- A
Export production data to S3 and import into a test instance using Lambda.
Why wrong: This is complex and not efficient for regular refreshes.
- B
Create a read replica of the production database, then promote it to a standalone instance for testing.
A read replica can be promoted quickly and refreshed by creating a new replica.
- C
Use AWS DMS to continuously replicate data from production to a test RDS instance.
Why wrong: DMS adds overhead and is not intended for regular test refresh.
- D
Create a snapshot of the production database and restore it as a new RDS instance.
Why wrong: This works but requires manual steps and does not provide regular refresh easily.
Question 271 of 1,730
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 wants to test an application against an Amazon RDS for MySQL database with a recent set of production data without impacting the production database. The test database must be available quickly and be refreshed regularly. Which solution should be used?
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
✓
Create a read replica of the production database, then promote it to a standalone instance for testing.
Creating a read replica of the production RDS for MySQL database and then promoting it to a standalone instance is the fastest way to obtain a near-current copy of production data without impacting the source. The replica is created asynchronously using MySQL's native binlog replication, and promotion breaks the replication link, leaving a fully writable test instance. This approach minimizes setup time because the replica is already hydrated with data from the moment of creation.
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.
- ✗
Export production data to S3 and import into a test instance using Lambda.
Why it's wrong here
This is complex and not efficient for regular refreshes.
- ✓
Create a read replica of the production database, then promote it to a standalone instance for testing.
Why this is correct
A read replica can be promoted quickly and refreshed by creating a new replica.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use AWS DMS to continuously replicate data from production to a test RDS instance.
Why it's wrong here
DMS adds overhead and is not intended for regular test refresh.
- ✗
Create a snapshot of the production database and restore it as a new RDS instance.
Why it's wrong here
This works but requires manual steps and does not provide regular refresh easily.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose snapshot restore (Option D) because it seems like the most straightforward backup method, but they overlook that a read replica can be promoted to a standalone instance much faster and with less operational overhead for regular refreshes.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, an RDS read replica uses MySQL's asynchronous binlog replication; the replica applies changes from the source's binary log in near real-time. When you promote a read replica, RDS stops the replication process and applies any remaining binlog events, then converts the instance to a standalone master — this typically completes in under a minute. In a real-world scenario, if the production database is under heavy write load, the replica may lag by seconds, but it still provides a far more current dataset than a snapshot restore, which can take hours for large databases.
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.
TExam Day Tips
- 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.
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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 — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a read replica of the production database, then promote it to a standalone instance for testing. — Creating a read replica of the production RDS for MySQL database and then promoting it to a standalone instance is the fastest way to obtain a near-current copy of production data without impacting the source. The replica is created asynchronously using MySQL's native binlog replication, and promotion breaks the replication link, leaving a fully writable test instance. This approach minimizes setup time because the replica is already hydrated with data from the moment of creation.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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