- A
Update the application's connection string to point to the new writer endpoint.
Explicitly updating the endpoint ensures immediate connectivity.
- B
Reboot the new primary instance to reset connections.
Why wrong: Rebooting causes additional downtime and is unnecessary.
- C
Update the security group to allow inbound traffic from the application.
Why wrong: Security group configuration remains valid after failover.
- D
Wait for DNS propagation and flush the application's DNS cache.
DNS changes propagate automatically; flushing cache speeds up resolution.
- E
Create a read replica and promote it to a new primary.
Why wrong: Creating a read replica is unnecessary; a primary already exists.
DBS-C01 Management and Operations Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of management and operations. 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 running an Amazon RDS for MySQL instance with Multi-AZ. The primary instance in us-east-1a fails, and the standby in us-east-1b is promoted. The application cannot connect after failover. Which TWO steps should the database administrator take to restore connectivity?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"primary"Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
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
Update the application's connection string to point to the new writer endpoint.
Option A is correct because the CNAME updates automatically, but DNS caching may cause delays. Option D is correct because updating the connection string to the new writer endpoint ensures connectivity. Option B is wrong because rebooting the new primary is not required. Option C is wrong because modifying security group is unnecessary; it already allows traffic. Option E is wrong because read replicas are not related.
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.
- ✓
Update the application's connection string to point to the new writer endpoint.
Why this is correct
Explicitly updating the endpoint ensures immediate connectivity.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Reboot the new primary instance to reset connections.
Why it's wrong here
Rebooting causes additional downtime and is unnecessary.
- ✗
Update the security group to allow inbound traffic from the application.
Why it's wrong here
Security group configuration remains valid after failover.
- ✓
Wait for DNS propagation and flush the application's DNS cache.
Why this is correct
DNS changes propagate automatically; flushing cache speeds up resolution.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Create a read replica and promote it to a new primary.
Why it's wrong here
Creating a read replica is unnecessary; a primary already exists.
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 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.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DBS-C01 question test?
Management and Operations — This question tests Management and Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Update the application's connection string to point to the new writer endpoint. — Option A is correct because the CNAME updates automatically, but DNS caching may cause delays. Option D is correct because updating the connection string to the new writer endpoint ensures connectivity. Option B is wrong because rebooting the new primary is not required. Option C is wrong because modifying security group is unnecessary; it already allows traffic. Option E is wrong because read replicas are not related.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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.
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