Question 659 of 1,711
DEA-C01 Data Store Management Practice Question
A data engineer is migrating an on-premises Apache Cassandra cluster to Amazon Keyspaces (for Apache Cassandra). The cluster has 10 TB of data. The migration must minimize application downtime. Which strategy should the engineer use?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often assume AWS DMS can handle any database migration, but DMS does not support Cassandra as a source, making Option D a distractor for those who overestimate DMS's capabilities.
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
✓
Set up a dual-write pattern where the application writes to both the on-premises cluster and Keyspaces, then switch reads to Keyspaces once data is synchronized.
The dual-write pattern allows the application to write to both the on-premises Cassandra cluster and Amazon Keyspaces simultaneously, ensuring data consistency with minimal downtime. Once the existing data is backfilled and the systems are synchronized, reads can be switched to Keyspaces with near-zero application interruption. This approach avoids the downtime required for bulk export/import or snapshot restore.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Set up a dual-write pattern where the application writes to both the on-premises cluster and Keyspaces, then switch reads to Keyspaces once data is synchronized.
Why this is correct
This minimizes downtime by keeping both systems in sync and allows for a gradual cutover.
- ✗
Export the data using the Cassandra COPY command and import it into Keyspaces using the COPY command.
Why it's wrong here
The COPY command is not supported in Amazon Keyspaces.
- ✗
Take a snapshot of the on-premises cluster and restore it to Keyspaces using the Keyspaces console.
Why it's wrong here
Snapshots are point-in-time and may not capture recent writes, leading to data loss.
- ✗
Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) to continuously replicate data from the on-premises cluster to Keyspaces.
Why it's wrong here
AWS DMS does not support Apache Cassandra as a source.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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