- A
Create a read replica of the source RDS instance, use AWS DMS with CDC from the read replica to Aurora, then promote Aurora.
Read replica minimizes source impact, CDC allows minimal downtime, PITR on source remains.
- B
Use mysqldump to export the database, import into Aurora, and point DNS to Aurora.
Why wrong: mysqldump causes downtime.
- C
Use AWS DMS with CDC directly from the source RDS instance to Aurora.
Why wrong: Direct DMS may impact source performance and PITR.
- D
Take a snapshot of the source RDS instance, restore to Aurora, and point DNS to Aurora.
Why wrong: Snapshot restore causes downtime.
Question 1,179 of 1,730
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 10 TB Amazon RDS for MySQL database to Amazon Aurora MySQL. The migration must have minimal downtime and must support point-in-time recovery for the source during migration. Which approach meets these requirements?
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 source RDS instance, use AWS DMS with CDC from the read replica to Aurora, then promote Aurora.
Option A is correct because creating a read replica of the source RDS for MySQL instance and using AWS DMS with Change Data Capture (CDC) from that replica allows the migration to proceed with minimal downtime. The read replica offloads the CDC overhead from the source, and CDC captures ongoing changes after the full load, enabling a near-zero-downtime cutover. Additionally, the source RDS instance remains fully available for point-in-time recovery (PITR) throughout the migration, as the read replica does not interfere with the source's backup or transaction log retention.
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.
- ✓
Create a read replica of the source RDS instance, use AWS DMS with CDC from the read replica to Aurora, then promote Aurora.
Why this is correct
Read replica minimizes source impact, CDC allows minimal downtime, PITR on source remains.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use mysqldump to export the database, import into Aurora, and point DNS to Aurora.
Why it's wrong here
mysqldump causes downtime.
- ✗
Use AWS DMS with CDC directly from the source RDS instance to Aurora.
Why it's wrong here
Direct DMS may impact source performance and PITR.
- ✗
Take a snapshot of the source RDS instance, restore to Aurora, and point DNS to Aurora.
Why it's wrong here
Snapshot restore causes downtime.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume DMS CDC must be run directly from the source for simplicity, overlooking that a read replica isolates the migration workload and preserves the source's point-in-time recovery capabilities, which is a key requirement in this question.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
AWS DMS CDC relies on reading the source database's binary logs (binlogs) to capture changes; when using a read replica, DMS reads the replica's binlogs, which are identical to the source's, preserving the source's binlog retention for PITR. The read replica must have binlog retention enabled (e.g., by setting binlog_format to ROW and adjusting binlog_retention_hours) to ensure DMS can catch up without lag. In real-world scenarios, this approach is critical for large databases where a direct CDC load could cause source lag or binlog cleanup issues, risking both migration and PITR capabilities.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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 source RDS instance, use AWS DMS with CDC from the read replica to Aurora, then promote Aurora. — Option A is correct because creating a read replica of the source RDS for MySQL instance and using AWS DMS with Change Data Capture (CDC) from that replica allows the migration to proceed with minimal downtime. The read replica offloads the CDC overhead from the source, and CDC captures ongoing changes after the full load, enabling a near-zero-downtime cutover. Additionally, the source RDS instance remains fully available for point-in-time recovery (PITR) throughout the migration, as the read replica does not interfere with the source's backup or transaction log retention.
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.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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