The answer is to use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with transformation rules, as this approach directly handles schema changes and data masking during ingestion with minimal operational overhead. AWS DMS transformation rules allow you to define actions like renaming tables, adding prefixes, or masking sensitive columns—such as PII data—by applying built-in transformations like `make-pii-mask` directly within the migration task, eliminating the need for separate ETL pipelines. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of when to use DMS’s native schema conversion and transformation capabilities versus adding extra services like Glue or EC2, which increase complexity and cost. A common trap is assuming you always need a separate transformation layer, but DMS can handle many schema changes inline, especially for target databases like Redshift. Remember the mnemonic: DMS Does Masking Simply—if you need to transform data during a one-time or ongoing migration without extra overhead, DMS transformation rules are your direct path.
DEA-C01 Data Ingestion and Transformation Practice Question
This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data ingestion and transformation. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 company wants to ingest data from an on-premises SQL Server database into Amazon Redshift. They need to transform the data during ingestion, such as masking PII columns. Which approach meets these requirements with minimal operational overhead?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with transformation rules
Option C is correct because AWS DMS can perform transformation tasks, including data masking, during migration and can load directly into Redshift. Option A is wrong because Glue ETL adds an extra step. Option B is wrong because Kinesis Data Firehose is for streaming data. Option D is wrong because using EC2 adds operational overhead.
Key principle: Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Use AWS Glue ETL jobs to extract data from SQL Server, transform it, and load into Redshift
Why it's wrong here
Glue adds an extra step and overhead.
✗
Use a custom application on EC2 to extract, transform, and load
Why it's wrong here
Custom application adds operational overhead.
✗
Use Kinesis Data Firehose to stream data from SQL Server to Redshift
Why it's wrong here
Firehose is not designed for direct database extraction.
✓
Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with transformation rules
Why this is correct
DMS supports data transformation and loads into Redshift.
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
→Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
→Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
→Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
Key takeaway
Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related DEA-C01 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
Data Ingestion and Transformation — This question tests Data Ingestion and Transformation — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with transformation rules — Option C is correct because AWS DMS can perform transformation tasks, including data masking, during migration and can load directly into Redshift. Option A is wrong because Glue ETL adds an extra step. Option B is wrong because Kinesis Data Firehose is for streaming data. Option D is wrong because using EC2 adds operational overhead.
What should I do if I get this DEA-C01 question wrong?
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related DEA-C01 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company is using AWS DMS to replicate data from an on-premises Oracle database to Amazon RDS for MySQL. The replication is working, but the target table has a different schema. Which DMS feature should be used to transform the source schema to match the target?
hard
A.Use AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT)
B.Use AWS Glue ETL jobs
✓ C.Use DMS transformation rules
D.Use AWS Lambda triggers
Why C: Option A is correct because DMS supports transformation rules that can change table names, schemas, and columns during migration. Option B is wrong because DMS does not have a built-in schema conversion feature (that's AWS SCT). Option C is wrong because Lambda can be used for custom transformations but adds complexity. Option D is wrong because Glue is a separate ETL service, not integrated with DMS.
Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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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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