Data Store Management Practice Question
A company wants to migrate its on-premises MySQL database to Amazon RDS for MySQL with minimal downtime. Which AWS service should be used for the migration?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse AWS DMS with AWS DataSync or SCT, assuming any data transfer tool works for database migration, but DMS is the only service that supports ongoing replication for minimal downtime database migrations.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
AWS Database Migration Service (DMS)
AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) is purpose-built for migrating databases to AWS with minimal downtime by using ongoing replication (change data capture, CDC) from the source MySQL database to the target Amazon RDS for MySQL instance. This allows the source to remain fully operational during the migration, meeting the minimal-downtime requirement.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
AWS Database Migration Service (DMS)
Why this is correct
AWS Database Migration Service performs ongoing replication from the on-premises MySQL source to Amazon RDS for MySQL, keeping both in sync until cutover. This continuous change data capture satisfies the minimal-downtime constraint, unlike a one-off dump and restore, which would require halting writes for the full load duration.
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AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT)
Why it's wrong here
AWS SCT converts database schemas and code between engines, so it does not migrate data for a same-engine MySQL-to-MySQL move. It is tempting because it is the standard tool when changing engines, such as Oracle to Aurora PostgreSQL, where schema translation is genuinely required.
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AWS DataSync
Why it's wrong here
AWS DataSync transfers files and objects between storage systems; it does not replicate MySQL transactions or maintain consistency for a live database. It is tempting because it handles large online data movement well, and it would be correct for migrating file shares or S3 datasets rather than a relational database.
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AWS Direct Connect
Why it's wrong here
AWS Direct Connect provides a dedicated private network link between on-premises and AWS, but it moves no database data or schema itself. It is tempting because it reduces transfer latency and bypasses the internet, making it the right choice for ongoing hybrid connectivity, not for performing the MySQL migration.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This DEA-C01 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the DEA-C01 exam.