- A
Use AWS Snowball Edge
Why wrong: Snowball is offline, not minimal downtime.
- B
Use SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS)
Why wrong: SSIS is for ETL, not continuous replication.
- C
Use AWS DMS with ongoing replication
DMS provides CDC for minimal downtime.
- D
Use native backup and restore to Amazon S3
Native backup/restore to S3 is supported for SQL Server on RDS.
- E
Use AWS Direct Connect
Why wrong: Direct Connect provides network connectivity, not a migration method.
Question 1,147 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.
Which TWO options are valid methods to migrate an on-premises Microsoft SQL Server database to Amazon RDS for SQL Server with minimal downtime? (Choose 2.)
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 DMS with ongoing replication
AWS DMS with ongoing replication (change data capture) is a valid method for migrating SQL Server to Amazon RDS with minimal downtime because it allows a full load of the source database followed by continuous replication of incremental changes. This keeps the target database nearly synchronized with the source, enabling a short cutover window. The ongoing replication feature uses SQL Server's transaction logs to capture changes without requiring application downtime.
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 AWS Snowball Edge
Why it's wrong here
Snowball is offline, not minimal downtime.
- ✗
Use SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS)
Why it's wrong here
SSIS is for ETL, not continuous replication.
- ✓
Use AWS DMS with ongoing replication
Why this is correct
DMS provides CDC for minimal downtime.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Use native backup and restore to Amazon S3
Why this is correct
Native backup/restore to S3 is supported for SQL Server on RDS.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use AWS Direct Connect
Why it's wrong here
Direct Connect provides network connectivity, not a migration method.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse supporting services (Direct Connect, Snowball) with actual migration methods, or mistake batch ETL tools (SSIS) for real-time replication solutions, leading them to select options that do not achieve minimal downtime.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
AWS DMS ongoing replication uses SQL Server's native transaction log reader to capture INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE operations as they occur, applying them to the RDS target with sub-second latency. The native backup and restore method leverages SQL Server's native backup to S3, which can be restored directly to RDS for SQL Server using the 'FROM URL' syntax; this approach requires a brief outage during the final restore but can be combined with log shipping for near-zero downtime. Both methods support cross-version and cross-edition migrations, though DMS requires a full load before CDC begins.
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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Deployment and Migration — study guide chapter
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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 DMS with ongoing replication — AWS DMS with ongoing replication (change data capture) is a valid method for migrating SQL Server to Amazon RDS with minimal downtime because it allows a full load of the source database followed by continuous replication of incremental changes. This keeps the target database nearly synchronized with the source, enabling a short cutover window. The ongoing replication feature uses SQL Server's transaction logs to capture changes without requiring application downtime.
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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