The answer is to use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with ongoing replication. This approach is correct because DMS performs a full load of the 2 TB database and then uses change data capture (CDC) to continuously replicate ongoing changes from the on-premises MySQL source to the Amazon Aurora MySQL target, keeping them synchronized until the cutover. Since the network bandwidth is 1 Gbps, the initial load is feasible in roughly five hours, making DMS the most appropriate method for achieving minimal downtime. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of live migration strategies versus bulk import tools; a common trap is choosing AWS Snowball for large datasets, but here the bandwidth is sufficient, so DMS is the right fit. Remember: for live migrations with minimal downtime, think “DMS with CDC” — if the pipe is big enough, skip the ball.
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 company is migrating an on-premises MySQL database to Amazon Aurora MySQL. The database is 2 TB and the migration must have minimal downtime. The network bandwidth between the on-premises data center and AWS is 1 Gbps. Which migration approach is most appropriate?
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 ongoing replication to keep the target in sync
AWS DMS can migrate data with minimal downtime. Using DMS with a full load and ongoing replication (change data capture) allows the source to remain active until the cutover. Option B (Aurora S3) is for importing from S3, not for live migration. Option C (RDS snapshot) is for RDS to Aurora, not on-premises. Option D (Snowball) is for large data volumes with limited bandwidth, but 2 TB at 1 Gbps can be transferred in about 5 hours (theoretical), so DMS is feasible and minimizes 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 mysqldump to export the data, upload to Amazon S3, and import into Aurora
Why it's wrong here
This approach requires application downtime during the import.
✗
Take a snapshot of the on-premises database and restore it to Aurora
Why it's wrong here
Snapshots are not directly supported for on-premises databases.
✗
Use AWS Snowball Edge to transfer the data physically to AWS
Why it's wrong here
Snowball is for large data sets with low bandwidth; 2 TB over 1 Gbps is manageable with DMS.
✓
Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with ongoing replication to keep the target in sync
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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 DBS-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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: Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with ongoing replication to keep the target in sync — AWS DMS can migrate data with minimal downtime. Using DMS with a full load and ongoing replication (change data capture) allows the source to remain active until the cutover. Option B (Aurora S3) is for importing from S3, not for live migration. Option C (RDS snapshot) is for RDS to Aurora, not on-premises. Option D (Snowball) is for large data volumes with limited bandwidth, but 2 TB at 1 Gbps can be transferred in about 5 hours (theoretical), so DMS is feasible and minimizes downtime.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
Identify which DBS-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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 →
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 company is migrating its on-premises MySQL database to Amazon Aurora MySQL. The current database has a table of 500 GB that is accessed by a nightly batch job that updates 80% of the rows. The company wants to minimize downtime during migration. Which migration strategy is MOST appropriate?
medium
✓ A.Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with Aurora as the target.
B.Create an Aurora read replica from the on-premises database.
C.Export the data to Amazon S3 and load it into Aurora using the LOAD DATA FROM S3 command.
D.Use mysqldump to export the database and import it into Aurora.
Why A: Option B is correct because using AWS DMS with Aurora MySQL as the target allows a full load plus ongoing replication to minimize downtime. Option A is wrong because mysqldump would require application downtime during the dump and restore. Option C is wrong because an Aurora read replica can only be created from an existing Aurora instance, not from on-premises. Option D is wrong because S3 export/import is for data warehousing, not for minimal downtime migration.
Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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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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