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DBS-C01 Deployment and Migration Practice Question

A company is using an Amazon RDS for SQL Server database with Multi-AZ deployment. They need to migrate to Amazon RDS for SQL Server in a different AWS region. The database is 1 TB and cannot tolerate more than 15 minutes of downtime. Which strategy minimizes downtime?

⚠ Common exam trap

Many candidates assume cross-region read replicas are available for all RDS engines, but SQL Server does not support them, leading them to choose Option A without verifying engine-specific limitations.

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

✓

Set up cross-region replication using native SQL Server log shipping or DMS with ongoing replication, then perform a DNS cutover to the target instance.

It combines native SQL Server log shipping or AWS DMS with ongoing replication to keep the target region instance nearly synchronized with the source, enabling a DNS cutover with minimal downtime. This approach meets the 15-minute downtime requirement by allowing a controlled final sync and cutover, unlike snapshot restore or full-load-only methods that require longer outages. Multi-AZ deployment does not prevent cross-region replication, and log shipping or DMS can handle the 1 TB database within the downtime window if properly configured.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

  • ✗

    Create a cross-region read replica in the target region and promote it to a standalone instance.

    Why it's wrong here

    Amazon RDS for SQL Server does not support cross-region read replicas.

  • ✗

    Take a snapshot of the source RDS instance and restore it in the target region. Then update the application connection string.

    Why it's wrong here

    Snapshot restore is a point-in-time operation and would require additional downtime to sync changes made after the snapshot.

  • ✓

    Set up cross-region replication using native SQL Server log shipping or DMS with ongoing replication, then perform a DNS cutover to the target instance.

    Why this is correct

    This approach keeps the target synchronized and allows a quick cutover with minimal downtime.

  • ✗

    Use AWS DMS to perform a full load to a new RDS instance in the target region. During the final sync, stop the source and resume from the target.

    Why it's wrong here

    While DMS can do ongoing replication, a full load to a new instance would require time to catch up, potentially exceeding 15 minutes of downtime if not properly planned.

About these practice questions

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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.