Quick Answer
The answer is Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL with Babelfish and Amazon RDS for Oracle. Amazon RDS for Oracle is a direct lift-and-shift target that preserves existing PL/SQL code, stored procedures, and triggers with minimal changes because it runs the same Oracle Database engine. Aurora PostgreSQL with Babelfish, however, is the more strategic choice when the goal is to eventually move away from Oracle licensing while still minimizing code changes—Babelfish provides a translation layer that understands the SQL Server and Oracle T-SQL/PL-SQL dialects, allowing many complex stored procedures and triggers to run unmodified on PostgreSQL. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of migration strategies that balance compatibility with cost optimization; a common trap is to overlook Babelfish and assume only RDS for Oracle qualifies. Memory tip: “Babelfish bridges the Babel of Oracle code to PostgreSQL without a rewrite.”
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of workload-specific database design. 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 an on-premises Oracle database with complex stored procedures and triggers to AWS. They want to minimize code changes. Which two AWS database services should they consider? (Choose two.)
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.
Amazon DynamoDB
Why wrong: NoSQL, incompatible with Oracle procedural code.
Amazon RDS for Oracle
Directly supports Oracle PL/SQL with minimal changes.
Amazon S3
Why wrong: Object storage, not a relational database.
Amazon Redshift
Why wrong: Data warehouse, not for OLTP workloads.
Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL with Babelfish
Babelfish understands Oracle SQL and PL/SQL.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Amazon RDS for Oracle
Amazon RDS for Oracle is a direct migration target for on-premises Oracle databases, supporting the same Oracle Database engine. This minimizes code changes because existing stored procedures, triggers, and PL/SQL code can run with minimal or no modification, leveraging Oracle's native compatibility.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Amazon DynamoDB
Why it's wrong here
NoSQL, incompatible with Oracle procedural code.
Amazon RDS for Oracle
Why this is correct
Directly supports Oracle PL/SQL with minimal changes.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Amazon S3
Why it's wrong here
Object storage, not a relational database.
Amazon Redshift
Why it's wrong here
Data warehouse, not for OLTP workloads.
Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL with Babelfish
Why this is correct
Babelfish understands Oracle SQL and PL/SQL.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates may confuse Babelfish's T-SQL compatibility with Oracle PL/SQL support, or incorrectly assume that any 'Aurora' or 'PostgreSQL' service can handle Oracle stored procedures without modification.
Detailed technical explanation
Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL with Babelfish provides a compatibility layer that translates T-SQL (from SQL Server) to PostgreSQL, but it does not support Oracle PL/SQL syntax or Oracle-specific features like autonomous transactions or Oracle packages. For Oracle migrations, RDS for Oracle offers full native support for Oracle Database features such as PL/SQL, Oracle Scheduler, and Oracle Advanced Queuing, ensuring minimal code changes. The Babelfish option is only relevant for SQL Server migrations, not Oracle.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Workload-Specific Database Design — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Workload-Specific Database Design — This question tests Workload-Specific Database Design — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Amazon RDS for Oracle — Amazon RDS for Oracle is a direct migration target for on-premises Oracle databases, supporting the same Oracle Database engine. This minimizes code changes because existing stored procedures, triggers, and PL/SQL code can run with minimal or no modification, leveraging Oracle's native compatibility.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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