The answer is AWS DMS and AWS SCT used together. AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) handles the actual data movement by performing an initial full load of the 1 TB Oracle database and then continuously replicating ongoing changes from the on-premises source to Amazon RDS for Oracle, which achieves the minimal downtime requirement. AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT) is essential for converting the source Oracle schema—including stored procedures, functions, and data types—into a format compatible with the target RDS for Oracle engine, especially if you are moving to a different edition or optimizing for the cloud. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this pairing tests your understanding that DMS is the engine for live migration with ongoing replication, while SCT handles schema transformation; a common trap is choosing Snowball for large data sets, but that breaks minimal downtime because it requires an offline transfer. Remember the memory tip: DMS moves the data, SCT moves the schema—together they make the migration seamless.
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 needs to migrate a 1 TB Oracle database to Amazon RDS for Oracle. The migration must have minimal downtime and the source database is running on-premises. Which TWO AWS services should be used together to achieve this?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
AWS Database Migration Service (DMS)
Options B and D are correct. AWS DMS (B) can perform the initial full load and ongoing replication, while AWS SCT (D) can help convert the Oracle schema to be compatible with RDS. Option A is wrong because Snowball is for large offline data transfer, not for minimal downtime migration with ongoing replication. Option C is wrong because Direct Connect is a network service, not a migration service. Option E is wrong because CloudEndure is for server migration, not database migration.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
AWS Database Migration Service (DMS)
Why this is correct
DMS supports ongoing replication for minimal downtime.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✓
AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT)
Why this is correct
SCT helps convert the Oracle schema for RDS.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
AWS CloudEndure Migration
Why it's wrong here
CloudEndure is for server migration, not database migration.
✗
AWS Snowball
Why it's wrong here
Snowball is for offline data transfer, not for minimal downtime migration.
✗
AWS Direct Connect
Why it's wrong here
Direct Connect is a network service, not a migration tool.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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 the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related DBS-C01 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Deployment and Migration — This question tests Deployment and Migration — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) — Options B and D are correct. AWS DMS (B) can perform the initial full load and ongoing replication, while AWS SCT (D) can help convert the Oracle schema to be compatible with RDS. Option A is wrong because Snowball is for large offline data transfer, not for minimal downtime migration with ongoing replication. Option C is wrong because Direct Connect is a network service, not a migration service. Option E is wrong because CloudEndure is for server migration, not database migration.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related DBS-C01 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company wants to migrate an on-premises Oracle database to Amazon RDS for Oracle with minimal downtime. Which AWS service should be used for the migration?
easy
A.AWS Systems Manager
B.AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT)
✓ C.AWS Database Migration Service (DMS)
D.AWS Service Control Policies (SCP)
Why C: AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) is designed for migrating databases to AWS with minimal downtime. AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT) is used for schema conversion but not for the actual data migration. Service Control Policies (SCP) and Systems Manager are not relevant for database migration.
Variation 2. A company wants to migrate an on-premises Oracle database to Amazon RDS for Oracle with minimal downtime. Which AWS service should be used for the initial data load and ongoing replication?
easy
✓ A.AWS Database Migration Service (DMS)
B.AWS Snowball
C.AWS Direct Connect
D.AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT)
Why A: AWS DMS can perform a full load and then continuously replicate changes to keep the target in sync with the source, enabling minimal downtime migration. SCT is used for schema conversion, not replication. Direct Connect provides network connectivity, not data migration. Snowball is for offline data transfer and does not support ongoing replication.
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Question Discussion
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