Quick Answer
The answer is to use AWS DMS with full load and change data capture (CDC). This approach is correct because it performs an initial bulk copy of the 5 TB database while simultaneously capturing and applying ongoing transactions from the source, ensuring the target RDS instance stays nearly synchronized throughout the migration. Once the full load completes, you can cut over in seconds to minutes, achieving minimal downtime. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how DMS CDC decouples the heavy initial load from the final switchover, a key concept for large-scale migrations. A common trap is choosing a backup-and-restore method, which requires significant downtime for the restore, or assuming CDC alone can handle the initial data volume. Memory tip: think “Full first, then trickle” — the full load moves the bulk, while CDC trickles the changes until you flip the switch.
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 MySQL database to Amazon RDS for MySQL. They need to minimize downtime. Which approach 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.
Use Percona XtraBackup to take a backup and restore to RDS
Why wrong: Requires downtime for restore.
Use mysqldump to export and import data
Why wrong: Causes downtime during export/import.
Use AWS DMS with full load and change data capture (CDC)
Minimizes downtime with CDC.
Use AWS DataSync to copy database files
Why wrong: Not suitable for live migration.
Answer choices
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 full load and change data capture (CDC)
AWS DMS with full load and change data capture (CDC) minimizes downtime by performing an initial full load of the 5 TB database while continuously replicating ongoing changes from the source. Once the full load completes and the target is nearly synchronized, you can cut over with minimal downtime, typically seconds to minutes. This approach is specifically designed for large-scale migrations with low downtime requirements.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Use Percona XtraBackup to take a backup and restore to RDS
Why it's wrong here
Requires downtime for restore.
Use mysqldump to export and import data
Why it's wrong here
Causes downtime during export/import.
Use AWS DMS with full load and change data capture (CDC)
Why this is correct
Minimizes downtime with CDC.
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.
Use AWS DataSync to copy database files
Why it's wrong here
Not suitable for live migration.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often choose mysqldump (Option B) because it is familiar, but they overlook its inability to handle CDC and the impracticality of exporting 5 TB with minimal downtime.
Detailed technical explanation
AWS DMS uses a replication engine that reads the source MySQL binary logs (binlog) in row-based format to capture ongoing changes during CDC. For large databases, DMS can parallelize the full load by splitting tables into segments, and it supports validation to ensure data integrity between source and target. A real-world scenario where this matters is migrating a high-traffic production database where even minutes of downtime can cause revenue loss; DMS allows you to keep the source fully operational until the final cutover.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
What to study next
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Deployment and Migration — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Deployment and Migration — This question tests Deployment and Migration — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Use AWS DMS with full load and change data capture (CDC) — AWS DMS with full load and change data capture (CDC) minimizes downtime by performing an initial full load of the 5 TB database while continuously replicating ongoing changes from the source. Once the full load completes and the target is nearly synchronized, you can cut over with minimal downtime, typically seconds to minutes. This approach is specifically designed for large-scale migrations with low downtime requirements.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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