- A
Amazon Redshift
Why wrong: Redshift is a data warehouse, not a document database.
- B
Amazon RDS for MySQL
Why wrong: RDS is relational, not suitable for MongoDB document model.
- C
Amazon DocumentDB (with MongoDB compatibility)
DocumentDB is compatible with MongoDB workloads.
- D
Amazon DynamoDB
DynamoDB is a NoSQL database that can store JSON documents and supports auto scaling.
- E
Amazon S3
Why wrong: S3 is object storage, not suitable as primary database for MongoDB workloads.
Question 189 of 1,786
Migrate MongoDB to AWS: DocumentDB and DynamoDB with Minimal Downtime
This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data store management. 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 data engineer needs to migrate an on-premises MongoDB database to AWS. The migration must have minimal downtime and support automatic scaling. Which TWO AWS services should the engineer use for the target data store? (Choose TWO.)
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
✓
Amazon DocumentDB (with MongoDB compatibility)
Amazon DocumentDB (with MongoDB compatibility) is correct because it is a native AWS document database service that is wire-protocol compatible with MongoDB, allowing you to migrate your MongoDB workloads with minimal application changes. It supports automatic scaling of storage (up to 64 TB) and compute resources, and its fully managed architecture helps achieve minimal downtime during migration using tools like AWS DMS or native MongoDB replication. Amazon DynamoDB is also correct because it is a fully managed NoSQL database service that provides automatic scaling of throughput and storage, and can serve as a target for MongoDB migrations using AWS DMS or custom scripts, offering high availability and low-latency performance. Both services support minimal downtime and automatic scaling, meeting the requirements.
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 Redshift
Why it's wrong here
Redshift is a data warehouse, not a document database.
- ✗
Amazon RDS for MySQL
Why it's wrong here
RDS is relational, not suitable for MongoDB document model.
- ✓
Amazon DocumentDB (with MongoDB compatibility)
Why this is correct
DocumentDB is compatible with MongoDB workloads.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Amazon DynamoDB
Why this is correct
DynamoDB is a NoSQL database that can store JSON documents and supports auto scaling.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Amazon S3
Why it's wrong here
S3 is object storage, not suitable as primary database for MongoDB workloads.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse 'MongoDB compatibility' with a direct MongoDB Atlas service on AWS, or incorrectly assume that DynamoDB is the only NoSQL option, overlooking DocumentDB's purpose-built design for MongoDB migrations with minimal code changes.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Amazon DocumentDB implements the MongoDB 4.0 and 4.2 wire protocols, allowing existing MongoDB drivers and tools to connect without modification, while using a distributed, fault-tolerant storage volume that automatically replicates data six times across three Availability Zones. In real-world scenarios, engineers often use AWS DMS for continuous replication from on-premises MongoDB to DocumentDB, enabling near-zero downtime cutover, and then leverage DocumentDB's auto-scaling storage to handle growing data without manual intervention.
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 Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DEA-C01 question test?
Data Store Management — This question tests Data Store Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Amazon DocumentDB (with MongoDB compatibility) — Amazon DocumentDB (with MongoDB compatibility) is correct because it is a native AWS document database service that is wire-protocol compatible with MongoDB, allowing you to migrate your MongoDB workloads with minimal application changes. It supports automatic scaling of storage (up to 64 TB) and compute resources, and its fully managed architecture helps achieve minimal downtime during migration using tools like AWS DMS or native MongoDB replication. Amazon DynamoDB is also correct because it is a fully managed NoSQL database service that provides automatic scaling of throughput and storage, and can serve as a target for MongoDB migrations using AWS DMS or custom scripts, offering high availability and low-latency performance. Both services support minimal downtime and automatic scaling, meeting the requirements.
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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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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