The correct solution is to use Aurora cloning to create a clone of the production cluster, then apply database triggers or scripts to delete 90% of the data. This approach is ideal because Aurora cloning creates a copy-on-write clone that shares the same underlying storage volume as the source, so the 2 TB test environment incurs almost no additional storage cost and avoids any performance impact on the production database during daily refreshes. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of Aurora’s storage architecture and the trade-offs between cloning, snapshots, and replication—a common trap is choosing a snapshot restore, which would create a full 2 TB copy and waste resources, or using a read replica, which would strain production replication. Remember the key memory tip: “Clone shares, snapshot copies”—cloning is the only option that minimizes cost and eliminates performance impact when you only need a subset of data refreshed daily.
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 multinational e-commerce company runs an Amazon Aurora MySQL database for its product catalog. The database is 2 TB and has a high write volume. The company needs to create a test environment that contains a subset (10%) of the production data for developers to use. The test environment must be refreshed daily with the latest production data. The operations team wants to minimize cost and ensure that the test environment does not impact production performance. Which solution should they implement?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "minimum / minimize"
Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use Aurora cloning to create a clone of the production cluster. Use database triggers or scripts to delete 90% of the data after cloning.
Using Aurora cloning creates a copy that shares storage with the source, minimizing cost and avoiding performance impact. Option A is correct. Option B (snapshot and restore) creates a full copy, costing more. Option C (DMS) adds cost and overhead. Option D (read replica and promote) would impact production replication.
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.
✗
Use AWS DMS to continuously replicate a filtered subset of data to a test cluster.
Why it's wrong here
DMS adds complexity and cost.
✗
Take a manual snapshot of the production cluster, restore it to a new cluster, and delete 90% of the data.
Why it's wrong here
Snapshot restore takes time and storage cost for full data.
✓
Use Aurora cloning to create a clone of the production cluster. Use database triggers or scripts to delete 90% of the data after cloning.
Why this is correct
Cloning is fast, cost-effective, and does not impact production.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
Create a read replica of the production cluster, promote it to a standalone cluster, and delete 90% of the data.
Why it's wrong here
Read replica creation impacts production I/O.
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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
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.
Management and Operations — This question tests Management and Operations — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use Aurora cloning to create a clone of the production cluster. Use database triggers or scripts to delete 90% of the data after cloning. — Using Aurora cloning creates a copy that shares storage with the source, minimizing cost and avoiding performance impact. Option A is correct. Option B (snapshot and restore) creates a full copy, costing more. Option C (DMS) adds cost and overhead. Option D (read replica and promote) would impact production replication.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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