- A
Deploy an RDS for MySQL instance with Multi-AZ and one or more read replicas, and use Application Auto Scaling to add replicas based on CPU utilization
Why wrong: Application Auto Scaling for RDS read replicas is possible but complex; requires custom CloudWatch metrics.
- B
Deploy an RDS for MySQL instance with Multi-AZ and enable automatic scaling of the instance size
Why wrong: Instance size scaling does not offload read traffic and may cause downtime.
- C
Deploy an Amazon Aurora MySQL cluster with Multi-AZ and enable Aurora Auto Scaling for read replicas
Aurora provides automatic failover and auto-scaling of read replicas, and is MySQL-compatible, making it a cost-effective and simpler solution.
- D
Deploy an RDS for MySQL instance with multiple read replicas and use a custom script to promote a read replica in case of failure
Why wrong: No automatic failover; requires custom scripting.
Quick Answer
The answer is to deploy an Amazon Aurora MySQL cluster with Multi-AZ and enable Aurora Auto Scaling for read replicas, as this delivers a cost-effective solution that automatically scales read capacity while ensuring high availability. Aurora Auto Scaling dynamically adjusts the number of read replicas based on CPU utilization or connection count, directly addressing the variable workload and 80:20 read-to-write ratio without requiring manual intervention or custom metrics. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of when to choose Aurora over standard RDS for MySQL, especially given the operations team’s limited experience—Aurora’s built-in auto scaling simplifies management compared to Application Auto Scaling, which needs custom setup. A common trap is selecting Multi-AZ with read replicas on RDS MySQL, but that lacks automatic scaling; Aurora’s integrated approach is both simpler and more cost-effective for sporadic spikes. Memory tip: “Aurora Auto Scaling = hands-free read scaling for variable loads.”
DBS-C01 Deployment and Migration Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of deployment and migration. 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 is deploying a new web application on AWS. The application uses Amazon RDS for MySQL as its database. The database must be highly available and automatically failover in the event of an AZ outage. The company also needs to offload read traffic from the primary database to improve performance. The application read-to-write ratio is 80:20. The database workload is variable, with occasional spikes. The company wants a cost-effective solution that scales read capacity automatically. The operations team has limited experience with AWS. Which solution should the company implement?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"primary"Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
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
Deploy an Amazon Aurora MySQL cluster with Multi-AZ and enable Aurora Auto Scaling for read replicas
Multi-AZ provides automatic failover. Read replicas offload read traffic. However, read replicas do not auto-scale automatically; you need to add replicas manually or use auto-scaling with a custom solution. But given limited experience, the simplest solution is to use Multi-AZ and one or more read replicas. Option C (Multi-AZ with read replicas and Application Auto Scaling) is the most complete, but Application Auto Scaling for read replicas requires custom metrics. Option D (Aurora with Auto Scaling) is simpler because Aurora Auto Scaling automatically adds/removes read replicas based on CPU or connections. Aurora is MySQL-compatible and provides better performance and scalability. For limited experience, Aurora is a better choice. Option A (Multi-AZ only) does not offload reads. Option B (Read replicas only) lacks automatic failover. So the best is D.
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.
- ✗
Deploy an RDS for MySQL instance with Multi-AZ and one or more read replicas, and use Application Auto Scaling to add replicas based on CPU utilization
Why it's wrong here
Application Auto Scaling for RDS read replicas is possible but complex; requires custom CloudWatch metrics.
- ✗
Deploy an RDS for MySQL instance with Multi-AZ and enable automatic scaling of the instance size
Why it's wrong here
Instance size scaling does not offload read traffic and may cause downtime.
- ✓
Deploy an Amazon Aurora MySQL cluster with Multi-AZ and enable Aurora Auto Scaling for read replicas
Why this is correct
Aurora provides automatic failover and auto-scaling of read replicas, and is MySQL-compatible, making it a cost-effective and simpler solution.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✗
Deploy an RDS for MySQL instance with multiple read replicas and use a custom script to promote a read replica in case of failure
Why it's wrong here
No automatic failover; requires custom scripting.
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.
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Deployment and Migration — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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Deployment and Migration practice questions
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AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 study guide
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DBS-C01 question test?
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: Deploy an Amazon Aurora MySQL cluster with Multi-AZ and enable Aurora Auto Scaling for read replicas — Multi-AZ provides automatic failover. Read replicas offload read traffic. However, read replicas do not auto-scale automatically; you need to add replicas manually or use auto-scaling with a custom solution. But given limited experience, the simplest solution is to use Multi-AZ and one or more read replicas. Option C (Multi-AZ with read replicas and Application Auto Scaling) is the most complete, but Application Auto Scaling for read replicas requires custom metrics. Option D (Aurora with Auto Scaling) is simpler because Aurora Auto Scaling automatically adds/removes read replicas based on CPU or connections. Aurora is MySQL-compatible and provides better performance and scalability. For limited experience, Aurora is a better choice. Option A (Multi-AZ only) does not offload reads. Option B (Read replicas only) lacks automatic failover. So the best is D.
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: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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.
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