- A
Use the point-in-time recovery feature to restore the database to a new DB instance at a time before the drop, then use pg_dump to export the table and import it into the production database.
PITR allows restore to any second within the backup retention period, minimizing data loss and downtime by restoring to a new instance.
- B
Restore the automated backup from S3 to a new EC2 instance running PostgreSQL, then export the table and import it into the production database.
Why wrong: RDS automated backups are not directly accessible as files; this is not a supported method and would be complex.
- C
Restore the database from the most recent manual snapshot to a new instance, then use pg_dump to extract the table and import it into the production database.
Why wrong: This is slower and not point-in-time; manual snapshots may not have the exact data before the drop.
- D
Create a read replica from the production database, stop replication, and use pg_dump to extract the table from the replica and import it into the production database.
Why wrong: A read replica may not have the exact data before the drop if replication lag exists, and this approach is not point-in-time.
Quick Answer
The correct approach is to use point-in-time restore to a new RDS DB instance from just before the table was dropped, then export the table with pg_dump and import it into production. This minimizes downtime because restoring to a new instance keeps the production database fully online, while the point-in-time recovery (PITR) feature leverages automated backups to hit the exact 5-minute RPO without manual intervention. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that PITR cannot restore a single table directly—you must restore the entire instance, then extract the needed object. A common trap is assuming you can restore to the existing instance, which would cause significant downtime, or using a read replica, which lacks point-in-time precision. Remember the mnemonic: **New, then Dump**—always restore to a new instance first, then dump and import the table.
DBS-C01 Management and Operations Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of management and operations. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 runs a production Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL database with automated backups enabled. A database administrator accidentally dropped a critical table. The administrator wants to restore the table from a point in time before the drop. The database is 1 TB in size and the recovery point objective (RPO) is 5 minutes. Which approach minimizes downtime?
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
Use the point-in-time recovery feature to restore the database to a new DB instance at a time before the drop, then use pg_dump to export the table and import it into the production database.
Point-in-time recovery (PITR) to a new DB instance is the most efficient way to restore a specific table without affecting the existing production database. Restoring to the existing instance would cause downtime. pg_dump from a read replica is slower and not point-in-time. Manual backup from S3 is not automated and not point-in-time.
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.
- ✓
Use the point-in-time recovery feature to restore the database to a new DB instance at a time before the drop, then use pg_dump to export the table and import it into the production database.
Why this is correct
PITR allows restore to any second within the backup retention period, minimizing data loss and downtime by restoring to a new instance.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Restore the automated backup from S3 to a new EC2 instance running PostgreSQL, then export the table and import it into the production database.
Why it's wrong here
RDS automated backups are not directly accessible as files; this is not a supported method and would be complex.
- ✗
Restore the database from the most recent manual snapshot to a new instance, then use pg_dump to extract the table and import it into the production database.
Why it's wrong here
This is slower and not point-in-time; manual snapshots may not have the exact data before the drop.
- ✗
Create a read replica from the production database, stop replication, and use pg_dump to extract the table from the replica and import it into the production database.
Why it's wrong here
A read replica may not have the exact data before the drop if replication lag exists, and this approach is not point-in-time.
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 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
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: Use the point-in-time recovery feature to restore the database to a new DB instance at a time before the drop, then use pg_dump to export the table and import it into the production database. — Point-in-time recovery (PITR) to a new DB instance is the most efficient way to restore a specific table without affecting the existing production database. Restoring to the existing instance would cause downtime. pg_dump from a read replica is slower and not point-in-time. Manual backup from S3 is not automated and not point-in-time.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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 →
Same concept, more angles
2 more ways this is tested on DBS-C01
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 has an Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL DB instance with automated backups enabled. The retention period is set to 7 days. A developer accidentally performed a DROP TABLE operation on a critical table 2 days ago. How can the table be recovered with minimal data loss?
easy- ✓ A.Perform a point-in-time restore to a time just before the DROP TABLE operation.
- B.Use the pg_dump utility to create a manual backup and restore it.
- C.Create a read replica of the DB instance and promote it to a standalone instance.
- D.Restore the DB instance from the oldest automated snapshot.
Why A: Point-in-time restore allows recovery to any time within the backup retention period. The table was dropped 2 days ago, so restoring to a time just before the drop will recover the data. Option A (restore from oldest snapshot) would lose data from the last 7 days; Option C (manual backup) is not available; Option D (replicate to another region) does not help.
Variation 2. A company is using Amazon RDS for SQL Server with Multi-AZ and automated backups enabled. The database administrator needs to restore the database to a specific point in time that is within the retention period. What is the correct procedure?
easy- ✓ A.Use the RDS console to perform a point-in-time recovery to the desired time
- B.Restore from a manual snapshot taken at the desired time
- C.Use the native SQL Server backup and restore functionality
- D.Restore from the latest automated snapshot
Why A: Option B is correct because point-in-time recovery is performed through the RDS console or API by specifying the time. Option A is wrong because it restores the latest backup. Option C is wrong because it restores a manual snapshot. Option D is wrong because automated backups are used for point-in-time recovery.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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