Quick Answer
The answer is to use AWS DMS with ongoing replication, also known as change data capture (CDC), enabled. This configuration is correct because CDC allows DMS to continuously capture and apply real-time changes from the source database to the target S3 bucket, while SSE-S3 encryption is automatically applied at rest by S3 without any additional DMS configuration. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that DMS handles both full loads and ongoing replication natively, and a common trap is assuming you need an intermediary service like Kinesis for streaming or that a snapshot restore qualifies as real-time. Remember, for real-time tracking, you must enable CDC on the DMS task—think of it as “CDC for continuous data capture.”
This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data operations and support. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A data engineer is designing a data pipeline that ingests data from an on-premises database into Amazon S3 using AWS Database Migration Service (DMS). The data must be encrypted at rest in S3 using SSE-S3. The engineer also needs to track changes to the source database in real time. Which DMS configuration should the engineer use?
Use DMS with a snapshot of the source database.
Why wrong: Snapshots are point-in-time, not real-time.
Use DMS with ongoing replication (change data capture) enabled.
CDC captures real-time changes.
Use DMS with a full load task only.
Why wrong: Full load does not capture ongoing changes.
Use DMS with a full load task and then stream to Amazon Kinesis.
Why wrong: DMS can directly capture changes without Kinesis.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Use DMS with ongoing replication (change data capture) enabled.
Option A is correct because DMS with CDC captures ongoing changes. Option B is wrong because full load only captures a snapshot. Option C is wrong because DMS supports CDC without needing Kinesis. Option D is wrong because restoring from a snapshot is not real-time.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Use DMS with a snapshot of the source database.
Why it's wrong here
Snapshots are point-in-time, not real-time.
Use DMS with ongoing replication (change data capture) enabled.
Why this is correct
CDC captures real-time changes.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Use DMS with a full load task only.
Why it's wrong here
Full load does not capture ongoing changes.
Use DMS with a full load task and then stream to Amazon Kinesis.
Why it's wrong here
DMS can directly capture changes without Kinesis.
Common exam traps
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Identify which DEA-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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FAQ
Data Operations and Support — This question tests Data Operations and Support — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Use DMS with ongoing replication (change data capture) enabled. — Option A is correct because DMS with CDC captures ongoing changes. Option B is wrong because full load only captures a snapshot. Option C is wrong because DMS supports CDC without needing Kinesis. Option D is wrong because restoring from a snapshot is not real-time.
Identify which DEA-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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.
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