DBS-C01 Deployment and Migration Practice Question
A company needs to migrate a SQL Server database to Amazon RDS for SQL Server. The database uses stored procedures with xp_cmdshell. What should the company do?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates assume RDS Custom for SQL Server provides full OS control, but AWS still restricts xp_cmdshell and other OS-level features, making rewriting the only viable option.
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
✓
Rewrite the stored procedures to remove dependency on xp_cmdshell before migration.
Amazon RDS for SQL Server does not support the xp_cmdshell extended stored procedure because it allows execution of operating system commands, which violates the managed service model where AWS controls the host OS. The correct approach is to rewrite the stored procedures to remove dependency on xp_cmdshell before migration, using alternatives such as SQL Server Agent jobs, CLR integration, or external scripting via AWS Lambda or EC2.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Rewrite the stored procedures to remove dependency on xp_cmdshell before migration.
Why this is correct
xp_cmdshell is not supported; procedures must be modified to use alternatives.
- ✗
Use RDS Custom for SQL Server to retain full control.
Why it's wrong here
RDS Custom may allow more control, but xp_cmdshell is still not supported.
- ✗
Enable xp_cmdshell in the RDS parameter group.
Why it's wrong here
RDS does not allow xp_cmdshell; it is blocked for security reasons.
- ✗
Disable xp_cmdshell in the stored procedures and migrate as-is.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling does not make the procedures work; they need to be rewritten.
Quick reference
Cloud Service Model Comparison
| Model | You Manage | Provider Manages | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| IaaS | OS, runtime, apps, data | Hardware, hypervisor, networking | EC2, Azure VMs, GCP Compute Engine |
| PaaS | Apps and data | OS, runtime, middleware, hardware | Elastic Beanstalk, Azure App Service |
| SaaS | Data and settings only | Everything else | Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Workday |
| FaaS / Serverless | Function code only | Infra, scaling, runtime | Lambda, Azure Functions, Cloud Run |
| CaaS | Containers and apps | Kubernetes, OS, hardware | EKS, AKS, GKE |
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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.