The answer is AWS Snowball Edge, as it provides the most efficient migration strategy for moving a 5 TB Oracle database to Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL within a tight weekend window. The core technical concept is that a 1 Gbps network connection, while fast, would theoretically take over 11 hours to transfer 5 TB, but real-world overhead, congestion, and retransmissions make it unreliable for a strict deadline; Snowball Edge bypasses the network entirely by physically shipping the data, ensuring a predictable and faster offline transfer. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of hybrid storage migration and bandwidth math, often trapping candidates who overlook network limitations or mistakenly choose DMS for large, time-sensitive loads. A key memory tip is to think of Snowball as the “weekend warrior” for big data—when the clock is tight and the pipe is thin, ship it, don’t stream it.
DBS-C01 Deployment and Migration Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of deployment and migration. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 migrating a 5 TB Oracle database to Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL. The migration must be completed within a weekend. The on-premises network has a 1 Gbps connection to AWS. What is the MOST efficient migration strategy?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use AWS Snowball Edge to transfer the data and then load into Aurora
Option B is correct because AWS Snowball Edge can transfer the data offline faster than over a 1 Gbps link (5 TB at 1 Gbps would take ~11 hours, but with overhead and network issues, Snowball is more reliable). Option A is wrong because DMS over 1 Gbps may not complete within a weekend for 5 TB with limited bandwidth. Option C is wrong because S3 Transfer Acceleration does not help with database migration to Aurora directly. Option D is wrong because Aurora does not support direct export from Oracle.
Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
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 S3 Transfer Acceleration to upload the database dump to S3 and then load into Aurora
Why it's wrong here
S3 Transfer Acceleration still relies on the 1 Gbps network and may not meet the weekend deadline.
✗
Use AWS DMS with direct connect to export the Oracle database directly to Aurora
Why it's wrong here
DMS direct connect still uses the network and may be too slow.
✗
Use AWS DMS with change data capture over the existing network connection
Why it's wrong here
DMS over 1 Gbps may not transfer 5 TB within a weekend due to network overhead.
✓
Use AWS Snowball Edge to transfer the data and then load into Aurora
Why this is correct
Snowball Edge provides fast offline transfer, avoiding bandwidth limitations.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
The first matching ACL entry is used.
There is usually an implicit deny at the end.
TExam Day Tips
→Check inbound versus outbound direction.
→Read the ACL from top to bottom.
→Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.
Key takeaway
ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
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.
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related DBS-C01 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
Deployment and Migration — This question tests Deployment and Migration — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use AWS Snowball Edge to transfer the data and then load into Aurora — Option B is correct because AWS Snowball Edge can transfer the data offline faster than over a 1 Gbps link (5 TB at 1 Gbps would take ~11 hours, but with overhead and network issues, Snowball is more reliable). Option A is wrong because DMS over 1 Gbps may not complete within a weekend for 5 TB with limited bandwidth. Option C is wrong because S3 Transfer Acceleration does not help with database migration to Aurora directly. Option D is wrong because Aurora does not support direct export from Oracle.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related DBS-C01 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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Question Discussion
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