- A
Use Oracle Data Pump to export and pg_restore to import.
Why wrong: Requires significant downtime and manual steps.
- B
Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with change data capture (CDC).
DMS with CDC provides near-zero downtime.
- C
Use AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT) to convert schema and then copy data.
Why wrong: SCT only converts schema; separate data migration needed.
- D
Use AWS DMS full load only and then manually sync.
Why wrong: Missing CDC; manual sync increases downtime.
Question 112 of 1,730
Using AWS DMS with Change Data Capture for Oracle to Aurora PostgreSQL Migration
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 database has a 4-hour maintenance window weekly. Which migration approach minimizes downtime?
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
✓
Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with change data capture (CDC).
AWS DMS with CDC allows you to perform an initial full load of the 5 TB database and then continuously replicate ongoing changes from the source Oracle database to the target Aurora PostgreSQL. This minimizes downtime because you can keep the source database fully operational during the migration and only perform a brief cutover to switch applications to the new database, well within the 4-hour maintenance window.
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.
- ✗
Use Oracle Data Pump to export and pg_restore to import.
Why it's wrong here
Requires significant downtime and manual steps.
- ✓
Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with change data capture (CDC).
Why this is correct
DMS with CDC provides near-zero downtime.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT) to convert schema and then copy data.
Why it's wrong here
SCT only converts schema; separate data migration needed.
- ✗
Use AWS DMS full load only and then manually sync.
Why it's wrong here
Missing CDC; manual sync increases downtime.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume a full load plus manual sync (Option D) is sufficient, but they overlook the fact that for a 5 TB database, the manual sync window would be too long to fit within the 4-hour maintenance window, whereas CDC enables a near-zero-downtime cutover.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
AWS DMS CDC uses Oracle's native redo logs (via LogMiner or binary reader) to capture changes in near real-time, allowing the target Aurora PostgreSQL to stay synchronized with the source. The initial full load can be parallelized across multiple tables and tasks, and once the CDC phase is established, the cutover downtime can be reduced to minutes by stopping writes on the source and applying the final batch of changes.
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.
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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: Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with change data capture (CDC). — AWS DMS with CDC allows you to perform an initial full load of the 5 TB database and then continuously replicate ongoing changes from the source Oracle database to the target Aurora PostgreSQL. This minimizes downtime because you can keep the source database fully operational during the migration and only perform a brief cutover to switch applications to the new database, well within the 4-hour maintenance window.
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
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on DBS-C01
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A financial services company is migrating a 500 GB Oracle database to Amazon Aurora MySQL-Compatible Edition. The migration must have minimal downtime and support bidirectional replication for a test-and-cutover approach. The company currently uses Oracle GoldenGate for replication. Which migration strategy should be used?
hard- ✓ A.Use AWS DMS with a full load and ongoing replication from Oracle to Aurora MySQL, then cut over.
- B.Use AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT) to convert the schema and then use AWS DMS for a one-time full load.
- C.Use AWS DMS with Oracle GoldenGate as a source for continuous replication to Aurora MySQL.
- D.Use Oracle GoldenGate to replicate directly to Aurora MySQL, then cut over.
Why A: AWS DMS with full load and ongoing replication is the correct strategy because it supports minimal-downtime migration from Oracle to Aurora MySQL and can handle bidirectional replication for a test-and-cutover approach. DMS uses change data capture (CDC) from Oracle's redo logs to keep the target in sync, allowing you to validate the target before cutting over. This meets the requirement for minimal downtime and a test-and-cutover workflow without relying on Oracle GoldenGate.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 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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