DBS-C01 Workload-Specific Database Design Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of workload-specific database design. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 an on-premises Oracle database to Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL. The database is 2 TB and has a daily change rate of 10%. They have a 1 Gbps network connection to AWS. They want to minimize downtime during the migration. Which migration approach should they use?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "minimum / minimize"
Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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 ongoing replication
AWS DMS can perform continuous replication from Oracle to Aurora PostgreSQL with minimal downtime. Option A is wrong because pg_dump/restore would require a long downtime for the initial load and catch-up. Option B is wrong because an Aurora read replica cannot be created from an external Oracle database. Option D is wrong because the Schema Conversion Tool (SCT) is for schema conversion, not data migration.
Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
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 Schema Conversion Tool (SCT) to convert schema, then import data
Why it's wrong here
SCT only converts schema; data migration still requires another tool.
✓
Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with ongoing replication
Why this is correct
DMS supports continuous change data capture (CDC) to minimize downtime.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
✗
Use pg_dump to export the database and pg_restore to import
Why it's wrong here
This would cause significant downtime and cannot handle ongoing changes.
✗
Create an Aurora read replica from the Oracle database
Why it's wrong here
Aurora cannot have an Oracle source as a read replica.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
The first matching ACL entry is used.
There is usually an implicit deny at the end.
TExam Day Tips
→Check inbound versus outbound direction.
→Read the ACL from top to bottom.
→Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.
Key takeaway
ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related DBS-C01 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
Workload-Specific Database Design — This question tests Workload-Specific Database Design — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with ongoing replication — AWS DMS can perform continuous replication from Oracle to Aurora PostgreSQL with minimal downtime. Option A is wrong because pg_dump/restore would require a long downtime for the initial load and catch-up. Option B is wrong because an Aurora read replica cannot be created from an external Oracle database. Option D is wrong because the Schema Conversion Tool (SCT) is for schema conversion, not data migration.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related DBS-C01 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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Question Discussion
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