- A
Amazon RDS for SQL Server
RDS for SQL Server offers native compatibility, minimizing migration effort.
- B
Amazon RDS for MySQL
Why wrong: MySQL is a different engine requiring application changes.
- C
Amazon Redshift
Why wrong: Redshift is a data warehouse requiring schema redesign.
- D
Amazon DynamoDB
Why wrong: DynamoDB is NoSQL and not suitable for complex joins.
Question 1,724 of 1,730
DBS-C01 Workload-Specific Database Design Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of workload-specific database design. 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 team is migrating an on-premises Microsoft SQL Server database to AWS. The database is used for reporting and analytics, with complex queries that join multiple tables. The team wants to minimize application changes and ensure compatibility. Which AWS service should they use?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"minimum / minimize"Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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
✓
Amazon RDS for SQL Server
Amazon RDS for SQL Server is the correct choice because it provides a managed SQL Server database engine that is fully compatible with on-premises SQL Server, minimizing application changes. The service supports complex queries with joins and reporting workloads without requiring code modifications, as it uses the same T-SQL dialect and features.
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.
- ✓
Amazon RDS for SQL Server
Why this is correct
RDS for SQL Server offers native compatibility, minimizing migration effort.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Amazon RDS for MySQL
Why it's wrong here
MySQL is a different engine requiring application changes.
- ✗
Amazon Redshift
Why it's wrong here
Redshift is a data warehouse requiring schema redesign.
- ✗
Amazon DynamoDB
Why it's wrong here
DynamoDB is NoSQL and not suitable for complex joins.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose Amazon Redshift for analytics workloads, overlooking that the question emphasizes minimizing application changes and compatibility with an existing SQL Server database, which Redshift cannot provide due to its different SQL dialect and architecture.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Amazon RDS for SQL Server runs the same SQL Server engine (e.g., 2016, 2017, 2019) as on-premises, using the same T-SQL parser and query optimizer, which ensures that complex multi-table joins and reporting queries execute identically. A subtle behavior is that RDS for SQL Server does not support SQL Server Agent jobs natively in all editions, but you can use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) for schema conversion or AWS Scheduler as a workaround. In a real-world scenario, a team migrating a financial reporting system with hundreds of stored procedures and linked server queries would find RDS for SQL Server the only option that avoids rewriting the entire application layer.
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?
Workload-Specific Database Design — This question tests Workload-Specific Database Design — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Amazon RDS for SQL Server — Amazon RDS for SQL Server is the correct choice because it provides a managed SQL Server database engine that is fully compatible with on-premises SQL Server, minimizing application changes. The service supports complex queries with joins and reporting workloads without requiring code modifications, as it uses the same T-SQL dialect and features.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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
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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