- A
Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with ongoing replication from an on-premises source.
DMS with change data capture (CDC) allows continuous replication with minimal downtime.
- B
Use AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT) and AWS Snowball to transfer data.
Why wrong: SCT with Snowball is for schema conversion and large bulk transfers, not for minimal-downtime continuous replication.
- C
Use AWS Database Migration Service with a full load only, then cut over.
Why wrong: Full load only does not capture ongoing changes; downtime would occur during cutover.
- D
Use pg_dump and pg_restore during a maintenance window.
Why wrong: pg_dump/pg_restore requires downtime and cannot handle ongoing changes.
Question 774 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.
A company is migrating a 2 TB PostgreSQL database from on-premises to Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL with minimal downtime. The database is continuously updated. Which migration strategy should be used?
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 ongoing replication from an on-premises source.
Option A is correct because AWS DMS supports ongoing replication (change data capture, CDC) from an on-premises PostgreSQL source to Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL, enabling minimal downtime migration. The 2 TB size is well within DMS's capabilities, and CDC captures incremental changes after the full load, allowing near-zero downtime cutover.
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 Database Migration Service (DMS) with ongoing replication from an on-premises source.
Why this is correct
DMS with change data capture (CDC) allows continuous replication with minimal downtime.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT) and AWS Snowball to transfer data.
Why it's wrong here
SCT with Snowball is for schema conversion and large bulk transfers, not for minimal-downtime continuous replication.
- ✗
Use AWS Database Migration Service with a full load only, then cut over.
Why it's wrong here
Full load only does not capture ongoing changes; downtime would occur during cutover.
- ✗
Use pg_dump and pg_restore during a maintenance window.
Why it's wrong here
pg_dump/pg_restore requires downtime and cannot handle ongoing changes.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume pg_dump/pg_restore or full-load-only DMS are sufficient for minimal downtime, but they fail to account for the continuous updates that require ongoing replication to avoid data loss.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DMS CDC uses logical replication slots on the source PostgreSQL to capture changes in near real-time, applying them to the target RDS instance. The initial full load can be parallelized across multiple tables, and the CDC phase can run for hours or days until cutover, making it ideal for large databases with continuous writes. A common pitfall is forgetting to enable logical replication (wal_level = logical) on the source, which is mandatory for CDC.
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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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 Database Migration Service (DMS) with ongoing replication from an on-premises source. — Option A is correct because AWS DMS supports ongoing replication (change data capture, CDC) from an on-premises PostgreSQL source to Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL, enabling minimal downtime migration. The 2 TB size is well within DMS's capabilities, and CDC captures incremental changes after the full load, allowing near-zero downtime cutover.
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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