Question 736 of 1,786
Data Ingestion and TransformationeasyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Using AWS Transfer Family to Import FTP Data to S3

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 import data from an external FTP server into Amazon S3 on a daily basis. The data volumes are moderate. Which AWS service is MOST suitable for this task?

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 Transfer Family

AWS Transfer Family is the most suitable service because it provides fully managed support for SFTP, FTPS, and FTP protocols, enabling direct, secure file transfers from an external FTP server to Amazon S3 without needing to manage any infrastructure. It integrates natively with S3, so files are automatically stored in the specified bucket upon transfer completion, making it ideal for daily imports of moderate data volumes.

Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

  • Amazon S3 Transfer Acceleration

    Why it's wrong here

    Transfer Acceleration speeds up uploads to S3, but does not fetch from FTP.

  • AWS Transfer Family

    Why this is correct

    Transfer Family supports FTP/SFTP/FTPS and directly writes to S3.

    Related concept

    Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

  • AWS DataSync

    Why it's wrong here

    DataSync does not support FTP as a source.

  • AWS Glue with a JDBC connection

    Why it's wrong here

    JDBC is for databases, not FTP servers.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates often confuse AWS DataSync with a general-purpose file transfer tool, but DataSync requires an agent on the source and does not natively support FTP protocols, whereas AWS Transfer Family is purpose-built for FTP-based transfers to S3.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

AWS Transfer Family supports multiple protocols (SFTP, FTPS, FTP) and can be configured with identity providers such as AWS Directory Service or custom providers for authentication. Under the hood, it uses a managed endpoint that can be internet-facing or VPC-enabled, and each file transfer triggers an S3 PUT operation, allowing you to use S3 event notifications or AWS Lambda for downstream processing. In real-world scenarios, this service is particularly useful when you need to replace legacy FTP servers with a fully managed, scalable solution that maintains compatibility with existing client workflows.

KKey Concepts to Remember

  • Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
  • Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
  • Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.

TExam Day Tips

  • Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
  • Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.

Key takeaway

Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.

Real-world example

How this comes up in practice

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.

Quick reference

AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison

Storage ClassMin DurationRetrievalUse Case
S3 StandardNoneImmediateFrequently accessed data
S3 Standard-IA30 daysImmediateInfrequent access, rapid retrieval
S3 One Zone-IA30 daysImmediateNon-critical infrequent data
S3 Intelligent-TieringNoneImmediate–hoursUnknown or changing access patterns
S3 Glacier Instant90 daysMillisecondsArchive with instant retrieval
S3 Glacier Flexible90 daysMinutes–hoursArchive, flexible retrieval
S3 Glacier Deep Archive180 daysHoursLong-term compliance archive

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this DEA-C01 question test?

Data Ingestion and Transformation — This question tests Data Ingestion and Transformation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: AWS Transfer Family — AWS Transfer Family is the most suitable service because it provides fully managed support for SFTP, FTPS, and FTP protocols, enabling direct, secure file transfers from an external FTP server to Amazon S3 without needing to manage any infrastructure. It integrates natively with S3, so files are automatically stored in the specified bucket upon transfer completion, making it ideal for daily imports of moderate data volumes.

What should I do if I get this DEA-C01 question wrong?

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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Same concept, more angles

1 more ways this is tested on DEA-C01

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 needs to ingest data from an external FTP server into AWS S3. The FTP server is not accessible from the internet. Which AWS service should be used to securely transfer the data?

easy
  • A.Kinesis Data Firehose
  • B.AWS Transfer Family with SFTP endpoint in a VPC
  • C.AWS DataSync
  • D.AWS Snowball Edge

Why B: Option B is correct because AWS Transfer Family supports SFTP and can be configured with a VPC endpoint to securely transfer data from an FTP server in a private network to S3. Option A is wrong because Kinesis Data Firehose is designed for streaming data ingestion, not for FTP transfers. Option C is wrong because AWS DataSync requires network connectivity to the source, and the FTP server is not internet-accessible. Option D is wrong because AWS Snowball Edge is intended for large-scale offline data transfers, not regular FTP-based transfers.

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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 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.