The correct answer involves using AWS DMS to perform a full load followed by ongoing replication, which is the core strategy to migrate PostgreSQL to Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL with minimal downtime. This approach works because AWS DMS captures ongoing changes from the source database’s transaction logs and continuously applies them to the target Aurora cluster, keeping both databases synchronized until you are ready for a brief cutover window. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of the “minimal downtime” requirement, often contrasting it with a simple one-time dump and restore, which would cause extended outages. A common trap is confusing migration steps with high-availability features like Multi-AZ, which are irrelevant here, or disabling backups, which compromises data safety. Remember the memory tip: “DMS does the heavy lifting, so you can lift and shift with just a lift-off pause.”
DBS-C01 Management and Operations Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of management and operations. 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 its on-premises PostgreSQL database to Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL. The migration must have minimal downtime. Which THREE steps should be taken as part of the migration plan? (Select THREE.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Perform a test migration to validate the process.
Options A, B, and C are correct. Setting up replication from the on-premises database to Aurora using AWS DMS with ongoing replication allows the target to stay up-to-date with minimal downtime. Performing a test migration ensures the process works. After the cutover, the application connection string must be updated. Option D is incorrect because disabling automated backups is not recommended; backups are essential. Option E is incorrect because enabling Multi-AZ is for high availability, not a migration step.
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.
✓
Perform a test migration to validate the process.
Why this is correct
Testing ensures the migration works correctly before the actual cutover.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Enable Multi-AZ on the Aurora cluster before migration.
Why it's wrong here
Multi-AZ is for high availability, not a prerequisite for migration.
✓
Update the application connection string to point to the Aurora cluster after cutover.
Why this is correct
After cutover, applications must connect to the new database.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Use AWS DMS to perform a full load and then ongoing replication.
Why this is correct
Ongoing replication keeps the target in sync with minimal downtime.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Disable automated backups on the Aurora cluster to improve performance.
Why it's wrong here
Backups are important for data safety and should not be disabled.
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
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
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.
Management and Operations — This question tests Management and Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Perform a test migration to validate the process. — Options A, B, and C are correct. Setting up replication from the on-premises database to Aurora using AWS DMS with ongoing replication allows the target to stay up-to-date with minimal downtime. Performing a test migration ensures the process works. After the cutover, the application connection string must be updated. Option D is incorrect because disabling automated backups is not recommended; backups are essential. Option E is incorrect because enabling Multi-AZ is for high availability, not a migration step.
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
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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 a PostgreSQL database to Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL. The database has a large table that is frequently accessed. The team wants to minimize downtime during the migration. Which TWO strategies should be used together?
medium
✓ A.Use AWS DMS to create a target Aurora DB cluster and replicate data.
B.Take a manual snapshot of the source database and restore it to Aurora.
C.Use AWS Schema Conversion Tool (AWS SCT) to convert the schema.
✓ D.Use AWS DMS to perform a full load followed by ongoing replication.
E.Configure Aurora as a read replica of the PostgreSQL instance.
Why A: Options B and D are correct because using AWS DMS with ongoing replication allows for near-zero downtime migration, and creating an Aurora read replica from a PostgreSQL instance is not possible; instead, DMS is the correct tool. Option A is wrong because taking a snapshot and restoring requires downtime. Option C is wrong because AWS SCT is for schema conversion, not data migration. Option E is wrong because there is no direct replication from PostgreSQL to Aurora without DMS.
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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.
Question Discussion
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