DBS-C01 AWS DMS (Database Migration Service) Practice Question
A company is migrating a 5 TB Oracle database to Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL. The migration must be completed within a weekend. The on-premises network has a 1 Gbps connection to AWS. What is the MOST efficient migration strategy?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap is that candidates assume Snowball is always faster for large data volumes, ignoring the shipping delays and the fact that a 1 Gbps link can transfer 5 TB in about 11 hours, well within a weekend. Network-based tools like DMS can be more efficient when the connection is adequate.
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
✓
Use AWS DMS with direct connect to export the Oracle database directly to Aurora
With a 1 Gbps connection, the theoretical maximum transfer rate is ~450 GB/hour, so transferring 5 TB would take about 11 hours, well within a weekend. AWS DMS with Direct Connect provides a dedicated, high-bandwidth path for the migration, making it the most efficient strategy. Snowball Edge (Option D) requires ordering, loading, shipping (1-2 days), and importing, which cannot complete within a weekend. Options A and C are less efficient: S3 Transfer Acceleration adds unnecessary steps, and DMS with CDC is designed for ongoing replication, not initial load.
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 S3 Transfer Acceleration to upload the database dump to S3 and then load into Aurora
Why it's wrong here
S3 Transfer Acceleration is used to speed up uploads to S3, but the data would then need to be loaded into Aurora separately, adding complexity and time. It is not the most efficient direct migration method.
- ✓
Use AWS DMS with direct connect to export the Oracle database directly to Aurora
Why this is correct
Correct. AWS DMS with Direct Connect leverages a dedicated, high-bandwidth connection to migrate the database directly to Aurora, making it the most efficient strategy for a 5 TB migration within a weekend.
- ✗
Use AWS DMS with change data capture over the existing network connection
Why it's wrong here
DMS with Change Data Capture is intended for ongoing replication to keep the target synchronized after an initial load. For a one-time migration, using CDC adds unnecessary overhead and complexity.
- ✗
Use AWS Snowball Edge to transfer the data and then load into Aurora
Why it's wrong here
Snowball Edge involves physical transfer of data. Even with expedited shipping, the process takes at least 1-2 days for shipping alone, plus time to order, load, and import, making it impossible to complete within a weekend.
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 |
Go deeper
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This DBS-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 DBS-C01 exam.