The correct answer is that binary logging must be enabled on the source MySQL database and the DMS replication instance must have network connectivity to both the source and target databases. Binary logging is essential for AWS DMS change data capture with MySQL because it records every data modification, allowing DMS to read and replicate changes in near real-time. Without this log, DMS cannot track inserts, updates, or deletes for continuous replication. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of the prerequisites for AWS DMS CDC with MySQL, often appearing as a two-answer multiple-choice trap where candidates mistakenly think the source must be in a VPC or that read-only mode is required. A common memory tip is “Logs and Links”—you need binary logs on the source and network links from the replication instance to both databases.
DBS-C01 Deployment and Migration Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of deployment and migration. 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 is migrating a MySQL database to Amazon RDS for MySQL. They want to use AWS DMS for continuous replication. Which TWO prerequisites must be met before starting the migration?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable binary logging (binlog) on the source MySQL database.
Options A and B are correct. DMS requires binary logging to be enabled on the source for CDC, and the replication instance must be in a VPC with network access. Option C is wrong because the source database does not need to be in a VPC. Option D is wrong because DMS supports continuous replication without requiring read-only mode. Option E is wrong because S3 is not required for DMS.
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.
✓
Enable binary logging (binlog) on the source MySQL database.
Why this is correct
Binary logging is necessary for DMS to capture ongoing changes.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Ensure the DMS replication instance has network connectivity to the source and target databases.
Why this is correct
DMS needs network access to both databases for replication.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Set the source database to read-only mode during migration.
Why it's wrong here
DMS can replicate while the source is operational; read-only is not required.
✗
Place the source database in a VPC.
Why it's wrong here
The source database can be on-premises or in a VPC; VPC is not a prerequisite.
✗
Create an S3 bucket to store the migration logs.
Why it's wrong here
S3 is not a prerequisite for DMS; logs can be stored in CloudWatch.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which DBS-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Deployment and Migration — This question tests Deployment and Migration — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable binary logging (binlog) on the source MySQL database. — Options A and B are correct. DMS requires binary logging to be enabled on the source for CDC, and the replication instance must be in a VPC with network access. Option C is wrong because the source database does not need to be in a VPC. Option D is wrong because DMS supports continuous replication without requiring read-only mode. Option E is wrong because S3 is not required for DMS.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
Identify which DBS-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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.
Question Discussion
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